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

Proz Conference 2010 Script by Carlos Garcia:
http://www.proz.com/translation3/freelance-translators/program/5113

Proz Conference 2010 Script for Language Service Providers by Carlos Garcia:
http://www.imiaweb.org/uploads/docs/Benefits_for_Corporate_Membership.mp3

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The IMIA is pleased to announce that Carlos Garcia is the IMIA Assistant Representative for California.

Carlos García is a Nicaraguan-born Spanish medical interpreter and a graduate of the Health Care 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 sought training as a professional medical interpreter, and became an active advocate for language access in health care.
 
In addition, working in healthcare for 12 years has earned him an extensive terminology base, as well as sensitivity and awareness of linguistic, cultural traits and systemic barriers in healthcare.
 
Currently, he is a freelance medical interpreter and translator, and a volunteered translator at St. Kevin's Parish in San Francisco and The Rosetta Foundation.
 
Contact:           IMIASanFrancisco@imiaweb.org
 
LinkedIn:          http://www.linkedin.com/in/carlosgarciamedicalinterpreter