USU certifies its first medical interpreters
On Oct. 28, 2023, a dozen individuals from the community received their certificates for medical interpreting from Utah State University's new Bridging the Gap program.
Program Highlights
Healthcare Interpreting Certification for Community Members
8
Community classes offered free 2023-2025
190+
Community members trained and counting
30+
Community members currently registered in Salt Lake City course
1
Upcoming community course in Moab
48%
Participants are in healthcare professions
5+
Community member recent hires as professional interpreters
10
New languages supported in training materials:
Arabic, Navajo, Portuguese, Russian, German, Tongan, Farsi, Swahili, Somali, and Chinese
10
Additional faculty trained in:
Navajo, Farsi, Russian, Spanish, German, French, Portuguese
2
Additional courses offered at USU in Portuguese, Russian medical interpreting
3+
Partnerships, visits, or shadowing recently with:
University of Utah Interpreting Services, U of U Hospital, South Jordan CARE Clinic, Intermountain Health
$60k
External grant support
30+
USU students doing shadowing practices in healthcare facilities
23
USU students completed first 40-hour certifications, October 2025
New program at USU promises better health care outcomes for non-English patients
KSL Story - A new program at Utah State University will assist non-English speakers achieve better health care outcomes. The program is helping meet the demand for medical interpreters, by offering the training for free.