Breaking down language barriers
On Tuesday, Sept. 17, NEOMED's Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA) hosted a Medical Spanish Speaking Workshop in partnership with the Emergency Medicine Interest Group (EMIG). Arnold Diaz, Sofia Perez and Sophie Tayade, second-year College of Medicine students, shared the following article about their experience:
Due to the sold-out event last year, the Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA) has expanded their annual Medical Spanish Speaking Workshop to a biannual event. The recent workshop on Tuesday, Sept. 17, focused on emergency scenarios. In this interactive workshop, students had the opportunity to practice intermediate Spanish medical terminology.
Over 30 students attended this event to learn about the importance of cultural competency and navigating language barriers. Students practiced reading and speaking medical Spanish while also learning about additional resources, such as opportunities to practice at LMSA events and online resources like a Medical Spanish Anki deck.
Daniel Vazquez-Torres, M.D., a surgical critical care specialist in Ohio (pictured above), introduced the workshop with his experiences as a Spanish-speaking physician. Dr. Vazquez-Torres shared impactful cases from real-life patients. Overcoming the language barrier drastically improved their outcomes. In one case, a patient was mistranslated as having “belly” pain; when the team examined her again, they found that she had “uterine” pain and were able to diagnose her with cancer. In another instance, Dr. Vazquez-Torres shared that a patient was unresponsive in critical condition, and the team thought he would need end-of-life care. However, because Dr. Vazquez-Torres took a chance and tried speaking Spanish to him, he was able to respond, and the care team was able to accurately assess his condition and treat him.
It was impactful to hear his first-hand account on how learning basic Spanish can go a long way for the patient. We learned that for residency letters, demonstrating commitment and growth in these crucial skills, such as cross-cultural communication, can stand out in student applications.
SUPPORTING OUR NEOMED COMMUNITY
“As the Proyecto Raices service chair, I have enjoyed volunteering with NEOMED students through this community organization. Service opportunities can be a way to practice language skills but also understand the unique socioeconomic challenges individuals and families face. This empowers us as providers to work better with them as patients later.” - Sofia Perez
“It means a lot to see non-native speakers attend this workshop because they are taking a step to better support my family and friends. I know from my personal experience how language barriers can deter adequate care. As Dr. Vazquez said, students who try to learn direct ways to better serve patients, like learning even a little Spanish, are truly going above and beyond in their calling to be a physician.” - Arnold Diaz
PRACTICE SPANISH WITH LMSA
Many NEOMED students have taken Spanish courses in high school and at the undergraduate level. Students in the workshop were excited to learn about ways to expand how they can connect and serve their patients through the opportunities listed below:
Community Service
- Proyecto Raices: Volunteer with Spanish-speaking youth in Akron through STEM and cultural activities.
- St. Bernard Health Fair: Volunteer at LMSA’s annual health fair at St. Bernard’s for Spanish-speaking patients.
Speaking Practice at NEOMED
- Medical Spanish Speaking Workshops: Practice with medical-focused patient cases led by a bilingual physician.
- Conversaciones: Join monthly meetings with different themes and supportive resources to practice speaking Spanish in a small group setting.
Interested in practicing your Spanish? Reach out to Sofia Perez and Arnold Diaz to learn more about opportunities at NEOMED and in the Northeast Ohio community. Stay connected with LMSA by joining on CampusGroups and following @neomedlmsa on Instagram!
RELATED
Find LMSA events on CampusGroups, including Hispanic Heritage Month Art Celebration in partnership with Creatives in Medicine on Oct. 10, Dia de los Muertos on Nov. 1, and the LMSA Annual Health Fair at St. Bernard’s Church in Akron on Jan. 26, 2025.
Download the Hispanic Heritage Month flyer
