As little has been known on hospital social work in Ethiopia, this study aimed to explore and participated. It is a qualitative case study in which in-depth and key-informantinterviewswere japing different challenges ranging from non-professional role execution to missing from the practice is at beginning stage of struggling for establishment. Finally, the study pointed out its " SOCIAL WORK IN HOSPITALS reveal the state of social work practice in hospitalsby taking three hospitals in Addis Ababa. Ten hospital social workers, three administrative staffs, and three health professionals had used as data collection tools. Data were analyzed thematically case by case and then cross- case. The study has found out such major roles of hospital social workers as facilitating free medical service access, work on children and elderly abandonment, networking with stakeholders, and fund raising. In contrast, the social workers in hospital settings have been - hospital functional structure. In sum, this study understood the condition of social wo,:k implications for social work practice and future researches. Key words: roles, challenges, hospital sociaj work, qualitative case study .