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 García is freelance certified Spanish medical interpreter, trainer, and translator with 12 years of experience in the medical field. He emigrated from Nicaragua in 2003 where he was the Chief Financial Officer at Centro de Medicina Laboral “El Jazmín S.A.”, center that specialized in industrial medicine. He resides and works out of San Francisco, California. He is a board member of the California Healthcare Interpreting Association, organization that awarded him the distinction of Interpreter of the Year in 2012 for his contributions and commitment to the field. In addition, he serves as Advisor and CMI Liaison to the National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters, and volunteers as a translator for the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in the San Francisco Archdioceses. 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.


The IMIA is pleased to announce that Alicia Benson is the IMIA City Chapter Chair for San Jose, California.


Alicia Benson
I’m a Spanish Interpreter & translator native from Peru, living in California for over 20 years.  I got the Medical/Healthcare Interpreter Certification via CCHI on January 2011. I got the Interpreter training at National Hispanic University in San Jose. My work has been mostly in Medical Interpretation (which I love) at my local Hospital in the County of Santa Clara, where the services are provided both Face-to-Face and over the phone to reach the most patients at various branch clinics, and at doctors’ offices for QME, IME, etc. appointments.  I also enjoy interpreting at educational workshops, conferences, non-profit organizations, public meetings.  Through an organization that advocates for victims of domestic violence I had the opportunity to do legal interpretation and translation as well.  My next goal is to become a Court Interpreter soon to expand my field of expertise, while becoming a much needed conduit of communication for the LEP Hispanic population. I love my profession, and find it so rewarding to be able to help others to break the communication barrier. Contact: IMIASanJose@imiaweb.org.

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State Vice Chair Position Vacant

To Apply Please See Requirements for IMIA Representation:
http://www.imiaweb.org/uploads/docs/Requirements_for_IMIA_Representation.pdf.

Please Note:
Only one letter of recommendation is required for vice-chairs, not two.

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PAST STATE REPS
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Eva Molina-De Vilbiss