Applicant Posted December 21, 2012 Share Posted December 21, 2012 I am pre-PA and wanted to ask PAs out there what their opinions are about second-language proficiency (especially in Spanish) and if that is a sought-after trait when looking for jobs? Has that been a good selling point for anyone when interviewing for jobs? I am thinking of attending a program that is not well-known or highly ranked. But I figure if I have second language proficiency, dual MPH/PA degree, and good letters of rec -- would that go a long way? Or would it be better to attend a more well-known school period? I currently live in NC and am considering living and working in NC post-PA. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaepora Posted December 21, 2012 Share Posted December 21, 2012 All the studies done on this subject have shown that pt care is negatively impacted when a certified translator is not utilized. No matter how fluent a particular person might be. I'm not sure it will be a huge selling point other than to show you had the intelligence and drive to learn a second language. But even then only if you're pretty dang near fluent... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator rev ronin Posted December 22, 2012 Administrator Share Posted December 22, 2012 One of my classmates treats patients in her second language all the time, but then she's really proficient, having lived here in the US for over 30 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Applicant Posted December 22, 2012 Author Share Posted December 22, 2012 Well Spanish is my native language. I would imagine it would be a sought after ability in areas/cities with a high Hispanic population. I am just curious to learn more about others experience with it before making an assumption. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator LT_Oneal_PAC Posted December 22, 2012 Moderator Share Posted December 22, 2012 I'm sure uc Davis would love it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsfelder0417 Posted December 23, 2012 Share Posted December 23, 2012 My program loves the students who speak Spanish as well. I would not say i'm fluent, but rather have a passing knowledge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LESH Posted December 23, 2012 Share Posted December 23, 2012 Well Spanish is my native language. I would imagine it would be a sought after ability in areas/cities with a high Hispanic population. I am just curious to learn more about others experience with it before making an assumption. Your assumption is correct. Applicants should ask programs what % of the patient population seen on clinical rotations speaks Spanish or any other language. Sometimes translators are not available. The FQHCs and RHCs that programs like to use as clinical training sites may serve 90-100% Spanish speaking patients. There may or may not be instruction in Medical Spanish in the program curriculum. Oneal is correct, UCD and other California PA ADCOMs consider being bilingual a plus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Latina PA Posted December 24, 2012 Share Posted December 24, 2012 Spanish is my native language also, but I have had to study medical terminology in Spanish to work as a medical translator. Just because you speak the language it does not mean that you know all the medical terminology or all the proper anatomy names. If you ask a native English speaker what is a cholecystectomy, rhinorrhea, ischemia (etc, etc)........ would they know? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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