S'porean poly grad who became nurse in 2001 is now CEO of Alexandra Hospital

Margaret Lee, who was a former Chief Nurse and Chief Culture Officer at Alexandra Hospital, has taken over Jason Phua as CEO with effect from Jan. 1, 2026.

Phua will continue to focus on care models and workforce transformation across the health system in his role as Deputy Chief Executive (Clinical Transformation), NUHS.

According to a press release from Alexandra Hospital, Lee has been the inaugural chief nurse of Alexandra Hospital over the past eight years.

The release also highlighted Lee's accomplishments, including the President’s Award for Nurses in 2021 and the NUHS-Mochtar Riady Pinnacle Award in 2019.

In an interview with CNA, Lee shared that she wasn't initially that keen on nursing.

She had not done well for her O-Levels, and nursing was actually her ninth choice for post-secondary education.

After polytechnic, she started her career as a clinical nurse at NUH in 2001.

In a 2024 interview with The Straits Times, Lee said she came to realise nursing was her calling and how privileged she was to be in a position to do something for others.

Catherine Koh, Group Chief Nurse of NUHS, explained why Lee's unique path was so instrumental to her success.

“Ms Lee's journey from Chief Nurse has propelled her training and leadership to put her in good stead to assume the weightier responsibilities of a CEO. Her leadership will inspire future generations of nurses to pursue diverse career paths, including leadership and management.”

In the CNA interview, Lee highlighted how altruism itself is not enough by itself to maintain a healthcare workforce.

Pointing to conversations during the pandemic where nurses told her how they loved patient care, but no longer recognised themselves at work.

That's why she emphasises creating space for staff to grow.

“If people stop growing, they’re stretched way too thin for little to no reason, and then they leave,” she said. “And when good people leave, good leaders must listen – and change.”

Image from NUHS and Alexandra Hospital