Welcome to the California Chapter of the IMIA. The IMIA's goal is for all IMIA Chapters to flourish to meet all the needs of the members of each region. While the IMIA is international it believes in the 'Think Global, Act Local' motto. We will have periodic conference calls to allow members in this region to network and find ways to advance the profession together in the region. Please email your representative with ideas, issues, and topics that you think should be discussed. The IMIA believes that organizing an IMIA Symposium each year in each state should be a key goal of the Chapter. If you are willing to volunteer to assist, please let your representative know.
 
Events
To find or post medical interpreting conferences or events in California go to:
http://www.imiaweb.org/events/default.asp
 
Trainings
To find or post trainings and workshops in California go to:
http://www.imiaweb.org/education/trainingnotices.asp.
 
Interpreters
To find IMIA members in California go to:
http://www.imiaweb.org/corporate/find.asp
 
Corporate Members
To find IMIA Corporate members in California go to:
http://www.imiaweb.org/corporate/corporatememberdirectory.asp
 
Registry
To be listed in the IMIA Interpreter Registry go to:
http://www.imiaweb.org/members/application.asp

CALIFORNIA INFORMATION & RESOURCES

CALIFORNIA CODES
HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE
Section 1259
(b) As used in this section:
   (1) "Interpreter" means a person fluent in English and in the necessary second language, who can accurately speak, read, and readily interpret the necessary second language, or a person who can accurately sign and read sign language.  Interpreters shall have the ability to translate the names of body parts and to describe competently symptoms and injuries in both languages.  Interpreters may include members of the medical or professional staff.

For more information go to:
http://law.onecle.com/california/health/1259.html

California Healthcare Interpreting Association (CHIA)
http://www.chiaonline.org/

Northern California RID
http://www.norcrid.org/

Southern California RID
http://www.scrid.org/

California Hospital Association
http://www.calhospital.org/

California Federation of Interpreters (CFI)
www.calinterpreters.org

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San Francisco

Please visit the IMIA San Francisco page at:
http://www.imiaweb.org/states/sf.asp

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The IMIA is pleased to announce that Carlos Garcia is the IMIA State Chapter Chair for California and the first IMIA City Representative for San Francisco, California.

Carlos Garcia is a Nicaraguan-born Spanish medical interpreter and a graduate of the Healthcare Interpreter Certificate Program at City College of San Francisco. He met his graduation requirements by serving as Spanish medical interpreter intern at Stanford Hospital and Clinics. During his earlier years in Nicaragua, he was a law student until he moved permanently to the US in 2003. Initially, he was leaning towards International Law and Diplomacy, but the struggle of underserved populations in healthcare steered him toward worker compensation and occupational safety legislation. He witnessed said struggle on his first job as administrative assistant at Centro de Medicina Laboral "El Jazmín" S.A. In a 5-year span, he made his way into the board of directors. His final post with that company was Chief Financial Officer. Once in the US, in sight of the evident disparities in healthcare due to language access, he embarked on a new career as medical interpreter making good use of his language skills, multiculturalism and prior college education. In addition, working in healthcare for 12 years has earned him an extensive terminology base; as well as sensitivity and awareness of linguistic, cultural and systemic barriers in healthcare. Currently, he is a freelance translator with Wordbank Limited in England. He volunteers as translator at St. Kevin's Parish in San Francisco and The Rosetta Foundation in Ireland. Contact: IMIACalifornia@imiaweb.org or IMIASanFrancisco@imiaweb.org.


The IMIA is pleased to announce that Lourdes L. Cerna is the IMIA City Chapter Chair for Los Angeles, California.

Lourdes L. Cerna is a Health Care Interpreter/ Translator/ Trainer with over 30 years of experience in the interpreting field.  She has worked for the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, Language Line Services, Mt. San Antonio College Health Care Interpreter Program as a Lead Instructor, and currently works at Kaiser Permanente. She is also a Consultant for the Western University of Health Sciences Cultural Awareness division. Together with a group of trainers, implemented and trained several community and Health Care Interpreters completely in Spanish, in the  48 Hour HCI training pilot program for the Mixteco Community in Ventura County. Ms. Cerna earned her teaching credentials in Health Care Interpreting from the Los Angeles County office of education and completed the Mount San Antonio College Health Care Interpreter Program. She has also completed the PALS for Health- Introduction to Interpreting for HIV/AIDS Health Care Providers, as well as the Connecting Worlds, Bridging the Gap and LA Care HCI interpreting Training programs. Ms. Cerna is very active in the Health Care Interpreting community, volunteering her time as a active board member for the California Health Care Interpreting Association for the last 10 years. Contact: IMIALosAngeles@imiaweb.org

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PAST STATE REPS
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Eva Molina-De Vilbiss