Dr Lan-Hoa Lê MBBS (UNSW), FANZCA
Specialist Anaesthetist | Wellbeing Advocate | Mindfulness & Meditation Educator | Peer Support Facilitator Trainer

Dr. Lan-Hoa Lê is a Specialist Anaesthetist based on the Central Coast of NSW, with a deep commitment to clinician wellbeing and peer support. She serves as Chair of the Australian Society of Anaesthetists’ Wellbeing Advocates Committee and is an Executive Member of the ASA’s Wellbeing Advocates Special Interest Group.

Dr. Lê facilitates Hand-n-Hand Peer Support training and holds a Mental Health First Aid Certificate. She is also a certified mindfulness educator with over 18 years of training through the Sakya Institute Buddhist Academy (SIBA), specialising in ‘Wellness on-the-fly’ techniques for healthcare professionals. Her qualifications include Calm Abiding (Shamatha) Meditation Train-the-Trainer certification.

Dr. Lê’s guiding philosophy is simple yet powerful: “A safe doctor is a safe patient.”

Dr Shona Bright is the current Chair of the West Australian Wellbeing Advocates (WAWA) Group and represents WA on the ASA Wellbeing Advocates Committee. WAWA meets biannually to provide a networking and peer support platform for wellbeing advocates in WA. We promote awareness of wellbeing issues for Fellows and Anaesthesia Trainees and share initiatives that foster a healthy work environment and support the overall wellbeing of anaesthesia colleagues. We also advocate on behalf of trainees and colleagues impacted by departmental or group policies and practices that may be affecting their wellbeing. It is so encouraging to collaborate on wellbeing initiatives with this amazing group of people – they are all inspiring! 

Our latest initiative is to develop a New Fellows Mentoring program. Please get in touch if you would like a mentor, or if you’d like to be a mentor. 

Contact can be made for peer support or resources through the WA ANZCA office – wa@anzca.edu.au or 08 6188 4555.

 *The ASA Peer Support initiative for peer support facilitator training or looking for peer support yourself can be contacted via ASApeersupport@asa.org.au

WA Resources

• Doctor’s Health Advisory Service Western Australia  provides a confidential, anonymous 24 hour/7 days a week advice line and referral system for doctors and medical students seeking assistance with health or personal problems.
• Drs4Drs has been established by the medical profession for the medical profession. Through a network of doctors’ health advisory and referral services, independent, free, safe, supportive and confidential services are available across Australia.  Call Drs4Drs WA 08 9321 3098
• Further ASA wellbeing resources

The ASA Wellbeing Advocates Committee (SA/NT) Co – Representatives are Dr Jenny Bird and Dr Indy Lin.

SA/NT resources

• Doctors’ Health   A fabulous resource which offers clinical, education, training and phoneadvisory servicesexclusively to medical students and doctors. It also has a comprehensive resource section including crisis care, personal education and links to finding the right GP for you.  08 8366 0250

• StandBy Support After Suicide – provides free, ongoing support for anyone bereaved or impacted by suicide in South Australia. They offer emotional support, resources, and guidance for navigating grief and the impact of trauma.
• Further ASA wellbeing resources 

The ASA Wellbeing Advocates Committee (VIC) Representatives are Dr Lakmini De Silva and Dr Jenny King.

Dr Lakmini De Silva is a specialist anaesthetist in both public and private practice in Melbourne, Victoria. 

Wellbeing advocacy and supporting the wellbeing of peers is part of Dr De Silva’s professional career alongside her Aanaesthetic practice. She has been involved in this field since 2015 in her role as Wellness officer for the Department of Preoperative Medicine at The Alfred.

In addition to her role as the ASA WAC VIC co-representative, other current active roles include  the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA) Victorian regional committee deputy chair, Victorian Doctors Health Program (VDHP) non executive director and MDA national medical advisory committee member.   

VIC resources

• Drs4Drs has been established by the medical profession for the medical profession. Through a network of doctors’ health advisory and referral services, independent, free, safe, supportive and confidential services are available across Australia.  Call Drs4Drs VIC 1300 330 543
• The Victorian Doctors Health Program is a free confidential advisory service for all Victorian doctors and medical students who have concerns about their well-being: such as stress, mental health questions, substance use struggles, or physical health issues. 
• Further ASA wellbeing resources

The ASA Wellbeing Advocates Committee (NSW) Representatives are Dr Katherine Jeffrey and Dr Carmen Leow.

Dr Carmen Leow is a senior anaesthetist working in Sydney and Wollongong. Her interest in wellbeing stemmed from her previous involvement with the Long Lives, Healthy Workplaces initiative and subsequent development of its Wellbeing Toolkit. Her previous roles involved developing mentoring and peer support system, critical incident debriefing and psychological first aid. During COVID, she volunteered as a peer support facilitator through NFO and mentored junior anaesthetists as well as anaesthetists returning to workplace. As a proud member of the ASA wellbeing committee, it is her hope that we continue to work towards ensuring that mental health and wellbeing support is available and accessible to anaesthetists and anaesthetic trainees. 

NSW resources

• Doctors’ Health NSW provides an independent & confidential peer-supportphone service for doctors, medical students, dentists and vets. No judgement, just confidential support from a doctor who gets it. Available 24/7 02 9437 6552

• AMA (NSW) supports the health and wellbeing of doctors and medical students

• Dept. of Veterans’ Affairs provides free mental health care for veterans and counselling and support for families. 
• Further ASA wellbeing resources

Dr Susan Shadforth is the co-opted representative for Substance Use Disorder (SUD)

For Expressions of Interest to be a co-representative for WAC Queensland, please contact ASA Wellbeing Secretariat Ms. Sue Donovan sdonovan@asa.org.au

QLD resources

• Drs4Drs has been established by the medical profession for the medical profession. Through a network of doctors’ health advisory and referral services, independent, free, safe, supportive and confidential services are available across Australia.  Call Drs4Drs QLD 07 3833 4352
• Dept. of Veterans’ Affairs provides free mental health care for veterans and counselling and support for families. 
• Consider contacting your EAP at your local hospital for wellbeing support.
• Further ASA wellbeing resources 

The ASA Wellbeing Advocates Committee (ACT) Representative is Dr Monika Tecsy.

ACT resources

• Drs4Drs ACT has been established by the medical profession for the medical profession. Through a network of doctors’ health advisory and referral services, independent, free, safe, supportive and confidential services are available across Australia.  Call Drs4Drs ACT 1300 374 377
• Further ASA wellbeing resources

The ASA Wellbeing Advocates Committee (TAS) Representative is Dr Emily Munday.

TAS resources

• Drs4Drs has been established by the medical profession for the medical profession. Through a network of doctors’ health advisory and referral services, independent, free, safe, supportive and confidential services are available across Australia.  Call Drs4Drs TAS 1300 374 377
• Further ASA wellbeing resources

Dr Janette Wright is on the ASA Council and the ASA Public Practice Advisory Committee Chair. 

Dr Wright is  a VMO Anaesthetist at the Royal Melbourne Hospital  since 2011. She is currently working 3 days a week in public and 1 day per week in private.  She has  an interest in Perioperative Medicine and completed her Masters in Perioperative Medicine through Monash University in 2018. She has previously been the Welfare Officer at RMH, is currently on the Peer Support roster at RMH and now a Supervisor of Training.

The ASA Wellbeing Advocates Committee Trainee Representatives are Dr Jarmila Sterbova and Dr Ben Maudlin. 

Dr Jarmila Sterbova has been involved with trainee welfare since early in training when she coordinated the Mentoring Program in South Australia. If you have any suggestions how the ASA can support trainee welfare and wellbeing in your state, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.