2018 Spring Cycle of the "Discover Healthcare Interpreting” CoreCHI™ Scholarship
Get ready for the 2018 Spring Cycle of the “Discover Healthcare Interpreting” CoreCHI™ Scholarship! Applications are accepted between April 1- May 31, 2018. The 2018 Fall Cycle scholarships are made possible thanks to the generous contribution from Liberty Language Services (www.libertylanguageservices.com, Vienna, VA). Liberty Language Services is a language services agency providing total language solutions and language access services to hospital systems, medical offices, legal firms, courts, public schools, state and local government agencies, universities, private companies and more. Core capabilities include on-site, face-to-face interpreting services, over the phone interpreting and video remote interpreting. Liberty Language Services also offers other language services such as written translation, and American Sign Language (ASL) services, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. CCHI expresses our deep gratitude to Silvia Villacampa personally for being instrumental in providing the support.
Our other contributor this cycle is UMTIA (Upper Midwest Translators & Interpreters Association). UMTIA in collaboration with Allina Health held an interpreter professional development event in December 2017 and donated the registration fees to the Discover HCI Scholarship fund. This is a true testament to how interpreters themselves support the profession and their colleagues.
The purpose of the scholarship is to support interpreters of languages for which only the CoreCHI™ certification is currently available, including refugee languages and languages of lesser diffusion. Thanks to the generous contributions from Liberty Language Services, UMTIA, and the Commissioners, CCHI will award up to five (5) scholarships, in the amount of $210 each.
Apply by May 31, 2018. For details and instructions, go to https://goo.gl/kQnmxI. To download the scholarship application, click here.
Winners will be announced on July 15, 2018.
#DiscoverHCI #GetCertified
Interviews with Scholarship 2017 Winners
Ye Yang, CoreCHI™
Hmong interpreter (MN)
Ze Yang was awarded the “Discover Healthcare Interpreting” CoreCHI™ Scholarship in December of 2017, and in February of 2018 she earned the CoreCHI™ credential.
Ze traces her interpreting roots to her childhood. She came to the United States with her family when she was seven years old. As a native Hmong speaker, she was the first in her family to learn English. On many occasions, she acted as the interpreter for her family members and parents. Twelve years ago, she began interpreting professionally in education settings. Most recently, she started interpreting as a private contractor for WIC services.
The following are excerpts from a recent interview with a CCHI Commissioner:
What inspired you to become an interpreter and why health care?
It started with my family and seeing their need. When I was in high school one of the careers I considered pursuing a career in the medical field. Health and wellness are important. Nutrition, exercise, and wellbeing are all important in daily life and quality of life. I wanted to be part of that. It’s always been an interest of mine. Communication is very important, especially regarding health conditions, knowing what things are called, and being able to communicate how you’re feeling. Once something, like medicine, goes in, you can’t get it back you. It’s important to know what’s going in.
I get to meet people and ensure that they know what’s going on with their health. As an interpreter, I get to apply the skills and experience I have to something I’ve always wanted to do.
What does earning the certification credential mean for you and your professional career?
To me it means having more doors. It is something that I can do. It makes a difference. You don’t question if you know what you’re doing. Certification gives you confidence that you know you can do this.
You recently earned the credential. How has earning the certification credential impacted you?
More opportunities. More options to make choices. I work in the schools, so I don’t have work in the summer. This gives me the opportunity interpret in the summer and to earn income to support my family. With a credential, I can get recognized as a professional and get compensation for the work I do. It is also an opportunity to give back to the community and to help someone professionally.
What would you tell someone who is considering becoming a healthcare interpreter?
Go for it. We could always use more. There are not enough interpreters. It is important for the community. It is important to have a real interpreter. Someone who cares passionately and is willing and able to communicate the message and get people the help that they need.
What advice would you give someone who is preparing to take the certification exam?
Review and know your stuff. Understand the law, policy, terminology. Another good thing about the exam are the scenarios. If you understand the scenarios, it isn’t too hard. Don’t give up. Honestly, I was positive about taking the exam because it is an area I’m interested in it. For me, it confirmed that I know what I’m doing. Feel passionate about it. Know what is expected of you. Give it a try.
CCHI Commissioners and staff congratulate Ze Yang on earning her CoreCHI™ credential and for her continued dedication to the healthcare interpreting profession.
Ozlem Avci Gregory, CoreCHI™
Turkish interpreter (CA) 
Ozlem Avci Gregory was awarded the “Discover Healthcare Interpreting” CoreCHI™ Scholarship in December of 2017, and in March of 2018 she earned the CoreCHI™ credential.
She began her interpreting career as a Turkish/English interpreter in the court system in England. When she came to the United States and was ready to pursue a professional career, interpreting was her career of choice. She currently interprets in healthcare and court settings and is a member of professional associations, including the California Healthcare Interpreting Association and the American Translators Association.
The following are excerpts from a recent interview with a CCHI Commissioner:
What inspired you to become an interpreter and why healthcare?
