For Dr Tien Truong being a female GP in the Cabramatta community means she can bring a compassionate and culturally sensitive approach to her care, especially for those from a Vietnamese background.  

She also values the flexibility a role in primary healthcare offers and the fact it allows her to have a career which doesn’t compromise her personal wellbeing or family responsibilities. 

How long have you been a GP and how long have you been practising in South Western Sydney?  

I began my GP training in 2014 and became a fellowed GP in 2017. Since 2021, I have been practising in South Western Sydney where I took over a clinic from a retired GP to continue providing care for the local community. 

 I obtained my primary medical degree in Vietnam and worked in the ENT field for six years before moving to Australia. After arriving in Australia, I completed a master’s degree in clinical epidemiology and then obtained my AMC certificate, allowing me to practise medicine here. 

My hospital residency included placements at St George, Sutherland, Albury, Gosford, Wyong and Woy Woy hospitals. Following this, I pursued GP training, which was primarily based in Tamworth.  

I greatly enjoyed my time working as a GP in Tamworth but ultimately decided to return to Sydney to be closer to my mother, who was nearly 80 years old at the time. 

Why did you decide you wanted to become a GP? 

I decided to pursue general practice during my hospital residency, after a discussion with one of my consultants about the differences between hospital and GP work.  

I realised a career in general practice would be more compatible with my lifestyle, particularly considering my age, fitness level and family commitments. At the time, I was offered a position as a paediatric registrar, but I felt ongoing shift work would not suit me in the long term.  

The lack of flexibility in choosing work locations and the intensity of hospital rosters were also important factors in my decision to move towards general practice. 

Being a GP offers more flexibility in working hours and location, which is important to me for maintaining a healthy work-life balance and supporting my family. I wanted a career which allowed me to continue providing high-quality care without compromising my personal wellbeing or family responsibilities. 

What do you love most about being a GP? What part of the job gives you the most satisfaction? 

What I enjoy most about being a GP is the opportunity to build long-term relationships with my patients. I value being the first point of contact for a wide range of health concerns. It’s both challenging and rewarding to work through diagnosis, treatment and follow-up.  

It’s particularly satisfying to see patients improve as a result of my advice, counselling or management. I also appreciate the diversity of conditions I encounter, which keeps my clinical skills sharp and allows me to continuously learn and grow in my practice. 

What is the most important thing you/your practice contributes to this community?  

One of the most important things my practice contributes to this community is continuity of care. I took over from a long-standing GP to ensure patients could continue receiving consistent, trusted medical support without disruption. This is especially important in a community where strong doctor-patient relationships matter. 

As a female GP, I’m also able to support women in the community with sensitive health concerns such as reproductive health, mental health and preventive screening. These are things they may feel more comfortable discussing with a female doctor. I believe this contributes to better access and quality of care for many patients. 

What do you like to do in your spare time?  

In my spare time, I enjoy being with my family and playing the piano. I’ve loved playing piano since childhood and feel very lucky to have had excellent teachers along the way. 

I still take piano lessons whenever I can: it’s not only a passion, but also a way for me to relax and continue learning outside of medicine. 

What particular skills do you bring to your role as a female GP? Why is it important to have more female GPs in the community? 

As a female GP, I bring a compassionate and culturally sensitive approach, especially when caring for women and families in the Vietnamese community. My ability to communicate in Vietnamese and understand cultural values helps build trust and improve health outcomes. 

It’s important to have more female GPs because they help reduce barriers to care for women, especially in communities where gender plays a role in how patients seek help. Having a balanced, diverse GP workforce ensures patients have options and feel more comfortable accessing care. This leads to earlier detection, better prevention and stronger engagement in their health. 

What motivates you to work in our region? 

I can work near home which means I am almost always available for my family when they need me.  

What advice do you give your patients about maintaining good health? 

I tell them it’s important to have time for self-care and exercise, and to try and avoid eating unhealthy foods. It’s also important they listen to the advice their doctor gives them and do their best to act on it. 

This article appeared in Practice Pulse on Wednesday, 6 August 2025. If you are a GP, practice nurse or practice manager in South Western Sydney and do not get the weekly Practice Pulse email, speak to your Practice Support Officer.