Diane Pearsall is a retired Carleton College Spanish professor and Northfield community member who has served as a valued HealthFinders Collaborative (HFC) volunteer interpreter since 2010. Concluding a decade of volunteer interpretation in the community, Diane has been influential in both the development of the HFC interpretation program and the connection between patients and providers, having worked nearly 400 shifts totaling over 1,500 hours.
Reflecting on her role at HFC and why she continues to volunteer, she says, “I love the role of interpreter. I am the voice, but not really there … I sit in a position to encourage the patient and doctor to look at each other, as if they were speaking the same language.” This intrinsic desire to break down the barriers of language that are far too present in healthcare is what makes Diane such a valued member of the Rice County and HFC community.
So Much More Than Translation
While she finds great benefit in helping others, Diane also greatly enjoys being able to exercise her language skills – something that can be difficult for someone who isn’t a native speaker with the natural environment allowing them to practice on a regular basis. “I find it good to be challenged linguistically,” she says. “When you are interpreting, you have to keep the meaning of the words that the providers are saying but also present it in a culturally and linguistically appropriate way to allow the patient to relate to it.” Interpreting is so much more than a direct translation; it extends to the empathy and human connection that comes with being able to interact with another person – something that Diane has come to understand and take advantage of in her work with others.
Adapting to Challenges
In relation to the current COVID-19 situation, Diane says that she is able to practice linguistics related to interpreting. She finds the digital format to be challenging in new and interesting ways but misses the interpersonal communication that cannot be conveyed digitally, or even through a mask.
When describing a typical clinical situation, she says, “There is so much physical and visual contact with Hispanic and Central American patients with all sorts of gestures and expressions that are appropriate in person and vital to an interaction.” These things are no longer present when sitting behind a computer screen. “It’s a challenge, but like any other challenge, we have come to adapt to the current situation and continue to focus on serving the populations that need it most.”
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