VIDA Program

VIDA Program Description

Linguistic barriers between Hispanic patients and non-Spanish speaking health care providers are a source of difficulty and inappropriate treatment in the health care system of our nation. Patients are often distracted from second language knowledge and need assistance in their native language. Hence, it is important for healthcare professionals to be able to communicate effectively using conversational and medical Spanish.

The VIDA program at the California University of Science and Medicine is a Medical Spanish program dedicated to training Medical students to provide holistically excellent care to the Hispanic patient population. VIDA is a comprehensive program that includes lessons, activities, role-playing, conversations, interviewing, medical histories, examinations, volunteering, and experiential learning opportunities in Spanish-speaking medical contexts. From the beginning, students in the VIDA program will use their Spanish language skills and face situations that they may encounter in a medical environment with Spanish speaking patients.

Students can enroll in the program either as regular students or as peer tutors. Those students who have an advanced proficiency in the Spanish language will be invited to join the VIDA program as peer tutors. An online proficiency test will be administered in order to determine their eligibility. Peer tutors will lead small group sessions of 4-5 students once a week, and participate in ongoing subject-matter events and/or workshops. The peer tutor position is paid. Peer tutors can apply to become leaders. Leaders will help faculty with different aspects of the program. One of the leaders will be assigned as the Student Program Director (SPD). The SPD is a one-year position and it is assigned by the program director, Dr. Lopez Vera. The SPD acts as faculty, supervises tutors, and makes important decisions for the program.

VIDA Program Overview

1. Spanish for Healthcare Professionals I: Two-semester course that includes a weekly session with Spanish faculty to go over medical Spanish grammar, vocabulary, and linguistic structures. It also includes another weekly session with peer tutor to focus on medical content in Spanish. Syllabus can be found here
2. Spanish for Healthcare Professionals II: A semester course that includes a weekly session with Spanish faculty to go over medical Spanish grammar, vocabulary, and linguistic structures. It also includes another weekly session with peer tutor to focus on medical content in Spanish. Syllabus can be found here
3. Intensive Medical Spanish Sessions (Optional): VIDA Students have the option to attend intensive Medical Spanish Sessions with the Spanish faculty once a week. These sessions are available for students looking to develop their Spanish skills as quickly as possible.
4. Spanish Objective Structure Clinical Examination (OSCE): Students will be administered a graded OSCE in Spanish. The OSCE includes three stations and involves students interacting with a standardized patient in each one of them.
5. Multiple-Choice Test (MCT): The exam will cover all material presented during the pre-clinical years.

6. Cultural Competency Requirement: Students are required to attend cultural immersion activities where they can use the language skills that they have learned in the classroom while increasing their knowledge in Hispanic cultures. Activities can be chosen from a pre-approved list of experiences. Ten credits (10) will be required for full credit in the Cultural Immersion Experience. The amount of credits that each experience rewards the students is pre decided. All experiences are involving serving and addressing the social and medical needs of a mostly Spanish speaking population. Examples of current pre-approved experiences are as follows:
   • Inland Empire Free Clinic (IEFC): 1 credit per time attended
   • Lestonnac Free Clinic: 1 credit per time attended
   • IEFC Translating Documents: 1 credit per time helping translating
   • Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice (1 credit)
   • More Hope Project (1 credit per time attended as a volunteer)
   • Overflow Farms (1 credit per time attended as a volunteer)
   • Personal Cultural Competency Event (credits to be determined depending on the type of experience).

   Cultural competency events can be submitted here

7. Elective Course (Optional): Students can also take an elective course during their fourth year. The elective course will have a duration of 4 weeks and will have an online format. The VIDA elective course offer may vary each academic year. An example of an elective course is Strategies for Effective Spanish Communication in Medical Settings. Syllabus can be found here

8. Medical Spanish Research (Optional): Students in the VIDA program will have substantial opportunities to partner with a faculty member in the department of Medical Education and conduct research or creative projects within the field of Medical Spanish.

For any inquiries regarding the VIDA program, please contact the VIDA program director:
Dr. Alexandra Lopez Vera
LopezVeraA@cusm.org