He was head-hunted by the eminent Harvard Medical School, but Whangarei doctor Shane Reti says his feet remain firmly grounded in Northland and he's returning home hoping to represent the district in Parliament.
After six years living in Boston, but returning every three months or so, Dr Reti is on his way home to seek the National Party nomination to replace Phil Heatley as MP in the 2014 general election.
Dr Reti said he was offered incentives by Boston's Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital and Harvard Medical School to stay and carry on his important medical work, but the calling to come home for good was too strong.
"Harvard always knew I was just on loan and that at some stage I would go back. I'm a Whangarei boy and when the call came to come home (to seek the party's nomination to stand in the seat) came, I knew it was time," he said.
He knows it won't be plain sailing getting the party's nomination, with current National list MP, Whangarei-born and raised Paul Foster-Bell also seeking the nomination. But, Dr Reti says, he believes his credentials, track record and connections to Whangarei, will see him in good stead in the race to represent the district in the House.