They will improve Medical Attention to Latinos

By Greta Villaseñor
Translated ByItze Lebrija

Fully understanding the necessity of teaching Spanish to students and healthcare providers from the United States, the Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara School of Medicine offers a Medical Spanish course to those interested in having better communication with their patients.  This course is provided by the offices of the International Student Affairs in San Antonio, Texas and in Guadalajara.

What this course imparts to physicians, nurses, EMT’s, assistants and students is priceless.  By eliminating the time spent in finding an interpreter or in verifying the interchange translated, a quick and more reliable diagnosis is possible.  One of the benefits of the course is learning to communicate to Spanish-speaking patients in their own language and understanding their culture. 

The UAG Medical Spanish course allows students to improve their communication skills and to better interpret their symptoms.  Our International Language Center, our School of Medicine and our Program of Medicine in the Community are academic entities involved in this course.

Students attend language courses in the morning and then proceed to our community clinics to practice their language skills on patients.   Language modules and medical terminology help students acquire more prowess in their skills.

If you are interested in this course, it is not necessary for you to have any knowledge of the language as our International Language Center makes sure that you are placed in the correct level after taking a language proficiency test.

The course runs from January – December for a minimum of 4 weeks and with a minimum of 4 students.