Online Spanish for Health Care Professionals Certificate

The Certificate in Spanish for Health Care Professionals prepares students to better serve Hispanic patients who otherwise may not get equal access to health care services because of the linguistic and cultural barriers. This certificate will also prepare students for today's growing demand for Spanish among physicians and healthcare workers in the United States. In addition, students will develop cross-cultural competency in Hispanic culture, Hispanic health care system, and health beliefs as well as practices.

The certificate program will be online beginning Fall 2024.

Goals of the Certificate

The linguistic competence and cultural awareness goals of the certificate are achieved by taking the different courses before reaching SPAN 231 (Introductory and Survival Spanish for Healthcare Professionals). In this last specialized course (SPAN 231) students will:

• Develop better physician-patient communication skills, increase their cultural competence, and make better clinical decisions in their practice.
• Increase competence in Medical Spanish to effectively communicate with Spanish-speaking patients and families.
• Understand the nuts and bolts or detailed practical aspects of better communication through Spanish grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, sample interview questions, and helpful interview techniques.
• Have an interaction at the intermediate level in Spanish with patients by watching video of real-time physician-patient exchanges and learning from clinic vignettes.
• Gauge and hone their doctor-patient communication skill in Spanish.
• Learn and use highly specialized vocabulary in medical terminology.

Who will benefit

The Certificate in Spanish for Health Care Professionals will broaden career horizons and enhance professional preparation of students in the fields of psychology, biology, chemistry, biochemistry, social work, public health, nursing, medical assistant programs, emergency medical services, medical insurance specialists, and more.

The certificate might also be of interest to students who participate in the Global Brigades at UM-Dearborn, which is an international movement of students and medical professionals working alongside local communities and staff to implement sustainable health systems. They work in remote, rural, and under resourced communities in Honduras, Panama, Nicaragua, Guatemala, and Ghana that would otherwise have limited to no access to health care.

Already working with Hispanic/Latino patients?

The Certificate in Spanish for Health Care Professionals is open to current working healthcare professionals in the area as well as for students from other colleges and universities. You can also opt to only take SPAN 231, Introductory and Survival Spanish for Healthcare Professionals (No previous knowledge of Spanish is required).

Everyone is welcome!