Training Physicians to Serve, Lead, and Innovate in Spanish Speaking Communities
| The Geisel School of Medicine’s Medical Spanish Pathway of Concentration is a four-year, co-curricular program designed to prepare linguistically and culturally responsive physician leaders to deliver high-quality, language-concordant care to Spanish-speaking patients and communities. Responding to persistent inequities experienced by patients with limited English proficiency, the Pathway emphasizes communication excellence, cultural humility, ethical language use, and systems-based advocacy to improve health outcomes and patient trust. Built on early engagement through the Medical Spanish Scholars interest group, the Pathway offers a longitudinal, scaffolded experience integrating language development, immersive clinical application, leadership training, and community-engaged scholarship. Organized around four foundational pillars—longitudinal language curriculum, competency-based assessment, immersive clinical experiences, and a community-engaged scholarly or quality improvement project—students progress from foundational medical Spanish skills to advanced clinical fluency, with opportunities to pursue certification-level competence culminating in the Basic Fluency Assessment for Clinicians examination. Through intentional integration with existing Geisel curricula and clear competency benchmarks, the Medical Spanish Pathway advances health equity, strengthens care for Spanish-speaking and Latino communities, and positions Geisel as a national leader in language-concordant medical education. |  👉 Program Guide👉 Student Checklist 👉 SharePoint (current students) |
🧭 Mission
The Medical Spanish Pathway of Concentration is a four-year, co-curricular initiative that supports medical students in developing advanced medical Spanish language proficiency and culturally responsive clinical communication skills. The Pathway is dedicated to improving health outcomes for Spanish-speaking patients and communities through immersive language learning, applied clinical experiences, development of cross-cultural humility, ethical patient engagement, advocacy, and scholarship, in collaboration with local and regional Spanish-speaking communities and healthcare partners.
🔭 Vision
We envision a future where language is no longer a barrier to safe, high-quality healthcare, and Spanish-speaking patients receive equitable, respectful, and patient-centered care across all healthcare settings. This future will be advanced by skilled, culturally attuned, and linguistically competent physician leaders who can communicate effectively, build trust with patients and families, and help address healthcare disparities. We will cultivate a sustainable and impactful pathway that supports the personal and professional growth of medical students, preparing them to provide excellent care in an increasingly diverse and multilingual society.
Core Graduate Competencies
Upon completion of the Medical Spanish Pathway, students will demonstrate proficiency across core competencies that enable them to deliver equitable, culturally responsive care, engage ethically with communities, and lead effectively in complex health systems.
- Medical Spanish Communicator – Communicates effectively in Spanish in healthcare settings, including obtaining patient histories, explaining diagnoses and procedures, and providing clear, accessible health education using appropriate medical terminology.
- Culturally Responsive Care Provider – Delivers patient-centered care informed by an understanding of cultural beliefs, traditions, and health practices common in Spanish-speaking communities, grounded in cultural humility and respect.
- Ethical Language Access Advocate – Recognizes the limits of personal language proficiency and applies ethical and legal standards to ensure safe communication, including appropriate use of professional medical interpreters.
- Spanish-Language Patient Educator – Provides clear instructions and health education in Spanish, supporting patient understanding of prevention, treatment plans, medications, and follow-up care through effective communication strategies.
- Interprofessional Multilingual Collaborator – Works effectively within healthcare teams to support communication and equitable care for Spanish-speaking patients, including clear documentation and facilitation of linguistically accessible environments.
| Leadership & Administration | |||
 Faculty Advisor Anais Ovalle, MD |
 Faculty Advisor Diana M. Rojas-Soto, MD |
 Pathways Director Terri Eastman, MEd |
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| Student Leaders | |||
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Daniela Molina Palacios