Hello, community!

My name is Kaelyn, and I'm raising funds to help me pursue a Medical Interpreter certification with the ultimate goal of becoming an English-Spanish interpreter.

I discovered my passion for healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic. From 2020-2024, I worked in public health and spoke with both English and Spanish-speaking patients who tested positive for the virus. During this time I also completed my M.A. in American Studies, tailoring my research to understanding how public health, the healthcare industry, and other industries impact marginalized groups such as immigrants. While academia remains dear to my heart, I want to spend the next leg of my career doing something to directly impact our community.

I've studied Spanish since age 13, always with the desire to become fluent and use my language skills professionally. Twenty years later, I'm proud to say I've achieved that goal! I continued my language studies in During college and grad school, I was fortunate to participate in faculty-led study abroad experiences in three Hispanic countries: Spain, Peru, and Ecuador. These opportunities gave me about three cumulative months of linguistic and cultural immersion. Even more importantly, I met folks from all walks of life and learned about how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted their communities. At home, I heard directly from Spanish speakers that the help my colleagues and I provided made a difference in their lives--in some cases, giving them the first quarantine advice they received in their native language!

Photo: Our group from a study abroad trip to Ecuador in 2022, taken on the equator.

Another reason for this career pivot is a personal one. 2025 was a challenging year for my family, with my parents going through some serious health challenges and my wife undergoing two surgeries. During a recent medical appointment, I found myself thinking, "What if a Spanish-speaking immigrant needed to have a heavy conversation like this, but their surgeon didn't speak Spanish or know much about their culture? That would make this process a lot scarier."

I thought back to folks I interviewed in Spanish, who brightened up when they realized they had someone on the line they could communicate with. And I thought about ways I could keep doing that for people without having to completely change careers (I may love being a student, but I'm NOT about to go back for a nursing degree or head off to med school). Then, when a friend in the emergency medical care industry suggested I look into a Medical Interpreter certification, my path became clear.

I've been underemployed for a year and a half, partly to have time to care for my family during our year of medical challenges, and the program and testing I need to complete to start working as a Medical Interpreter cost around $2,000--more than I can afford on my own. That's where you come in, O kind potential benefactor.

Here's the cost break-down:

Medical Interpreter course - $1,399 | This course will prepare me to take the National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters exam, teaching me specialized vocabulary in both languages and professional standards.

Oral Proficiency Exam - $165 | I took the OPI in 2019 as a requirement for my Spanish major in undergrad, but my language skills have improved considerably since then! The NBCMI requires Spanish interpreters to have attained at least an "advanced - medium" score on the OPI. I previously scored "advanced - low", just one category below the requirement. As such, I need to retake the OPI.

NBCMI course - $40 | To become NBCMI certified, I need to take a $40-course directly through them.

I'm still looking for a full-time job, but in the meantime, the course begins on 1/24 - that's in just three weeks! I need to register ASAP to reserve my spot, otherwise I'll have to wait until it's offered again because it's a hybrid course (i.e., not something you just take at your own pace).

I'm excited to take this step in my career and to see where it will lead me. Thank you so much for taking the time to learn more about my story and my goals and how I want to help our community through my work.

Un gran abrazo (a big hug),

Kaelyn Ireland