Hello followers,
On Monday I was assigned to translate with the dermatology team that meets every second and fourth Monday of a month. They were a diverse group with some limited amount of Spanish background that was mostly picked up from work experience or some medical translation class. I followed Dr. Hebert and some of her residents while they saw dermatology patients and performed a few procedures and translated when they asked me to translate. In my very first (and only) translation, the wife of the patient thanked me after the visit for making it easier to understand the situation. It really made me happy that I was able to visibly see the difference I was making.
Other cases did not need much translation (sometimes the resident wanted to know how to say something or a patient had a good, but not complete grasp of English that necessitated the translation) and I was able to see cases of extreme psoriasis and other dermatological diseases and concerns. The psoriasis case showed me how bad people can let some conditions go before seeing a doctor due to financial status, ignorance, and/or negligence.
Next week I will be logging hours from home by translating a handout from English to Spanish. I will review the translation with my medical Spanish professor and, depending on the topic, I may present it to my medical Spanish class!
Ending transmission,
Eduardo
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Week 1: Orientation
Hello Followers,
On Friday I went to the orientation at the San Jose Clinic in downtown Houston. The place was empty since it was the end of the week and they were going to have Saturday clinic on weekend. After a video and signing the waivers to volunteer at the clinic, the group took a tour of the facility. It was a very nice and clean place since San Jose Clinic just moved to this building about a year ago. After the tour, we talked to Samantha, the social worker that was in charge of the orientation and volunteer assignments, to choose our volunteer assignments.
I wanted a position where I would be able to perform translations, which was not available from the times that I submitted. I was able to obtain a translation position by offering availability once every two weeks for 2 hours and 45 minutes from 8 am to 10:45 am (I have class at 11:10) to help a group of medical students and their doctor with translations. In addition, on the weeks that there will not be a doctor, I will be translating pamphlets into Spanish, which I believe is important since Samantha said that about 90% of the patients that go to San Jose clinic speak Spanish as their first language.
I am looking forward to starting translation work this week on pamphlets and clinical translation work next week. I really wanted to do translation work and because of these adjustments I will finally be able to.
On Friday I went to the orientation at the San Jose Clinic in downtown Houston. The place was empty since it was the end of the week and they were going to have Saturday clinic on weekend. After a video and signing the waivers to volunteer at the clinic, the group took a tour of the facility. It was a very nice and clean place since San Jose Clinic just moved to this building about a year ago. After the tour, we talked to Samantha, the social worker that was in charge of the orientation and volunteer assignments, to choose our volunteer assignments.
I wanted a position where I would be able to perform translations, which was not available from the times that I submitted. I was able to obtain a translation position by offering availability once every two weeks for 2 hours and 45 minutes from 8 am to 10:45 am (I have class at 11:10) to help a group of medical students and their doctor with translations. In addition, on the weeks that there will not be a doctor, I will be translating pamphlets into Spanish, which I believe is important since Samantha said that about 90% of the patients that go to San Jose clinic speak Spanish as their first language.
I am looking forward to starting translation work this week on pamphlets and clinical translation work next week. I really wanted to do translation work and because of these adjustments I will finally be able to.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
First Post!
Hello World!
I have sent in my application to the San Jose Clinic and am excited to hear a reply from them. I will contact other clinics tomorrow, but I hope to go to this one since they need medical translators and I would love to bring my past hospital volunteering experiences, along with my ability to fluently speak Spanish and English and training from my Medical Spanish course, to this facility to serve the underserved. Since I desire to become a physician involved with underserved population, I am really excited about this opportunity to be able to help those in need so that I can get a clearer picture of what I want to get into as my future.
I am really happy for this opportunity and can't wait to see how I can help.
Signing off,
Eduardo
I have sent in my application to the San Jose Clinic and am excited to hear a reply from them. I will contact other clinics tomorrow, but I hope to go to this one since they need medical translators and I would love to bring my past hospital volunteering experiences, along with my ability to fluently speak Spanish and English and training from my Medical Spanish course, to this facility to serve the underserved. Since I desire to become a physician involved with underserved population, I am really excited about this opportunity to be able to help those in need so that I can get a clearer picture of what I want to get into as my future.
I am really happy for this opportunity and can't wait to see how I can help.
Signing off,
Eduardo
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