The National Board
The mission of the National Board is to foster improved healthcare outcomes, patient safety, and patient/provider communication, by elevating the standards for and quality of medical interpreting through a nationally recognized and validated certification for medical interpreters.
The Hub-CMI credential and CMI certification programs are governed by the National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters (National Board), an independent division of the International Medical Interpreters Association (IMIA).
The Hub-CMI credential has been a long-awaited opportunity for many medical interpreters who speak languages outside the existing CMI certification. Every medical interpreter in any language will have access to take this test and obtain the Hub-CMI credential. For those six languages already certified, the Hub-CMI interpreter will have the opportunity to continue growing, taking the next step towards full certification.
Effective 2018, the National Board is pleased to announce that each of the Spanish, Russian, Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean and Vietnamese CMI certification programs have been brought together under the same nationally accepted standards and criteria, ensuring that the CMI credentialing in each of our program languages remains the most prestigious offered in the industry. Prior to 2018, the Spanish CMI certificate was subjected to an additional level of NCCA accreditation, but while the National Board remains a member of the Institute of Credentialing Excellence (ICE), each of the National Board programs have been standardized to ensure the CMI certification in each offered language best meets or exceeds nationally accepted standards, including transparency, inclusion, and access.
The purposes of the National Board are to:
- Develop, organize, oversee, and promote a national medical interpreter certification program in all languages.
- Promote patients and providers working with credentialed medical interpreters who have met minimal national standards to provide accurate and safe interpretation.
- Ensure credibility of national certification by striving to comply with national accreditation standards including transparency, inclusion, and access.
The Board of Directors of the National Board consists of 10-12 voting members that include medical interpreters, trainers, health care providers, industry representatives, and a public member. Initial Board members were selected by a public process and independent selection committee. Subsequently, Board Directors are recruited through a Nominating Committee process and are elected by the members of the National Board.
Directors
Joanna Larson received her B.A. in Spanish from Oklahoma State University in 2015. Following this, she began to interpret for the Oklahoma community through a medical interpreting program at Tulsa Community College. She received additional interpreting training through the Bridging The Gap program in 2016 and achieved the title CMI-Spanish through the National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters in 2021. Ms. Larson currently works as a Spanish interpreter for CHI Health in Nebraska and western Iowa and is the weekend coordinator for the Language Services department. She coaches medical staff how to access remote interpreters, on equipment/resources available for LEP patients, and how to work with interpreters. She is also responsible for working with fellow interpreters to create and maintain up to date translation templates in Spanish, Somali, Nepali, and Karen in order to ensure that patients leave the hospital with full, accurate information. Ms. Larson is passionate about ensuring equal access to medical care for all patients.
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Javier Chavez, MMS, MSHA, CHI-Spanish, CMI-Spanish
Vice-Chair
[email protected]
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Javier Chavez Jr. is a Certified Medical Interpreter - Spanish and Language Access Leader from Texas. Javier holds bachelor's degrees in Spanish and Biology from Texas Southern University as well as a Master's in Healthcare Administration from The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and a Master's in Medical Sciences from Ponce Health Sciences University. Currently, Javier is pursuing a doctoral degree in Healthcare Administration at Oklahoma State University. Javier began his career as an interpreter in 2016. He has been a staff interpreter at various hospitals in Texas and Nebraska and Western Iowa. Javier is currently a Manager of Language Access Services at Children's Health in Dallas, TX. He is also a strong advocate for interpreter certification and the importance of the interpreter role in patient safety.
Dr. Humberto López Castillo is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Sciences, College of Health Professions and Sciences (CHPS) at the University of Central Florida (UCF). His research focuses on cardiometabolic health disparities in sexual minority men. Using a biobehavioral approach, his research identifies potential links between minority stress and metabolic syndrome outcomes (namely, obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemias). Other lines of inquiry explore the potential mediation roles of HIV infection and antiretroviral therapy use in the development of cardiometabolic disease and behavioral aspects driving sexual health risk-taking among sexual minority men, especially the link between substance use and HIV transmission.
