Starting at the beginning of the twentieth century, researchers in the field of linguistic anthropology, notably Franz Boas and Edward Sapir, conducted experiments to try and determine what effect, if any, language has on a person’s perception. Though those initial studies have been hotly contested, the groundwork was laid, and we have made great strides […]
Continue readingNon-Clinical Job Opportunities in Healthcare for Bilingual Talent
When we think about job opportunities in healthcare, what automatically comes to mind are doctors, nurses, emergency medical technicians (EMTs), and pharmacists. However, while hospitals, laboratories, pharmacies, and caregiving facilities are primarily seen as avenues for careers in clinical medicine, they also have a plethora of talent recruitment needs that are non-clinical. And just like […]
Continue readingMeet a Language Superhero: Miya Alcivar
This month’s Language Superhero is Miya Alcivar. Miya is an office manager and bookkeeper, and she’s pursuing the opportunity to become an interpreter thanks to her language skills. She can fluently speak English, Spanish, and French, and is learning Korean. “Being an immigrant myself, I think the ability to connect with people in a language […]
Continue readingThe 2020 Census and Language Proficiency for Patient-Centered Care
I recall when I began my career over two decades ago in Hispanic media in New York City working for large publishing houses on national Spanish-language magazines like People en español, Glamour en español, Vogue en español, and a series of other Latino-specific print offerings. Back in 2000 we tried our darndest to persuade big […]
Continue readingThe Impact of Language Proficiency on the Provision of Healthcare
When a person seeks medical attention, they rely on the competency of the healthcare professionals they interact with to help diagnose, treat, relieve symptoms, and eradicate illness. It’s daunting and frightening enough to visit an emergency room for urgent and critical medical problems. The levels of stress and fear are heightened even more for patients […]
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