Student Interpreter's Service Initiative (SISI)

Student Interpreter's Service Initiative (SISI) is a program through Madison House wherevolunteers act as medical interpreters, attending appointments and interpreting between Hispanic/Latino patients and UVA doctors throughout many clinics of the UVA hospital.

Volunteers must be native or fluent speakers of both English and Spanish, and have exceptional verbal communication skills. They must be comfortable dealing with families and caregivers in a healthcare setting, and be emotionally and mentally competent to understand patients' concerns. SISI is a perfect way to give back to the Charlottesville Latino community and to gain hands-on clinical experience. 

Applicants will have to pass a language proficiency prerequisite created by the UVA Language Assistance Department. They will be holding interviews at Madison House on Friday September 6th from 8am- 2pm. If you are interested in volunteering with SISI, please attend a Madison House Medical Services Info Session next week (http://www.madisonhouse.org/registration/index.php) to sign up for an interview time. 

Below is a Spanish-English vocabulary list that will be useful to use in preparing for the interview.

The most important areas to study are:

• Anatomia general: bazo, craneo, vejjga, vesicula, intestine grueso, clavícula etc..
• Enfermedades básicas:  Sarampión, ictericia, Artritis, paperas, varicella etc..
• Especialidaes médicas: Dermatología, cardiología, urología etc..
• Partes de un hospital & tests o pruebas médicas: Cuidados intensivos, sala de partos, punción lumbar, etc..
• Vocabulario médico general: Presión arterial, vasos sangineos, marcapaso etc..

For more information or any questions please email Millie Mellenkamp (mmm5cb@virginia.edu) or Luis Ortiz (leo2he@virginia.edu), the two program directors for SISI.