Vivien Wong's first job in healthcare wasn't glamorous. She was filing charts.
As a child growing up overseas, she'd visit her mother at the local clinic where she worked as a nurse. Things were informal back then, so Vivien helped with small tasks: finding patient charts, delivering sealed lab results to neighboring clinics.
"Those early experiences taught me the value of supporting others in their journey toward better health," she reflects.
But it was when her family immigrated that the real lesson came.
When Language Becomes a Barrier
The challenges hit immediately. Language barriers delayed care. Access to services became a maze with no clear path forward.
Vivien watched her family navigate a system that wasn't built for them. She saw how a lack of translation could mean the difference between timely treatment and dangerous delays. How cultural differences could create misunderstandings that affected care quality.
"That experience strengthened my motivation," she says. "I wanted to make the path easier for others who might face similar obstacles and ensure they receive timely, culturally competent care."
It's one thing to want to help people in the abstract. It's another to know exactly what help looks like because you've lived on the other side of the gap.
The Moment Everything Clicked
After college, Vivien took a job as a social work aide at On Lok, a program serving elderly participants in the community.
She translated for participants and their families, helping them access services that were culturally competent and personalized to their needs.
"Seeing the immediate impact of bridging communication gaps reaffirmed my passion for the field," she says.
It was tangible. Real-time. A family could suddenly understand their loved one's diagnosis. Navigate insurance. Access resources they didn't know existed.
That experience became the catalyst. Vivien went back to school to pursue her Master's degree in social work, equipped with clarity about exactly what kind of impact she wanted to make.
The Vital Link
Ask Vivien what social work means to her, and she'll tell you it's about connection.
"Social work is the vital link that connects individuals to the resources they need," she explains. "Healthcare extends beyond medical treatment, and true healing requires coordination, communication, and follow-through among the entire care team, including support outside the clinical setting."
It's a perspective shaped by experience. Healthcare systems can be very task and goal oriented, focusing narrowly on treating a condition. Labs get ordered. Medications get prescribed. Procedures get scheduled.
But what about the patient who doesn't understand the discharge instructions? The family struggling to afford medications? The cultural considerations that affect treatment adherence?
"Social work ensures that personal preferences, cultural context, and daily living realities are considered as part of the healing process," Vivien says. "It brings balance, humanity and connection to care."
Small Actions, Real Difference
For students and early-career professionals exploring social work, Vivien's advice is grounded in her own journey.
"Be curious. Ask questions, seek guidance, and push beyond your comfort zone," she urges.
But she's also realistic about the demands of the work.
"Make self-care a non-negotiable part of your schedule. The work is meaningful, but it can also be emotionally and physically demanding."
There's another piece of wisdom she offers, one that speaks to the inevitable frustrations of working within imperfect systems:
"Always remember that even small actions make a real difference in improving comfort, dignity and health for patients and their families. You are contributing to their well-being with the resources you have, even when circumstances are not perfect."
It's a reminder that matters. Because social work often means advocating within systems that resist change, connecting people to resources that feel inadequate, doing what you can with what you have.
The Burnout Crisis
After years in the field, Vivien has a clear vision for what needs to change in healthcare.
"I hope to see a future where everyone has equitable access to healthcare, and where caregivers and providers receive the support they need to deliver compassionate, competent care."
She's especially concerned about burnout. Not because providers lack passion, but because their passion gets stretched thin without adequate resources, peer support, or administrative understanding.
"The next generation can help by advocating for systems that prioritize the well-being of healthcare professionals just as much as the patients they serve," she says.
That means fostering collaborative, respectful work environments. Encouraging open communication. Promoting policies that value manageable caseloads, mental health support, and professional development.
"When providers feel supported, heard and equipped, their passion is sustained and the quality of care they can deliver only strengthens."
Building Bridges
There's something poetic about Vivien's journey. She started as a child helping her mother at a clinic, doing small tasks that supported patient care. She experienced firsthand what happens when language and cultural barriers block access to healthcare.
Now she works as a social worker, building bridges every day. Between patients and resources. Between clinical teams and families. Between healthcare systems and the diverse communities they serve.
Those early experiences filing charts and delivering lab results weren't just childhood memories. They were the foundation for a career built on a simple but powerful understanding: healthcare doesn't work if people can't access it, understand it, or navigate it.
And sometimes the most important intervention isn't a medication or a procedure. It's a translator who helps a family understand their options. A social worker who connects someone to resources. A professional who ensures that personal preferences and cultural context get considered alongside clinical goals.
For Vivien Wong, that's the work of social work. Not just treating conditions, but honoring the whole person navigating a complex system.
It's the vital link. The bridge. The human connection that makes healing possible.
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