A Duke Workday: A Trusted Voice for Spanish-Speaking Patients
Meet Luisa Saldarriaga, a Medical Interpreter for Duke University Health System
Each video in “A Duke Workday” series connects you with a staff and faculty member who shares and represents the Duke values of respect, trust, inclusion, discovery and excellence. Is there a colleague you would like for us to highlight in “A Duke Workday?” Let us know.
Luisa Saldarriaga, Medical Interpreter for Duke Health, completed her degree in her home country of Colombia and was looking for the right job opportunity prior to applying for medical residency in the United States. According to Saldarriaga, she found that opportunity with Duke Health.
"When I found this position as a Medical Interpreter, I thought it was a perfect fit because it allows me to use my medical background while help make communication possible," Saldarriaga said.
Saldarriaga works on a team of 18 in-house Spanish interpreters who find themselves running from one building to another, trying to meet the needs of Spanish speaking patients at Duke University Hospital and the surrounding clinics.
"I think our work makes the healthcare experiences smoother and less intimidating for patients and families, because being in the hospital is already stressful, and it's even more so if you don't speak the language. So I always feel proud to help the Spanish speaking patients to be heard and feel safe and truly included in their own care."
Watch the latest installment of "A Duke Workday" and see what it's like to work as a Medical Interpreter for Duke Health.
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