I love languages. Interpreting really makes your brain work hard. It like an ocean. You have so much to learn. The Turkish community in England is much larger than in the USA (California); therefore, the challenges are bigger because there are fewer interpreters. Currently, there are only two CoreCHI™ Turkish interpreters in the entire country.
Healthcare is extremely serious. It is also like an ocean – unborn babies, workers compensation cases, end-of-life, everything. Whether talking about a person’s health or benefits, everything is very serious. I’m going to be the best interpreter I can be and contribute to my profession as well as my language community.
You recently earned the credential. How has earning the certification credential impacted you?
Instant change. Agency owners immediately offered jobs stating that they want to work with a CoreCHI™ certificant.
When I introduce self at the hospital and show my badge, my certification makes patients and their family members feel happy and confident about my interpretation, which makes me really proud.
What would you tell someone who is considering becoming a healthcare interpreter?
Follow all the protocols. Don’t pay attention to people that say being bilingual is good enough to be an interpreter. Find an interpreting training course and get the training. Then when you work as an interpreter, you’ll be prepared for the challenges. Now you have the CoreCHI™ test available. It should be your goal within two years of working as a healthcare interpreter to take and pass the certification test. And also remember your continuing education – webinars, seminars, meetings, conferences – are all extremely important. You should be constantly working and studying.
What advice would you give someone who is preparing to take the certification exam?
Definitely follow the study guide. Download the glossaries. The resources are excellent. When you pass exam, know that you enter another phase. The field is like an ocean. Keep reading. Keep studying. Keep doing research.
CCHI Commissioners and staff congratulate Ozlem Avci Gregory on earning her CoreCHI™ credential and for her continued dedication to the healthcare interpreting profession.
CHI™ Spring 2018 Testing
The Spring 2018 testing for CHI™ candidates is in full swing until May 7, 2018. Call to schedule your exam now if you have the CHI™ Notice to Schedule. Contact our scheduling service at (844) 704-1487
You can search for the test center locations for any of our exams from one page – click here – thanks to our testing vendor PSI (formerly Comira). We have a new test site available in Nashville (TN).
 The CoreCHI™ exam can be scheduled at any time year round (now including Sundays at some locations). However, the oral CHI™ exams for Arabic, Mandarin and Spanish interpreters are available only 4 times a year (for specific dates in 2018 click here and scroll down to the middle of the page).
Keep in mind that testing locations may change during the year; ask our representative (at 844-704-1487) about a location closest to you when you call to schedule. If you have any questions about the application process, scheduling or paying for any exam, please contact Malika Sadi-Goodman, our Director of Operations, at CMSspecialist@cchicertification.org.
If you have passed your CoreCHI™ exam, click here to log into your CCHI profile and take the next steps to schedule your CHI™ exam during the upcoming testing window.
Don’t forget that you have 6 months from the date your application is approved to take the CoreCHI™ exam and 12 months to take the CHI™ exam after you pass the CoreCHI™ one. You will have to repeat the process if you miss these deadlines.
We wish you the best of luck on your exam!
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Updated Candidate’s Examination Handbook
CCHI Commissioners published the updated version of CCHI Candidate’s Examination Handbook. The updates include examples of documents applicants need to upload to meet eligibility requirements, description of the oral performance exam rating scales, information about the non-instructional CE activities, and a work requirement waiver policy for certification renewals.
We encourage all applicants, candidates who are engaged in the testing process, and certificants to review the Handbook.
All updates are based on the suggestions and inquiries we receive from you. Stay in touch and contribute at info@cchicertification.org.
Interpreter Education News
The Interpreter Training Center of MUSC Health is holding a three-part interpreter training event “Putting the Pieces Together,” a medical terminology series. The event is held on 3 Saturdays, 9 am-4:30 pm: May 19, June 9 and 30 in Charleston (SC). It is accredited for CEUs by RID, CCHI/CEAP, and IMIA.
For more info and to register visit their website at www.muschealth.org/interpreter
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The Interpreter Training Center of MUSC Health offers a range of services such as monthly continuing education activities that are RID, CCHI, and IMIA CEU approved trainings, Language neutral – 40 hour foundation training for Medical Interpreters, Certification Prep Course for Interpreters, One-on-One practice/mentor sessions through our Practicum program, Testing site for RID, CCHI, NBCMI, and ATA, also offer Diagnostic Testing for Interpreters preparing for National Certification.
Upcoming 2018 Conferences
Don't miss these upcoming conferences (click on their names to get to the corresponding registration website):
Visit our Interpreting Industry Conferences webpage for ongoing updates throughout the year.
Did you know?
If you have a smartphone, you can record yourself and play it back at different speeds with these free phone apps (for both Android and iPhones). You can record anything, like the audio from a TV show, or video on YouTube in addition to yourself, and play it back at different speeds.
Practicing with faster than normal speech allows you to feel relaxed and in control when at work interpreting at normal speech speed. Try it you’ll like it!
For iPhones and iPads
For Android Phones
You may download a pdf file of this Issue
Go to our News webpage at http://www.cchicertification.org/57-stay-informed/news/138-cchi-news-a-updates.
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