Volunteer Spotlight: MKHC Interpreter Nicole H.

Check out this interview with Nicole H., an interpreting volunteer at MKHC. She discusses how volunteering has impacted her, what she's learned about herself, and more.

Can't watch? Read the interview below

Tell us about yourself

Hi, my name is Nicole Hsaio Sánchez. I am proudly born and raised in Puerto Rico. My family is from a small town, a beach town in the island called Rincon, Puerto Rico, where I learned from an early age what it means to thrive in community, what it means to be a part of a small close knit community where people help each other out and support each other in every aspect and every way they can, especially during tough situations. And I think growing up in that small town and in that sort of scenario and community-based environment really built the foundations that led me to start volunteering at the Mansfield Casement Health Clinic.

What kind of volunteer work do you do at MKHC?

My role primarily involves interpreting for patients and providers for them to understand each other in a better way to achieve optimal health outcomes. And I help patients every day who come from different parts of primarily Central America and South America and don't necessarily speak English fluently to be able to understand the providers, and for providers who don't understand Spanish, to be able to sort of act as a bridge between understanding of both parties.

What do you enjoy or find rewarding about your volunteer experience?

What I find most rewarding about my volunteer experiences is to understand the impact that my everyday simple small actions can have on real patients’ lives. Every word I translate or every word I interpret has the potential to improve their healthcare outcomes, to make them feel safe and comfortable, so that they can receive the best care that they can and that they're in good hands with the best providers that we have.

Do you feel like you’ve learned anything about yourself or others through volunteering?Through my experience volunteering, I have learned how providing culturally sensitive care that is tailored to patients’ unique needs and that is understanding of the differences in language and culture can really have a strong impact on patient satisfaction and patient comfort.

And about myself… I've learned that through hard work, medicine, and most importantly compassion, you can help patients that come from the whole spectrum of backgrounds to feel in the best way they can, in what are oftentimes anxious or concerning situations.

What do you think is the impact MKHC has on the community?

I think the impact that MKHC has in the community is huge. A lot of the patients that are seen here, I would say the majority of them come from underserved backgrounds and they either don't have insurance or they have low insurance coverage. So a lot of these patients would not otherwise have the financial means to obtain the best care that they can to improve their health if it wasn't for MKHC or clinics that serve a similar purpose in addressing these health disparities and trying to provide care that is not just the best but also culturally competent, where patients and providers can understand to the best way possible.