At Harborview Medical Center, we believe that every patient deserves the highest quality of care, regardless of language or culture. Our Interpreter Services team plays an essential role in making this possible, with an incredible staff who collectively speak over seventeen languages and manage interpretation for a staggering 400+ patient encounters every single day. Their work ensures that every patient’s voice is heard and their needs understood, fostering clear communication and building trust between patients and providers. Beyond language services, such as interpreting and document translation, the Interpreter Services Department at Harborview is unique in providing other standout programs to Harborview Medical Center (HMC) in their holistic approach to care.
The Community House Calls program features Caseworker Cultural Mediators (CCMs) who offer interpretation and provide navigation, advocacy, education, and case management for our most complex patients. They serve as a vital link between the healthcare team and the patient, ensuring culturally sensitive care every step of the way.
EthnoMed leverages partnerships between HMC, University of Washington students, local governments, and community organizations to educate providers on culturally informed care while creating culturally and linguistically tailored patient resources. The program also conducts outreach throughout King County, ensuring that lessons learned at Harborview benefit our surrounding community.
Lastly, at the heart of the Interpreter Services Department is the amazing scheduling team, who work tirelessly to connect patients across our many complex systems to the care and services they need.
A TEAM ROOTED IN COMPASSION AND DEDICATION:
Krisna Mandujano, Interpreter Services Coordinator reflects on the deep connection she feels with her team.
What is a rewarding part of your job?
The most rewarding part of my job is the connections I’ve made with the interpreters and Caseworkers Cultural Mediators (CCMs). To share a space with people that care deeply about language justice and accessibility means so much to me. I feel connected to my team because of our many immigrants and refugee lived experiences. I hope to continue working in the immigrant support ecosystem and building connections with immigrant community leaders.
What is an experience you had in your job that left an impression on you?
There was a patient that passed away at the hospital after being admitted for a couple of months. Our American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter had interpreted for this patient for years, and it was evident the patient liked having her as an interpreter. When they passed away, our interpreter was invited to their funeral. This was a special moment for the interpreter and impactful for me. The importance of having in person interpreters for Deaf patients matters, especially when patients are at the most vulnerable stages of their life. We hope that patients feel safe and supported every time we send an in-person interpreter.
What keeps you at Harborview Medical Center?
The interpreter services community keeps me at Harborview. I feel appreciated by many of the interpreters and CCMs. Jeniffer Huong is one of the CCMs that drops off snacks for the scheduling team. She’s such a kind person and it makes me feel grateful to work alongside empathic and admirable immigrant women. Interpreters will stop by at the end of their shift to ask how I’m doing. It’s moments like these that keep me at Harborview.
COLLABORATING ACROSS CULTURES:
Nityia Przewlocki, EthnoMed Web Information Specialist , Highlights the many unsung heroes within ISD.
What is a rewarding part of your job?
The most rewarding part of my job is collaborating with a dedicated team of professionals who are genuinely committed to improving the health and well-being of our immigrant and refugee populations. It’s incredibly fulfilling to use my web information skills and photography to promote health equity and foster connections with my colleagues and our greater communities. Knowing that our collective efforts are making a tangible difference in people’s lives drives me to continually strive for cultural understanding, connection, and creativity in my work.
What is an experience you had in your job that left an impression on you?
One of the most impactful experiences I’ve had was interviewing and filming 12 colleagues from the Community House Calls program. Hearing their heartfelt stories about helping patients navigate health crises gave me profound insight into the vital role they play, especially for our vulnerable populations at Harborview Medical Center. This experience deepened my appreciation for the often unseen, yet critical, work being done to provide equitable and compassionate care. It left me with a lasting respect for their dedication and reinforced my commitment to supporting the Interpreter Services Department the best I can.
What keeps you at Harborview Medical Center?
I’m proud to be part of the EthnoMed.org team within the Interpreter Services Department at Harborview. Our small, resourceful team thrives on a culture of collaboration, creativity, and mutual appreciation. We share a common vision of excellence in serving diverse communities, and this environment fuels my passion for our mission. The opportunity to contribute to meaningful projects and to grow alongside such inspiring colleagues is what keeps me motivated and engaged in my work at Harborview.
A Personal Stake in Patients Well-being
Omar Abow, Somali Caseworker Cultural Mediator and Diabetes Navigator
What is a rewarding part of your job?
