Laird is dual trained and gained membership as both a general physician and medical oncologist with the Royal Australasian College of Physicians. Laird completed a clinical fellowship in lung and head & neck malignancies at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne, Australia with a strong emphasis on translating new treatments to better outcomes for cancer patients including targeted therapies and immunotherapy. He has peer-reviewed publications in treating ALK-rearranged lung cancers.

Laird has returned to New Zealand, treating patients with lung cancer at Auckland Hospital and Canopy Cancer Care. He leads the medical oncology lung team at ADHB, chairs the New Zealand Lung Oncology Special Interest Group and is committed to improving the health of New Zealanders with cancer through active involvement in research.