Latino Health Fair

Spanish for the Health Professions is a yearly course that was developed by Dickinson College Professor Wendell Smith, Assistant Professor of Spanish. The course provides students opportunities to develop and utilize their Spanish language skills in health care settings. Coursework educates students in appropriate vocabulary for medical settings, an understanding of the importance of language and culture to medicine, and the problems that arise from a cultural divide in healthcare delivery.  The class discusses language, public policy, anthropology, and sociology as such disciplines are related to cross-cultural healthcare.

Students are required to serve once a week in a setting where healthcare is being delivered to Spanish-speakers.  Many students accompany nurse practitioners from Keystone Migrant Health to labor camps for migrant fruit workers to register clients for health service at Keystone’s clinic in Gettysburg.  Students assist with filling out forms and paperwork for Spanish-speaking clients.  Bilingual students may serve at the Wellspan Health Connect van in Biglerville as receptionists and medical interpreters and help with paperwork and medical interpreting during patient appointments.