Dr Pua graduated in medicine with honours from the University of Sydney. As part of his dermatology training and research, he has worked at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, The Royal Adelaide Hospital, St Vincent’s Hospital, Skin and Cancer Foundation (Darlinghurst), the Prince of Wales Hospital and Sydney Children’s Hospital. He is also a member of the American Academy of Dermatologists.

For his research into skin tanning with the alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone and evaluation of surgical treatment of skin cancer, he was twice awarded the Schering-Plough award for dermatology research.

He obtained his fellowship diploma in piano performance from the Trinity College (London) at fifteen and has performed in Japan, New York (Carnegie Hall) and the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.