Northwestern Medicine® to offer Medical Spanish Classes
The Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Office of Diversity in partnership with Northwestern Memorial Hospital’s NM Academy and the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM) Chicago extension will offer Medical Spanish classes again this year. The organizations have offered the program since fall 2010.
“A provider’s ability to form a trusting relationship with a patient is based on initial communication and flows from there,” said Sunny Gibson, MSW, lecturer in medical education and faculty development at the medical school. “Acquiring at least some Spanish-speaking skills can help physicians and future physicians connect with patients more effectively by demonstrating humility and concern.”
Classes are open to health profession graduate students at Feinberg (MD, MPH, MA, PhD, DPT), and to employees from Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Northwestern Memorial Faculty Foundation, and Northwestern Medicine Physicians Group.
Spring session courses begin January 23 and 24 from 5 to 7 p.m. at three levels:
Basic 1 (Mondays) – This course is for people who have never taken Spanish before.
Basic 2 (Mondays) – This course is for people with some knowledge of Spanish. Placement test or completion of Basic 1 required.
Intermediate (Tuesdays) – This course is for people who can narrate and describe past events in Spanish both orally and in writing.
“The program is designed so that a learner can move from not knowing any Spanish, to being able to conduct a basic interview,” Gibson said. “Rather than drill grammar and structure, there is a balanced focus on these components while emphasizing medically-related vocabulary and phrases. The focus of our courses is on learning to speak, first and foremost.
To schedule a placement test, call UNAM at 312-573-1347 ext. 17 or e-mail: unamchicago@chicago.unam.mx class="MsoHyperlink". To register, visit the UNAM website.
Each course, held at NM Academy, 541 North Fairbanks, 9th floor, is equal to 30 hours of instruction; fees are based on training level ($80 for students, $160 for residents and staff, $240 for physicians, $280 for sponsored non-affiliates).
Two, four-week Medical Spanish Physical Exam Skills (SPEX) workshops are also being offered. These sessions, specifically geared toward learning vocabulary and phrasing to complete a physical exam, are 10 hours total on Wednesdays (February 1 to 23) or Thursdays (February 16 to March 8) from 5:30 to 7 p.m. They cost $30 for students and $45 for all others. Please see the online schedule for exact dates of courses and workshops.
Interpreter Services Offer Vital Role
In addition to Medical Spanish Classes, Gibson worked with UNAM instructors to develop a presentation for Spanish learners on the unique role of interpreters.
“Interpreter services are an integral part of providing excellent care to the Spanish-speaking community, and language learning opportunities have the same goal. We thought it would be a good learning opportunity for all involved to hear more about the others’ roles and experiences,” Gibson said. “It is also vital that language learners understand some of the technicalities of interpretation so that they apply their skills appropriately and abide within the limits of their language skills to the benefit of the patient.”