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Message from Elizabeth Colón
President of Metaphrasis
|  We at Metaphrasis are committed to giving back to our community and recognizing the hard work of our interpreters. In this month's newsletter, we are remembering fondly the dedication of our friend and colleague Armando Corral, who passed away in April. We're also shining a spotlight on volunteers who helped out for a good cause at the Chicago Diabetes Expo. We couldn't do the work we do without our wonderful team. Read on to see what opportunities might be in store for YOU! |
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| A Fond Farewell to Armando Corral by Elizabeth Colón |
Metaphrasis recently lost a great interpreter and an avid champion of the rights of those without a voice. Armando Corral died on April 12 from injuries he sustained during a robbery and attack. Although Armando's life had a tragic end, we'd like to celebrate all he did through the lens of his interpreting career.
Armando trained with Metaphrasis in 2009 and was an active interpreter. His standard response when we called him with assignments: "I got your back." He didn't just have our back; he had the backs of our clients, the patients who needed assistance in the field, and the medical professionals who cared enough to bring Armando in as a bridge. Armando spoke highly of his wife Edith, and we were always touched when he showed his support at Metaphrasis events.
News of Armando's untimely death traveled quickly, and Metaphrasis received many calls from clients expressing sympathy. It was clear at his memorial service that Armando was loved by many. During my brief conversation with his parents, wife, and sister, I was told Metaphrasis made Armando smile and he was very proud to be working with an agency that did so much for the community.
To him I say, "We were very proud of you, Armando. Thank you for all the great memories you gave the nurses and families while doing your wonderful work. We will continue to carry out your mission by lending voices to those in need. You will be truly missed." ~ Elizabeth
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Metaphrasis Lends a Hand (and a Voice) at the Chicago Diabetes Expo
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On Saturday, April 16th, Metaphrasis was a proud participant at this year's Chicago Diabetes Expo at Navy Pier. Nearly three dozen Metaphrasis volunteers did everything from sharing information at the Metaphrasis booth to assisting non-English speakers as they navigated the free health screenings and other offerings. Take a look at our team:
Big thanks go to:
- Ana Aguilera
- Lenny Barragan
- Rosalia Bautista
- Edyta Cychowski
- Grace Doyle
- Fauqia Fahmeed
- Fatima Gentry
- Michael Gilbert
- Josephine Gonzalez
- Veronica Guemez
- Lourdes Guzman
- Veronica Herrejon
- Ana Maria Isaac
- Joseph Janvier
- Carol Juan
- Marta Levine
- Aurelija Malec
- Maria D. Miranda
- Anna Kocol Mitoraj
- Agnes Mogelnicki
- Marcin Murawski
- Moises Nadal
- Esperanza Navar
- Maria Isabelle Nieves
- Betty Nieves
- Liliana Ornelas
- Benilde Polverini-Zimmerman
- Leticia Rivera
- Adriana Rodriguez
- Ariadna Sanchez
- Hector Tapia
- Mariana Vargas
- Gabriela Waleski
- Rosemary Wooley
View more great pictures from the event on our Facebook page.
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May 21st - Interpreters' Forum
| If YOU are an interpreter hoping to connect and brainstorm with others who do what you do, we have just the event for you. Join us on Saturday, May 21st, at Metaphrasis' Intercultural Center for our next Interpreters' Forum. Save your seat today!
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June 1st - Diabetes 101: "Power Over Diabetes"
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On Wednesday, June 1st, the American Diabetes Association's Associate Director of Latino Initiatives, Martin Nava, will be presenting the first of several ADA trainings hosted this year by Metaphrasis. He'll cover great tips for conquering the diagnosis and taming the symptoms. This is GREAT information for interpreters who do medical interpreting. Those who attend will be eligible for 2 CEUs (continuing education credits). Get more information, and reserve your spot!
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Medical Interpreter Training: May & July
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Are YOU ready to sign up for Metaphrasis' Medical Interpreter Training? This 48-hr training includes an introduction to healthcare interpreting, medical terminology, standard interpreting practices, the role and modes of interpreting, OSHA, HIPAA, and more.
- May Dates = 12, 13, 14, 18, 19 & 20
- July Dates = 14, 15, 16, 20, 21 & 22
For more information or to apply for a slot, click here.
SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY:
We're offering 1 scholarship per session for interpreters interested in enhancing their skills with Medical Interpreter Training. Applicants will be asked to complete a 500-word essay. Email your inquiries to Maria Nieves. Good luck!
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Helpful Feedback from April 5th Cancer Seminar
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Metaphrasis is committed to providing opportunities for learning and growth. Toward this goal, on Tuesday, April 5th, we hosted Dr. John Hayes of Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine and Catherine Nwileh-Ibeagha of the American Cancer Society to discuss "Cancer and Its Effects on Patients."
We were pleased by the positive response from our 25 attendees. One said: "There are constant changes in (medical) treatments and technology, and we need as much updating as we can get. Thank you so much for providing these opportunities to your interpreters."
100% of the attendees indicated on a post-seminar survey that they found the presenters to be prepared, knowledgeable, and well-equipped to address their questions. We also received several great suggestions for future workshop topics.
We hope to see you at our next event!
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Notable Article: "Kids Hospitalized Longer If Parents Not Fluent"
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New research shared in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine this month shows that parental language barriers can have frustrating (and costly) effects on the care provided to their children. The study showed that sick children with parents whose English proficiency was limited spent 60% longer in hospital than those whose parents spoke fluent English.
Read the full article here on MedPage Today.
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Interpreters Gather For TWO Great National Conferences
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NCIHC Membership Meeting, May 19 & 20, New Orleans, LA
- Interpreters from around the country will gather this month for the 5th Annual National Council on Interpreting in Health Care Membership Meeting. The keynote address will cover "Language Access in Healthcare, Disasters, and Emergency Response." Other topics during the 2-day conference will include national standards, networking, and celebration of the NCIHC's 2011 Language Access Champions. For more information, go here.
InterpretAmerica Summit on Interpreting, June 17 & 18, Washington DC
- The theme of InterpretAmerica's 2nd Annual North American Summit is "Quality Interpreting in a Push-Button World: How Professional Identity and Technology are Driving the Future of Our Field." Topics to be explored include the impact of technology, the need for a broader professional identity, the employee vs. freelance workplace model, and the state of research on interpreting. For more information, go here.
If YOU go, let us know. We'd love to share your insights and pictures!
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Join the Metaphrasis Team!
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Metaphrasis is in search of passionate, reliable, and dynamic language professionals looking for a way to make a difference in their community. We offer competitive wages, flexible hours and locations, opportunities for professional development, and the chance to join a company with a strong commitment to respect and diversity. Metaphrasis welcomes interpreters of all languages.
Find out how to join this stellar team here.
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Thanks again for taking a moment out of your busy schedule to check out our newsletter and to help us say goodbye to Armando. Here's to a beautiful and bountiful spring.
Elizabeth Colón
President
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