Ryan Meili, 33, is the fourth person to run for the NDP leadership. Ryan Meili, 33, is the fourth person to run for the NDP leadership. (Jill Smith/CBC)

A Saskatoon doctor and community activist is joining the race to the lead the provincial NDP.

Ryan Meili, 33, announced he was running Thursday morning.

He joins three others who have said they're in the running to replace New Democrat leader Lorne Calvert: former deputy premier Dwain Lingenfelter, Moose Jaw Wakamow MLA Deb Higgins and former NDP president Yens Pedersen.

Meili, a family physician, told CBC News his work as a doctor is part of what inspires his passion for politics.

"Every day I see patients that have health problems, physical and mental health problems, and I can do a little bit as a physician to address those issues," he said. "But I recognize that those health problems are actually symptoms of larger political and social problems."

Meili is the first person from Saskatoon to run for the leadership.

The party will select its new leader at a convention in June.