SÍ! (Spanish Individualized) Program
The Hispanic population in Nebraska, currently at 12-13% across the state, is set to represent more than 20% of the population by 2040, making it the largest minority population in Nebraska. While many health centers throughout the state have access to live or phone interpreters to serve this growing population, the need for health care professionals who can speak Spanish remains high.
To meet this need, the UNMC Department of Pediatrics offers individualized medical Spanish language learning opportunities as part of the Pediatric Global Health Residency Track.
The program was developed in collaboration with the UNMC Office of Global Engagement and the University of Anáhuac Veracruz (UAV), Xalapa campus in Mexico. The program offers intensive individualized medical Spanish language instruction, which is tailored to the individual trainee’s Spanish language skills. Instruction is for 6 hours per day, 5 days per week, for 3 weeks. Instruction is provided by the UAV linguistics faculty in Mexico. A longitudinal 2-year program is also an option if timeline and availability allow.
In addition to the intensive Spanish language instruction, trainees receive lectures on culture, contrast between the US and Mexican health care systems, and get to practice conducting patient interviews through practical experiences incorporated into the curriculum.
The program is open to Pediatric Residents, Med-Peds Residents and Pediatric Fellows regardless of language proficiency. The program can tailor courses for beginners as well as advanced learners who may want to improve their medical literacy in Spanish. In person and virtual options are available.
- Placement test prior to program initiation to assess Spanish language level
- Total 90 hours of instruction over the course of 3 weeks with 6 hours/day individualized Spanish one-to-one instruction
- Residents/Fellows must complete the Pediatric Residency Global Health Track curriculum to participate in this program.
- The program is available to 2nd , 3rd & 4th year pediatrics and med-peds residents as well as pediatric fellows.
- This experience counts as a no overnight call pediatric residency elective.
- Course cost covered by the Pediatric Residency Global Health Track
The longitudinal program consists of 300-360 hours of one-to-one individually tailored language instruction over two-three years with instructors from the University of Anáhuac Veracruz, Mexico.
- Goal is to achieve B2 fluency to be able to see patients individually without interpreters.
- Instruction is provided virtually with one in person intensive elective month.
- Placement test prior to program initiation to assess Spanish language level (via Zoom). Beginners welcome.
- Fellows and residents must complete the Pediatric Residency Global Health Track online curriculum to participate in this program (29 asynchronous online modules, ~25 hours) Time spent on the curriculum counts towards duty hours per ACGME guidelines.
- Course (virtual and in person) costs covered by the Pediatric Residency Global Health Track.
- Course alternates between intensive and maintenance one-to-one language instruction.
Preferred schedule:
Step 1:
- Month 1- Intensive elective month (virtual instruction in Omaha) - 90 hours of instruction over the course of 3 weeks with 6 hours/day individualized Spanish one-to-one instruction– needs to be a call-free elective month, Saturday and Sunday call ok but no overnights
Step 2:
- During interim months - 120-180 hours of maintenance individualized virtual Spanish instruction for 2-4 hours a week tailored to the learner’s clinical rotation schedule (intensive care months excluded)
Step 3:
- End of year 2 (or year 3 if expanded): Intensive elective month - 90 hours of in person instruction over 3 weeks at the University of Anáhuac Veracruz (UAV), Xalapa campus in Mexico. Other potential site includes Hospital del Niño Doctor José Renán Esquivel in Panama City, Panamá (if fellow or resident has achieved sufficient Spanish fluency). Must be a call free month