21 February 2025

Starting a medical internship is a big step in any doctor’s journey, and for one of our newest interns, it’s also a chance to blend her passions for medicine, sustainability, and the arts.

Meet Tanishka (Tany) Brahmanand, an Austin Health medical intern and Wattle Fellow, who is not only embracing the challenges of her first year as a doctor but also leading a unique project to highlight sustainability in healthcare through art.

We caught up with her to chat about her journey into medicine, her goals for the year ahead, and how she’s making the most of life at Austin Health - Mount Street hill struggles and all!

Tell us about being a Wattle Fellow!

At the moment I’m very excited to be completing the Wattle Fellowship, a sustainability-focused programme through The University of Melbourne that has brought together my passion for the fine arts, social impact and sustainable medicine. My project will culminate in an art exhibition which hopes to bring both awareness to how inadvertently wasteful healthcare can be, and inspire behavioural change within healthcare professionals and consumers alike to be more planetary health minded. I’ve had the pleasure of partnering with two incredible NFPs – CLIMARTE and Medical Pantry - who will help bring this showcase to life! It’s also been an opportunity to paint, draw and reconnect with creative arts, which dynamically punctuates the rhythm of full-time work in a fulfilling way.

What inspired you to pursue a career in medicine?

I’m convinced you’ll never know what a career is like until you’re neck deep (and partially drowning) in it – so I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t that starry-eyed student who wanted to do medicine because I’ve always enjoyed learning. But now, I can tell you know I truly adore medicine for the fact that it has challenged me in ways I couldn’t have conceived, and nourishes my want to connect deeply with people and this planet.

Which area of medicine are you most looking forward to exploring during your rotations this year?

I’ve long loved critical care - particularly anaesthesia – for the balance between dextrous procedural medicine and physiology it offers. However, this year I’m also excited to diversify my foundation with psychiatry, general medicine, upper GI surgery, geriatrics and ED. Ultimately, every senior seems to reminisce on their intern days – so this year, I too am hoping to just learn how to be a safe, good junior doctor. Here’s to trusting the process.

What excites you most about starting your internship at Austin Health?

The company! Four years of medical school amongst these walls have given Austin a sense of familiarity I’m grateful for amidst this transition into being a doctor. It’s nice to be able to give back alongside people who’ve both taught and nurtured me but also be able to share it all with new faces and friends. Indeed, those walks up Mount Street continue to be nothing short of humbling, but the company always makes the tachypnoea bearable.