Dr. López Castillo’s background spans from clinical practice with adolescents and young adults, public health methods, and biobehavioral intervention development, implementation, and evaluation. Besides research, Dr. López Castillo teaches undergraduate classes on human disease, earning the 2022 CHPS Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching award. He also hosts The Sex Café Podcast, where clinicians, researchers, and community advocates meet over coffee to discuss issues and provide local resources for the sexual and reproductive health of the Central Florida community.
Dr. López Castillo graduated with an MD (2001) and completed his residency in pediatrics (2009) at the University of Panama. He also has an MSc in clinical sciences and an MEd in higher education. He completed his PhD in Public Health (2016) and postdoctoral fellowship in adolescent risk behaviors (2018) at the University of South Florida. Dr. López Castillo is Certified in Public Health and a Certified Medical Interpreter.
Nellie O. Cordova received her training in 2002 at WAKE AHEC University of Carolina in Raleigh, NC through Berkana Language LLC. She has obtained her title as Certified Medical Interpreter through the National Board of Medical Interpretation Certification. Nellie is also a member of the International Medical Interpreter Association.
For the past 20 years, Nellie has worked for Arkansas Children's as s Spanish Medical Interpreter through Centers for Children and Arkansas Children's Northwest. In 2002, while working for the University of Arkansas Medical Sciences Area Health Education Center as the Coordinator for Multi-Cultural Programs, Nellie created and initiated the Medical Interpreter Training Program for Northwest Arkansas. Nellie was also instrumental in commencing Community Health Applied in Medical Public Service "CHAMPS" for underprivileged and first-generation college bound Jr. High students in Northwest Arkansas.
Nellie has more than 25 years of experience as a Spanish Medical Interpreter in various health related organizations and specialties in NWAR as; St. Mary's Hospital, Mercy Health Systems, UAMS AHEC, Schmieding Developmental Center and Arkansas Children's Hospital, as well as, a Certified Pharmacy Tech at McKinney Pharmacy in Springdale, AR.
Nellie is an accomplished COO for Cordova Educational Programs in which she and her husband, Frank Cordova initiated in Northwest Arkansas training over 450 medical interpreters since 2003. Nellie is also a Board Member for the Fayetteville Church of the Nazarene Board and is the Fayetteville Church of the Nazarene Missions President. She also enjoys taking time to speak I local schools about health careers.
Nellie has been recognized with awards such as, "Heroes of the Heart" by Walmart and La Zeta in 2000, "Hispanic with Positive Example to the Community Award" in 2002, "Feria de la Salud" event organizer at Iglesia del Nazareno with over 30 health booths, screenings, and kindergarten physicals for 5 consecutive years, "Who's Who in the Hispanic Community" by El Latino Media in Little Rock, AR in 2005, "CHAMPS" award director in 2006 & 2007, "10 Year Loyal and Distinguished Service Award" in 2015 and the most recent, "Arkansas Children's Northwest Employee of the Quarter Award" in 2021.
Nellie is wholehearted, passionate and highly devoted in using her God given talent and skills to train other individuals in becoming proficient and professional interpreters in the medical field.
Juana Horton is the CEO of Horton Interpreting Services Inc., one of the largest interpreting and translation company in Rhode Island, working in over 200 plus languages with over 200+ professional translators and interpreters. Ms. Horton, has over 21 years of practical application experience in translating and interpreting. Member of; IMIA and ATA. In the course of her career, her achievements have been recognized with the following awards: 2000, "Small Business Leader of the Year" the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce. The U.S. Small Business Administration's "RI Minority Small Business Person" of the year 2002 and 2003, Rhode Island and New England's "Minority Small Business Advocate of the Year". 2004, YWCA's Hallmark Women Award, "Women's Economic Empowerment". 2008, "Woman in Business" from the Women's Center of RI . 2007, "Entrepreneur" RI Genesis center. 2006, "Healthcare Business Leader of the Year" national Association of Hispanic Healthcare Executives. 2009, " Influential Women Behind Hispanic Chambers " Morris County Hispanic chamber of Commerce. Ms. Horton currently serves and has served on the following Boards; RI Hispanic American Chamber of Commerce, Boston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, New England Association of Schools and Colleges, RI Hospital Board of Governors, Butler Hospital Board of Governors, Phoenix House of New England, RI School of Design Arts Committee, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of RI, Providence Foundation, Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of RI, Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce, and the Providence Economic Development Partnership Board.
