Importance of speaking Spanish

[Rud42]

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How important is the ability to speak spanish in medical school and afterwards?

Obviously the spanish-speaking population is rising in the U.S., but will knowing spanish help one's chances of entering a good medical school or residency program? (or does not knowing any hurt one's chances?)

 

[JRockdown]

You should look at the specific schools to which you are thinking of applying. Some have specific questions about language. I believe UCSF asks about Spanish. Someone correct me if I am wrong.

Other than that think of it as an added bonus. I would say currently there are way way more doctors that don't know Spanish than do. So it can't be necessary, but would probably help. (Again, depending on the demographic of locations you are applying for.)

 

[TheRealMD]

Texas = Spanish. I think I'm going to start learning right now. Cali is probably the same way.

 

[Tropicana100]

http://web.gc.cuny.edu/lastudies/Latinodatabases.htm

Check the census above. Where you work will determine how much Spanish is needed. Places with very few Spanish-speaking patients obviously will not care. A second language is unlikely to make-or-break you anyway. There are tons of medical interpreters at hospitals nowadays. Only be concerned if you plan to focus primarily on Hispanic patients and don't have the language skill.

 

[DocEasyCheesy]

knowing spanish will put you on top of those who can't speak it at all. Just see it this way, if you can speak a second language you are worth the same as two people, so its very beneficial and if you don't speak it now just take some courses and you'll pick it up eventually.

 

[TheRealMD]

http://web.gc.cuny.edu/lastudies/Latinodatabases.htm

Check the census above. Where you work will determine how much Spanish is needed. Places with very few Spanish-speaking patients obviously will not care. A second language is unlikely to make-or-break you anyway. There are tons of medical interpreters at hospitals nowadays. Only be concerned if you plan to focus primarily on Hispanic patients and don't have the language skill.

Using a medical interpreter seems to make you loose some of your effectiveness as a doctor because every minute you are always asking "What did he/she say?"

 

[DocEasyCheesy]

right on👍

 

[Tropicana100]

knowing spanish will put you on top of those who can't speak it at all. Just see it this way, if you can speak a second language you are worth the same as two people, so its very beneficial and if you don't speak it now just take some courses and you'll pick it up eventually.

I wouldn't say you're worth 2 people LOL. It could be used to break ties between similar candidates. There are specific books on Medical Spanish at Barnes and Noble, which you can order online. Practicing in real life makes perfect though. Volunteer with the underserved Spanish-speaking population in your area and improve your Spanish.

 

[Tropicana100]

Using a medical interpreter seems to make you loose some of your effectiveness as a doctor because every minute you are always asking "What did he/she say?"

Not true. I am currently medical interpreter, and I've done it for 4 years. Doctors never say that unless the interpreter failed to translate something. Well-trained interpreters can facilitate extremely efficient and culturally-competent communication between doctors and patients.

 

[TheRealMD]

Not true. I am currently medical interpreter, and I've done it for 4 years. Doctors never say that unless the interpreter failed to translate something. Well-trained interpreters can facilitate extremely efficient and culturally-competent communication between doctors and patients.

I can understand. I guess it must have been the specific doctor-interpreter interaction i was observing.