Spanish for medical careers: Students shadow professionals at ECU Health
East Carolina University aspires to prepare students with the knowledge, skills and values to succeed in a global, multicultural society. In the fall, students in the Spanish for Health Professions class had the unique experience of advancing their knowledge and communication skills by shadowing professional Spanish-language medical interpreters at ECU Health Medical Center.
Taught by Dr. Jennifer M. Valko, associate professor in the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures, and in collaboration with Julio Maldonado, director of Hospitality and Language Access Services at ECU Health, 12 undergraduate students performed 20 hours of interpreter shadowing in a variety of clinical and patient settings.
Valko spent a year designing the course, and in preparation, she observed professional Spanish-speaking medical interpreters during a 20-hour shadowing experience over the summer.
“My background is in the humanities, specifically in Latin American literature and cultures. Like most of my colleagues, I teach a broad swath of courses,” Valko said. “I wanted to resuscitate the Spanish for the Medical Professions class to fill the gap in our course offerings.”
Students in the class spent a month preparing for the shadowing experience and how to apply their cultural and linguistic skills in a career-focused setting. They learned about the U.S. health care system and medical professions, and acquired and practiced necessary medical terminology and grammatical structures. Valko said students participated in simulations to build basic communication skills for making an appointment, checking in on a patient and explaining how to take or use medications.
“What I value most about this program is how it provides students with invaluable insights gained directly from patients’ experiences,” said Maldonado. “These insights profoundly shape their career choices and professional perspectives, fostering a deeper understanding of culturally and linguistically appropriate services. This approach not only brings health equity to the forefront but also enhances the quality of care and reduces healthcare disparities. In doing so, it empowers us to fulfill our mission of improving the health and well-being of eastern North Carolina.”
A combination of native and non-native Spanish speakers make up the class, and many are pursuing dual degrees intending to seek careers in health care.
“Students in Hispanic studies often major or minor with us while they pursue another major in nursing, psychology, public health, speech and hearing sciences, music therapy, or exercise and sports physiology,” Valko said.
Miriam Tellesgiron-Sanchez
Students in the Spanish for Health Professions class, including Miriam Tellesgiron-Sanchez, left, received guidance and input from ECU Health medical interpreter Valeria Chaires-Marin.
Miriam Tellesgiron-Sanchez, a junior majoring in psychology and foreign languages and literatures with a concentration in Hispanic studies, shadowed interpreters on rounds with medical residents and attending doctors and went on calls to the emergency department.
“I enjoyed seeing how different roles in the hospital come together to provide the best patient care,” she said. “I learned from the interpreters that not only do they provide interpreting services, but they advocate for patients.”
Sanchez said she witnessed how medical interpreters can make a big impact on the community, especially for Spanish-speaking populations in eastern North Carolina.
“I saw how they bridge gaps between patients and providers, building trust,” she said.
She said this experience will benefit her future career goals, which include working as a medical interpreter and attending physician assistant school, specializing in emergency medicine.
“This allowed me to observe different medical situations and how we as providers can give back and help people suffering in health care due to language barriers,” she said.
Savannah Barclay
Savannah Barclay, who wants to be a bilingual music therapist after she graduates, said this experience taught her the importance of the doctor-patient relationship.
Savannah Barclay is a senior majoring in music therapy and foreign languages and literatures with a concentration in Hispanic studies. She wants to be a bilingual music therapist after she graduates.
“I got to observe the Spanish interpreters as they assisted doctors in communicating with patients and helping patients and their families understand the medical information being shared,” Barclay said.
Barclay said she enjoyed observing speech, occupational and physical therapy sessions, where therapists assessed client needs and worked to help them recover and regain lost abilities.
“This was particularly valuable for me because music therapists frequently collaborate with other therapy disciplines to ensure patients receive the most effective treatment to help them achieve their goals,” she said. “I also observed interactions with patients whose conditions greatly improved, and I heard from their families how they appreciated all the work the doctors and the interpreters did for them.”
“Although I wasn’t present throughout their entire treatment process, it was inspiring to witness the positive outcomes of their care and hear how the hospital staff played a significant role in their recovery,” she said. “Through this experience, I saw firsthand the concepts I learned in my Spanish in Health Professions class, such as the significance of cultural differences, the role of family and the importance of the doctor-patient relationship.”
Cultural Awareness
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, North Carolina has a population of nearly 11 million people, and 11% describe themselves as Hispanic. According to Carolina Demography, this population is the fastest-growing demographic in the state.
Valko said that in 2021, 68% of all Hispanic North Carolinians were citizens and many were born and raised in the state. However, she said nearly 38% of the Hispanic population in North Carolina are foreign-born, non-native.
“Therefore, it is common for health care providers to serve patients with limited English proficiency,” she said. “Studies have shown that treating patients in their first language — with an interpreter — helps to reduce health disparities and improve health outcomes (preventative medicine, reducing hospital stays, reducing readmissions and reducing postoperative complications).”
Through their shadowing and interpreting experience, students should better understand the needs of patients, be able to resolve unexpected complications, avoid communication breakdowns and demonstrate cultural awareness of the values that influence communication between health care professionals and various Spanish-speaking patients, Valko said.
“I hope this course is one way that Hispanic studies at ECU helps promote wellness and reduce health disparities,” she said. “Like all education, it is an investment in the future. In this case, an investment in bilingual health care providers who serve eastern North Carolina and beyond.”
Students in the Spanish for Health Professions class were taught by Dr. Jennifer Valko, lower right, and directed by Julio Maldonado, upper left. (Contributed photos)