With over 25 years of experience in both on-site and virtual consecutive and simultaneous interpretation, Walter Underwood has made significant contributions to the interpreting profession. As a Senior Language Specialist at Language Line Services, he played a key role in developing interpretation skills for candidates in global Language Line centers and advancing the professional growth of interpreters both domestically and internationally.
In addition to his work as a certified interpreter in the medical, legal, and insurance industries, Walter served as a tester and rater for interpreter certification in these fields, assessing proficiency in English and Spanish. As an Advanced Medical Training instructor and examiner, he was instrumental in designing and implementing the first National Certification Test for medical interpreters and served as a National Board Certification test examiner.
Gustavo R. Negrete received his training at California State University in Fullerton, Extended Education Program in Court Interpreting. In 2014, he achieved national certification through the National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters earning the title of Certified Medical Interpreter – Spanish and is also a Certified HIPAA Privacy Expert (CHPE). Mr. Negrete is the current Chair of the NBCMI and had previously served as the Sectary of the National Board. He is President and CEO of a micro interpreting and translation company; fulfilling language access needs in medical, legal, community, and education, as well as consulting and is the new managing director of TransInterpreting. Mr. Negrete has over twenty (20) year of experience in health care having served in several clinical roles and departments prior to becoming an interpreter. He is a staunch advocate for language access, LEP rights and the interpreting profession as an active participant in organizations who lobby and or promote these causes.
Staff
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Casita Wild, MS
Operations Manager
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Casita has worked on a number of research projects designed to measure health care disparities in diverse communities nationally and internationally. In 1999, Casita was part of a research team that evaluated the efficacy of Boston based community organizations servicing diverse HIV positive populations. Her passion for understanding the AIDS epidemic brought her to Cape Town, South Africa where she worked as a consultant to design and implement an HIV prevention curriculum in Pollsmore Prison.
After returning from South Africa, Casita earned a Master degree in Intercultural Relations with a focus on cultural competency in health care. In 2005 she was a training and organizational development intern at the Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA). She worked with the director of interpreter services to improve the hospitals cultural competency profile. She developed and implemented a training program for CHA interpreters designed to address issues in multicultural health care, including cultural barriers, and general access.
Casita also manages projects for the International Medical Interpreters Association. She conducted a national salary survey to document and track salary trends for medical interpreters over a five year period. Casita believes that medical interpreters are essential players to narrowing the health care disparities gap.
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Beverly North, MS
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Beverly North currently resides in Dayton, Ohio. She spent the first eighteen years of her life in the Denver, Colorado area, where she first learned Spanish. She met her husband, a native of Tulsa, Oklahoma, while attending Oral Roberts University, and settled down in Tulsa. While helping her husband raise two sons, she worked as an administrative assistant for various oil companies in the Tulsa area, and then became a Spanish teacher. Beverly has taught Spanish, including her own beginner's curriculum, to levels pre-school through adults in both private and public schools, and is retired from teaching at Tulsa Community College.
In 2007, Beverly earned her Masters of Science degree from Oklahoma State University (Stillwater) in International Studies. She has made several trips to Mexico and has studied in Costa Rica. She is a past advisor for the Hispanic Student Association at Tulsa Community College and was active in several community organizations in the Tulsa area. As the registrar for the National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters, Beverly helps candidates navigate through the testing process toward national certification.
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Marissa Gearhart, CMI-Spanish
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Marissa has been a part of the National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters since June, 2014. Marissa was previously the Community Health Educator at the Hispanic Health Coalition of Georgia. She was the primary health educator for two programs: a prenatal health promotion and diabetes education. Previously, Marissa was the Multicultural Program Coordinator for the Department of Multicultural Affairs at Grady Health System in Atlanta, Georgia. She provided outreach and health education in the community; developed collaborations and partnerships with Consulates and other local organizations to offer free health screenings. She is also a Certified Spanish Medical Interpreter.
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