Peter Ruygrok graduated Bachelor of Science in mathematics in 1979, Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery in 1986 and more recently Doctor of Medicine, from the University of Auckland. He trained in cardiology at Green Lane Hospital, gaining his fellowship of the Royal Australian College of Physicians and then completed an interventional fellowship at the Thoraxcenter in Rotterdam.

He works as a consultant cardiologist and has recently been appointed the Director of Cardiovascular Services at Auckland City Hospital. His special interests include interventional cardiology, cardiac transplantation and research, with over 130 publications. He is an Honorary Professor of the University of Auckland and works part-time at the Auckland Heart Group.