Massachusetts Chapter

Randa Yazbeck is the IMIA Massachusetts Chapter Chair

Born and raised in Lebanon, the Middle East, and migrated to the U.S. in 1983. Hold a BABS/MIS degree from Northeastern University Boston, MA. Pursued graduate studies in Public Administration at Framingham Sate College. Hold teaching certificate from overseas and have completed many courses in cross-cultural training. Completed training as a certified court mediator in 2005 and have been a Notary Public since 2000. My interpreting carrier began in 1983 in Boston, MA as a community volunteer and later began working as an independent contractor, interpreting for private agencies, courts, hospitals and clinics. Member of the IMIA for over 7 years and former member of the ATA. Languages: Arabic (multiple dialects) and French.

Hoda Elshibiny is the IMIA Massachusetts Vice Chair

She has been working in healthcare services field for over 15 years now, seven years of which were in the area of hospital care and healthcare management. She joined The National Cancer Institute in Egypt, then the Children Cancer Hospital, one of the biggest cancer treatment centers in the Middle East, as an oncology pharmacist, cooperating with multidisciplinary teams to provide safe and quality services. She also worked in the research department in the Children's Cancer Hospital, working with a team of 14 members of different specialties to establish standards of care, treatment protocols, research protocols and comprehensive results analysis. Later on she worked as a quality improvement leader on health care projects with the focus mainly on improving patient outcomes of care and improving the overall hospital performance and productivity. She moved to the U.S. with family in 2013, and also was studying for her master's in international management at University of Liverpool. She started her career as a medical interpreter, serving patients to overcome language and culture obstacles, thus gaining an entirely different perspective in the patients' 'care. She joined the IMIA, as a member and an active volunteer, for the opportunity to work with the IMIA and be a health care leader and to contribute to the global healthcare reform in the coming ten years.

Report: (April 2009) MA Hospitals' Viability Threatened by State Cuts

Given proper state support, Massachusetts hospitals can help stimulate the economy and sustain the state’s historic expansion of access to health care coverage, according to a ne w report from the Massachusetts Hospital Association. Without proper support, both the economy and health care coverage will suffer, the report concludes. The 10-page report details the importance of Massachusetts hospitals to their communities, and shows how the "multiplier effect" of hospital jobs benefits the state's workforce. Although the health care sector has always been a stabilizing force in the state's economic downturns, the damage being done to hospitals through budget cuts and under-funding is making it more difficult for Massachusetts to rebound economically, according to the report. "Right now, with the federal recovery package, we have the opportunity to resolve the issue now and for the future," said MHA President and CEO Lynn Nicholas.