Anne Lee
Senior Medical Social Worker
"Self-care is very important – I need to take care of myself so that I can take care of others”
I’m Anne, a Senior Medical Social Worker at St Luke’s Hospital, specialising in dementia and mental health. With 20 years of experience, my journey began in family service centres, where I worked with youth, children, young mothers, and families. I later transitioned into hospital care in 2017, and have since continued to grow in my role as a medical social worker.
The transition wasn’t easy—moving from making independent decisions to collaborating with a multidisciplinary team of doctors, nurses, and therapists required a significant shift in the way I was used to working. I had to expand my knowledge beyond social work to understand medical conditions and functional assessments to better coordinate care for my patients.
Working with individuals with dementia and mental health conditions has shown me the importance of building rapport—especially when they have the mental capacity to make their own decisions. When patients are reluctant to see doctors or therapists, the relationship we’ve built becomes the bridge that helps them access the care they need. Trust becomes the foundation of effective intervention. This trust isn’t built overnight—it requires patience, consistency, and genuine care.
A lesson I’ve learned is the importance of self-care. Many social workers experience burnout, so it is important to develop self-awareness and to know what our limits are. As I tell caregivers under my care, stress is part of the journey but knowing when to seek help makes all the difference. My supervisor exemplifies this philosophy, always starting our catchup with “How are you, really?” to check in how I’m coping personally, rather than jumping straight into discussing cases and work.
My greatest reward comes when caregivers or patients “graduate” from my care—when they’ve learned to manage stress and access resources independently. Their simple “thank you” gives me the assurance that they’ve mastered what I’ve taught them and can continue their journey with confidence.
What sustains me? My commitment to my responsibilities—both for myself and those I serve. In this field, responsibility means ensuring patients remain in the community as long as possible with proper interventions, while remembering that I need to take care of myself so that I can continue to help others.
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