What has your career journey been like?
Before I studied postgraduate medicine, I was a pharmacist, where I saw firsthand the value of primary healthcare and being able to impart knowledge. One of the many pharmacies I was based at enabled me to deliver local community health education sessions. Fast forward to my intern year and I was at a metropolitan hospital where many patients reminded me of my parents, who had low English language and low health literacy levels. Many could have avoided a hospital visit if they had a greater understanding of preventive healthcare or knew how to access earlier intervention to avoid complications of their medical diagnoses. I was really motivated to do something practical about it.
What is The Water Well Project all about?
The Water Well Project started in 2010 with a kickstart from AMA Victoria! We deliver free, interactive and inclusive health education sessions to community groups from migrant, refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds. Working in partnership with community groups, the organisation facilitates tailored health education sessions, with its many volunteer healthcare professionals. To date, The Water Well Project has delivered over 2,000 health education sessions to over 30,000 community members in Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania.
How can doctors bring being culturally sensitive into their everyday practice?
Sometimes we assume that everyone comes from the same knowledge and experience, and this puts everyone at a disadvantage. We need to consider the perspectives of people who haven’t experienced a western healthcare system before, those who have lower levels of English and those with lower levels of health literacy. On a day-to-day level, it might just be asking open questions to understand an individual’s beliefs and not making assumptions. It helps to remember that everyone we encounter holds diverse knowledge and experience, and that as practitioners, we need to be open and keep learning.
What advice do you have for this year's interns?
Intern year is the start of a long and meaningful journey, and there is no single path to becoming a good doctor. Follow what genuinely interests you, because leaning into your passions often opens doors you did not expect. Just as importantly, make space for growth beyond the ward. Getting involved in committees, volunteering, creative pursuits or sport can build perspective, connection, and resilience, and ultimately makes you a more grounded and compassionate clinician. Be kind to yourself on the hard days, stay curious, and remember that you are learning more than you realise. Trust that each experience is quietly shaping the doctor you will become.
Dr Linny Phuong is a paediatric infectious diseases physician, PhD candidate, clinical tutor, and founder and board director of The Water Well Project, a health promotion charity that has reached 30,000+ people. In 2025 Linny hosted six leadership-focused episodes for AMA Victoria’s podcast, The Doctor’s Room, and is a monthly guest on ABC News Breakfast TV.