Why Medical Interpreter?

Completing a professional cycle allows us to reflect on what we do, where we want to get, and how to achieve our goals. I recently ended my cycle as Assistant Director of Interpreter Services with the stellar team at the Center for Health Impact, and there were opportunities to discuss the impact we had in the lives of those we served in the community, as a department, and as part of a truly mission-oriented organization. I could not help but think of the question I posed to medical interpreting students in our first training session in October of 2023: ‘Why did you choose medical interpreting?’

‘Because I want to help’

The sentence above was the overwhelming response of about 30 students who are joining the industry. They expect to make a living out of it, after all, we all have bills to pay, but the motivating factor is to let fellow humans use their communication skills and tools to be able to speak up and hopefully be heard in the community, most specifically in the medical setting. Most medical interpreters come from a family background where they were witnesses to the struggles of their parents or relatives who could not access basic services or use them to the fullest possible extent because of language barriers.

We love people, therefore we chose the language services industry. Medical interpreters try to align the need for financial compensation with the virtuous goal of helping their fellow humans, who are mostly, underserved populations with limited English proficiency. Professional medical interpreters understand that real advocacy comes from doing their best during an encounter to support communicative autonomy, which is defined as?“The capacity of each party in an encounter to be responsible for and in control of his or her own communication.”?(Garcia-Beyaert, 2015). Community Interpreters memorize this during their training sessions because this is the north in the compass of professional interpreting.

How Managers Support the Goal of Caring for Fellow Humans

Because of the nature of the business, managers in the industry need to think of budget, revenue, and expenses, so that the interpreting business is profitable. However, care for fellow humans is a core principle. It is not just about money, it is about people, and organizational culture must reflect that. Managers must walk the talk, making sure that caring for others is not just a piece of press release, but a real statement on how the organization and the department support the work of all interpreters. The interpreters are usually willing to sacrifice their family time, their rest, and financial advantages to serve others in the community. Are managers of interpreter services willing to do so as well?

We chose the language services industry because we love people.

A very personal situation exemplifies what 'walk the talk' means to managers in this industry. Having given my notice to my then-employer, I was getting ready to start in this new position at the Center for Health Impact (CHI) when I suddenly received the news that my sister had passed. Though they had an urgent need at the organization, they agreed to postpone my start date for at least a week, so that I could fly to Brazil and support my family through those dark times during the pandemic. A week later I got COVID-19 and had to fight for my life in what became an extended illness that would eventually lead to another hospitalization because of complications related to that infection. Other organizations and managers would have moved forward with other options, as my health did not seem to improve. The oversight at the time decided to wait for my recovery expecting (which at the time was a risky bet) that I would eventually be able to fully recover and offer my best to support the department and its goals.

It was not about budget and revenue, but it had to do with embracing the mission and walking the talk when it comes to seeing the potential in others and patiently giving them time and the tools so that they can thrive. When managers show they care by their actions, as this example illustrates, interpreters will be even more motivated to always do their best to support better health outcomes for patients and promote communicative autonomy.?

In conclusion, we are in this industry because we care. We love our fellow humans, and we look for opportunities to do our job in the best possible way to support and promote communicative autonomy. Whether we are starting our journey in this industry or have been walking the path for many years, may we never forget why we do this: ‘Because I want to help.’

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Reference

Garcia-Beyaert, S. (2015). Communicative Autonomy and the Role of the Community Interpreter. In M.A. Bancroft (Ed.), The Community Interpreter?: An International Textbook (p.363). Columbia, Maryland: Culture & Language Press