Connect

As we close out National Hispanic Heritage Month, we would like to take the time to recognize our amazing team of Spanish interpreters at UVA Health. In healthcare, we understand effective communication is paramount to the success and safety of patient care. Our team of Spanish interpreters do just that by fostering trust and understanding between patients and healthcare providers. UVA Health’s team of Spanish interpreters strive daily to provide medical interpretation services that ensure patients fully understand their medical conditions, treatment options, and instructions. Our interpreters also empower individuals to make informed decisions about their health.

Did you know that our in-house Spanish interpreters are nationally certified? UVA is proud to say that certification is a requirement for the job. On any given day our interpreters may assist up to seven or eight patients, and those cases can range from a new diagnosis in the Cancer Center, to an infectious disease appointment, to a neurology appointment in the ALS division, and an OBGYN appointment, where a young mother gets the great news about a blood test. You can imagine the spectrum of emotions our interpreters face daily. 

Most interpreting is done either consecutive or simultaneous. The interpreters are able to establish the best method upon entering the room, which makes it effective for both provider and patient. Conveying the message while reading the patient for nonverbal cues, the interpreter remains aware to manage that there is full understanding of the topic discussed as well as aware of cultural barriers that may cause a misunderstanding between either provider or patient. 

The team consists of nine in-house interpreters from a variety of countries and backgrounds. Our team comes from Argentina, Uruguay, Mexico, Chile, and the United States, and the team learns so much from each other.

We asked a few UVA Health Spanish interpreters what they love about their job. Here’s what they had to say:

Daniel: “I love Hispanic culture, I love the Spanish language, and I love interpreting and helping people.”

Gabriela: “I love the diversity in the people from America, the different ways to speak the same language. In our job there is always something to learn — from both the doctors and the patients!” 

Maria: “I received such sincere hospitality while studying and living in Central and South America, and interpreting for me is a way to show hospitality in turn, and make our patients and their families feel welcome.”

Angelica: “It engages many areas of our brains, i.e., coordination, so we can hear, process, and produce, almost at the same time. I help people communicate in meaningful ways and understand each other. I make sure not only the ‘words’ are interpreted but the underlying meaning of the message.”  

Sissy: “My love for the Spanish language, culture, and people are such that the fact that I can help and learn from them daily is second to none.”

Sylvana: “The population that we serve as well as the high level of specialties that UVA offers. We are so fortunate to be able to assist the Spanish-speaking patients that receive such extraordinary care.”  

Alejandra: “One is our group. The second is our patients. Living in so many different countries, she can relate to being in a hospital setting without speaking the language and how difficult it can be, and thirdly — to be a voice for those in that situation.”