Miscommunication is a huge safety risk. As the number of Spanish-speaking patients increase, hospitals and health systems need to address language barriers to ensure that medical errors and Never Events do not result.

- AMN Healthcare Education Services

Although Hispanics represent 14% of the country, only 5% of all physicians practicing in the United States are fluent in Spanish. Many patients find it awkward to communicate through a translator or to question a doctor in a language they don’t speak.

"They're embarrassed and scared. They don't want to be a bother."

With all the demands on doctors — we only have about 15 minutes with a patient — to not have to take the extra step of a phone translation is huge.

- Dr. Gloria Sanchez, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center

Spanish-speaking patients described feeling disconnected from the healthcare team. Patients noted that they could not express themselves to healthcare staff and that the language barrier inhibited their understanding of their medical care. Participants also stated that the language barrier stifled their confidence in medical decision-making and ability to express themselves.

- International Journal for Equity in Health

"It’s easier to explain the discomfort and understand the indications. Although, if you have an interpreter, it is not the same in my opinion … I feel more comfortable when my doctor speaks Spanish.”

- Hispanic woman, age 40-65, Pew Research Center

"Language becomes a common bond that benefits both doctor and patient."

- Jacqueline Sutera, surgical podiatrist

Communication barriers can have serious consequences for health, including misdiagnosis, inappropriate medication, and mistrust. In one study, Spanish-speaking patients whose primary healthcare provider did not speak Spanish were less likely to take medication as directed, less likely to keep follow-up appointments, and more likely to use emergency departments for routine care.

- U.S. National Library of Medicine

“Many medical centers recognize the need for bilingual doctors. The fallout from language barriers between doctors and patients sometimes leads to patients getting the wrong diagnosis, treatments or medications.”

- Dr. Joseph D. Tucker, Harvard Medical School

“About one-third of the hospital's patients speak Spanish as a first language.”

- Dr. Mark Pecker, Weill Cornell Medical Center

"The schedules of physicians fluent in Spanish are always full as opposed to the doctors who only speak English."

- Dr. Asma Jafri, Riverside County Regional Medical Center

Doctors must face today’s demographic realities. A Spanish-speaking doctor fills a critical nationwide gap – opening the doors of communication between doctor and patient.

We could look upon physicians' learning of Spanish as a type of medical intervention. As with any sound medical tool, it is designed to positively affect as many patients as possible with minimal investment of resources.

-- AMA Journal of Ethics

Above: Cena de Despedida. Farewell dinner featuring one of the shadowing directors. Several students stop by to say thank you and talk about the program.

In a focus groups analysis at Kaiser Permanente, most Spanish-speaking patients said when they had English-speaking doctors, they understood “approximately half” of what their doctors told them. Many worried about misinterpreting physician instructions. Internal studies showed Spanishspeaking patients were more successful controlling their diabetes, depression and blood pressure when they were able to consult with Spanishspeaking doctors.

- Los Angeles Times

"The reality is, if you can't communicate with a patient, you can't provide care. It shouldn't be an add-on. It should be a required part of providing high-quality health care."

- Mara Youdelman, National Health Law Program

Above: Percentage of Spanish-speakers by state. Immigration from Spanish-speaking countries is not slowing down. Most big cities, and many rural areas, continue to attract newcomers.

Language barriers are associated with lower patient comprehension, satisfaction, and trust in physicians, and often, worse clinical outcomes. For clinicians, language barriers can invoke dread, with visions of wasted time, communication frustration, and increased difficulty in providing high-quality care. Finally, patient safety suffers when language barriers impede easy communication...Patients want a physician who speaks their language well enough to supply excellent care.

- National Institute of Health

"Good communication is essential for every medical encounter, whether you are talking about a visit for a rash or someone who is in the ICU. We know from extensive literature that language barriers affect access to care, health status, use of health services, patient/physician communication, satisfaction with care, quality and safety—it really spans the spectrum in terms of the impact."

- Glenn Flores, Medica Research Institute

Option 1) 6 Weeks:
2 Countries (Chile, Argentina)
2 Spanish Courses
Tuition and fees: $8,490

Option 2) 9 Weeks:
3 Countries (Chile, Argentina, Peru)
3 Spanish Courses
Tuition and fees: $11,990

Both options include:

• Healthcare Shadowing
• Volunteering
• Travel between countries
• university transcript for Spanish courses
• certificate of shadowing hours and Spanish level attained

Accommodations and travel to/from South America are not included.

Financial assistance from the Shadow Abroad scholarship fund is available.

Each session is limited to 25 total students.

There are two summer start dates (late May and mid-June).