As a Caseworker Cultural Mediator, the most rewarding part of my job is when a Somali speaking patient is scheduled at the clinic and the provider starts talking the list of the things about the patient’s health. And the patient is anxiously waiting for me to interpret what has been said, then I do my best not only to interpret and convey the provider’s message, but also guarantee that the patient understands clearly in a way that is tailored culturally. My job makes me feel that I’ve a personal stake in the outcome of the patient’s wellbeing. Our focus, as a department of Interpreter Services, is to provide assurances that our patients’ needs are met when it comes to linguistic barriers to communication. There is no better outcome than saving lives. That is exactly what the Interpreter Services Department does!
What is an experience you had in your job that left an impression on you?
The interpreters’ presence in the exam room makes the difference. I accompanied a patient to her pharmacist visit one day. The patient brought with her all the meds that she takes and as the pharmacist was sorting out those meds and asking questions about how she takes them and when she takes them, there had been discrepancies. With my assistance, the pharmacist fixed the dosage regimen. The patient was quite happy and said, “no wonder that my health condition hasn’t improved.” The patient’s words left me with an impression of “indeed, what I’m doing is making sense.”
What keeps you at Harborview Medical Center?
Harborview Medical Center is where one can feel that their contributions at work are valued. You walk into the clinics (whether it is Family Medicine Clinic, Adult Clinic, or International Medicine Clinic) and while you are on your way to meeting the patient, you encounter the front desk folks, MAs, RNs and providers who are enthusiastically ready to assist and make you feel that your presence matters. It really creates a sense of community and keeps me coming back every morning regardless of how grey the sky in Seattle is.
Skilled Interpretation Across a Spectrum of Care
For Araceli González Medel, a Spanish Medical Interpreter II, the variety of her work across different areas of medicine is incredibly fulfilling.
What is a rewarding part of your job?
There are so many rewards to my job. Certainly, helping people to communicate their needs and to navigate the complicated medical system through accurate interpretation is rewarding. But the variety within my job is especially gratifying. I have learned so much about so many different areas of medicine in my role as Interpreter/Translator. I am not confined to one specific area of medicine. I participate in cases across the medical spectrum. The common aspect of all my work is language. And within that one commonality I have had a very enriching career, exploring an ever-widening journey of medical topics that help the patients that I serve.
What is an experience you had in your job that left an impression on you?
I have had a long career as an interpreter, and I have had so many beautiful and memorable moments with patients. One particular moment that comes to mind as a cherished memory is that I had an elderly patient who I had been working with for many years. They became very sick, had to be hospitalized, and eventually died in the hospital. This patient had no family; they had never married or had kids. They were basically alone. In addition to interpreting for them on several occasions, I took it upon myself to visit them regularly for a few minutes, to brighten up their day. I was not only a familiar face who spoke the same language, I also learned that they were from the same area of Mexico that I am from. So we made a connection. I was someone that they could talk to, and trust.
What keeps you at Harborview?
I really like my job. Harborview provides a caring space to serve people. My position is fulfilling because I am really making a difference in people’s lives within the immigrant community. My job is interesting because I have learned so much about many areas of medicine. This has enabled me to become a better Interpreter. I look forward to going to work every day.
Commitment to Equity in Care
Alberto Jimenez Sanchez, Spanish Medical Interpreter I, emphasizes the vital role of bridging the communication gap.
What is a rewarding part of your job?
One of the most rewarding parts of my job is bridging the communication gap between patients with limited English skills and their healthcare providers. By ensuring they are able to communicate their needs and concerns, and clearly understand their options and treatment, I help them get the care they deserve, which leads to better outcomes and stronger patient/provider relationships.
What is an experience you had in your job that left an impression on you?
Working at a Level-1 trauma hospital, I’ve been amazed by how resilient the human body can be. I’ve seen patients overcome severe injuries, serious illnesses, and even the loss of a limb. It’s inspiring to witness the expertise of the providers, the body’s ability to heal, and the inner-strength of patients in their commitment to recovering.
What keeps you at Harborview Medical Center?
Harborview’s mission and commitment to provide quality healthcare to everyone, no matter their race, background, or financial situation, etc. It’s inspiring to work alongside dedicated professionals — doctors, nurses, and caregivers — who are committed to excellence. Their passion motivates me to do my best to be a valuable part of this institution.