Welcome to the Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania go to:
http://www.imiaweb.org/events/default.asp
 
Trainings
To find or post trainings and workshops in Pennsylvania go to:
http://www.imiaweb.org/education/trainingnotices.asp.
 
Interpreters
To find IMIA members in Pennsylvania go to:
http://www.imiaweb.org/corporate/find.asp
 
ISP Members
To find IMIA Corporate members in Pennsylvania 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

IMIA Fact Sheet
http://www.imiaweb.org/uploads/pages/83.pdf

IMIA Standards of Excellence
http://www.imiaweb.org/uploads/pages/83_2.pdf

IMIA Strategic Plan 2010-2016
http://www.imiaweb.org/uploads/pages/83_3.pdf

Delaware Valley Translators Association
www.dvta.org

The IMIA is pleased to announce that Kathryn Hiester, CMI is the IMIA State Chapter Chair for Pennsylvania.  Please feel free to contact her at IMIAPennsylvania@imiaweb.org.

Kathryn Hiester, CMI
I was born in New York City to an Irish-American father and a Colombian mother who immigrated to the United States in her 30’s.  My father died when I was young, so my siblings and I helped my mother at various appointments, including doctor’s visits.   I understand the difficult situation family members encounter when called to be interpreters, and why professional medical interpreters have an important role in delivering quality health care.

In high school, I graduated with Honors in Spanish from the Modern Languages Department of the Masters School in Dobbs, Ferry, NY, earning college credits by taking Advanced Placement Spanish.  I went to New York University where I earned a Bachelor’s of Arts Degree studying Economics and Art History.  After college, I studied and travelled in Europe, visiting Spain several times.

Following a successful career in non-profit development work, I’m finding great professional and personal satisfaction in medical interpreting.  With every patient-provider encounter, whether in-person or by telephone, I know that I am helping patients and providers understand each other, which, in turn, helps them provide and access quality health care. 

I am a member of the Delaware Valley Translators Association and work as a free-lance interpreter in a variety of venues, including major university hospital systems, in and around the Philadelphia area, where I live with my family. I am keenly interested in advancing and representing the profession.