SE Valley Times

Millions of people in the United States face language barriers due to limited English proficiency, creating challenges in healthcare settings where English is predominantly used. These communication obstacles can result in treatment errors and inconsistent care quality, underscoring the need for qualified medical interpreters.

Rio Salado College has responded by offering two courses focused on Spanish for Medical Interpreting. "Medical interpretation is a worthy career path for compassionate bilingual individuals who want to give back and support vulnerable communities," said Dr. Marcela Testai, an adjunct faculty member at Rio Salado College, who teaches these courses.

Dr. Testai brings extensive experience as an anesthesiologist and pain and palliative care physician. "I graduated from the University of Buenos Aires and was a full-time anesthesiologist in Argentina covering general surgery, pediatric, kidney transplant, neurosurgery and more," she stated.

Her background in both medicine and linguistics has highlighted the importance of medical interpretation. "Many non-English speakers seeking healthcare struggle to communicate with medical staff and understand important information," Testai explained. "We need qualified interpreters to bridge language and cultural gaps to help ensure health equity for this often-underserved population."

Dr. Testai has also contributed academically by publishing an abstract titled “Voices from The Clinic: Interpreters, Patients, and Power” in the Narrative Inquiry in Bioethics journal by Johns Hopkins University Press. Her research emphasizes power differentials, language barriers, and the vulnerability of marginalized populations within healthcare settings.

"Healthcare providers should receive education to know what medical interpreters do, and how important their role is," Testai said. She advocates for formal recognition of medical interpreters as part of the healthcare team.

To prepare future interpreters, Dr. Testai advises obtaining formal education in relevant languages alongside basic medical terminology knowledge. "A qualified interpreter needs a strong knowledge base in human anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology," she noted.

Rio Salado’s courses—SPA205 (Spanish for Medical Interpreting 1) covers ethics, standards, responsibilities; SPA206 (Spanish for Medical Interpreting 2) focuses on vocabulary related to anatomy—aim to equip students with essential skills.

"These classes are a must for anybody who wants to pursue a career in medical interpreting," Dr. Testai remarked. They are also beneficial for those studying medicine or nursing who wish to enhance their skill set with interpreting abilities.

To enroll in these courses at Rio Salado College, students must be fluent in both English and Spanish. SPA205 requires prior completion of SPA202 with a grade B or higher within three years or passing a departmental placement assessment if prerequisites aren't met through coursework.

Upon completing SPA105 and SPA206 successfully, students may apply credits toward an Academic Certificate at Rio Salado College or transfer them to Arizona's public universities while pursuing national certification opportunities as well.

"There are both in-person and remote job opportunities available for qualified interpreters," Dr. Testai said but emphasized that commitment to lifelong learning is crucial throughout their practice as medical interpreters.