Left Behind: Iraqi Interpreter Faces Death Threats For Helping US Troops http://ow.ly/8KaV9L
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Published by Izabel E T de V Souza, M.Ed, CMI-S, Ph.D.
I am a passionate global advocate for language access in health care. After working as a translator and interpreter (medical, legal, conference, religious) for many years, I dove into what is now my lifetime mission of advancing the profession by volunteering for the International Medical Interpreters Association (IMIAweb.org) in many different capacities (member, Regional Director, Secretary, President) and later working for the IMIA as Executive Director. I was fortunate to launch the first national medical interpreter certification in 2009 amidst much political resistance. Certification has helped interpreters earn the respect they deserve. My work, alongside other leaders in the field, has helped change the scope and status of medical interpreting, but there is much work still to be done post-certification launch, such as adding language pairs, lobbying for reimbursement, and for certification to be a requirement for practice to protect patient safety. As an ISO and ASTM expert, I contribute to the development of standards in the field of interpreting and translation. I am the project leader of the newest ISO Standard to be developed on Medical/Healthcare Interpreting. I will continue to travel extensively to present and advocate on the need for advancement in the provision of these services. I am also an interpreting and translation educator, having taught academically at Boston University, Cambridge College, Osaka University, and initially as a Bridging the Gap Licensed Trainer. My doctorate research at Osaka University, Japan, involved exploring the cultural work of medical/healthcare interpreters. Here, I will be posting on important topics related to this work. Let's work together on this. United we are stronger. If you have something you would like to post, please email me at izabeletdvs@gmail.com. View all posts by Izabel E T de V Souza, M.Ed, CMI-S, Ph.D.
