Dr. Javier Jasso is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese, who is passionate about preparing students to communicate effectively with Spanish-speaking patients and their families. Through SPAN 5201: Spanish in the Health Professions, he engages students with real-world healthcare scenarios that highlight the vital role of language in patient care. Dr. Jasso's own experiences showed him how language can influence patients' experiences with health care. Today, he brings that perspective into the classroom by helping students develop the communication skills needed to provide compassionate, culturally responsive care
Many students begin the course expecting to focus primarily on medical terminology or wondering whether their Spanish is “good enough.” Instead, Dr. Jasso encourages them to build on the language skills they already have and develop the confidence to communicate effectively with patients. There is a growing need for language-concordant care: medical professionals who can communicate with patients in their preferred language.For that reason, Dr. Jasso focuses less on memorizing medical vocabulary and more on helping students communicate effectively with diverse patients, adapt to individual needs, and provide culturally responsive care.
As Dr. Jasso explains, “You can have the perfect word for the condition but if the patient doesn’t understand, or if they have a regional variety where the word isn’t used and you aren't able to adapt, then knowing the ‘right’ word doesn’t help much.Research suggests that language-concordant care can improve communication, trust, and overall experiences. When patients receive care in their preferred language, they are more likely to feel understood and valued.One of the most rewarding aspects of teaching the course, Dr. Jasso says, is seeing students recognize the impact their bilingual skills can have in their communities. “Students get to see themselves as part of this solution.” Rather than simply learning medical Spanish, they come to understand how their language skills can reduce communication barriers and improve patient experiences. Ultimately, Dr. Jasso hopes students leave the course with the confidence and perspective to become more effective, compassionate professionals who make a difference in the communities they serve.
