Career Profile: Social Worker	Home	Español
		Informal perspective of what an occupation might be like.

What I Do: I’m a medical social worker at a big university hospital. I work with patients being treated for cancer. Most people find cancer pretty scary. When new patients are admitted, I let them know that I’m there to help. I invite them to attend cancer support groups that I lead each week. I also counsel family members because they need support, too. When patients are discharged, I determine which services they need to receive at home and make the necessary arrangements. I follow-up with patients after they leave the hospital to make sure they are cared for.

Best and Hardest Parts of My Job: Being a medical social worker can be quite challenging. I work closely with people who are very sick, some of whom do not recover. I feel sad when one of my patients dies. But I also have the satisfaction of knowing that I gave them aid and comfort when they needed it most. And many of my patients do get well – that’s the best part of all!

How I Got Started: I always liked helping people and wanted to be a social worker for as long as I can remember. Social workers are employed by many different agencies, such as child and family services, mental health centers, schools, and even prisons. I chose to be a medical social worker because of my interest in health care. I earned a master’s degree in social work (MSW) and later studied for and passed the state licensing exam. Both are necessary for professional advancement in this field.