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Bridging the Language Gap:Medical Shadowing in Latin America

Tiye Bradley Start Date: Feb 26, 2026 - End Date: Feb 25, 2027
  • Cultural Exchange
  • Professional Development
  • Study/Degree Abroad
  • Argentina
  • Peru
  • Chile
  • Ecuador

My Travel Story

by: Tiye Bradley Start Date: Feb 26, 2026 - End Date: Feb 25, 2027
  • Cultural Exchange
  • Professional Development
  • Study/Degree Abroad
Medical Shadowing in South America to Solve the Language Crisis in Medicine

My journey toward becoming an OB/GYN is synonymous with becoming a social justice advocate. I believe that accessible, culturally competent care is a universal right, not a privilege. My ultimate goal is to own a private women’s health clinic that serves as a sanctuary for those at the intersection of linguistic and systemic barriers. 

In the United States, we are facing a silent healthcare crisis: the language gap. For many Black and Brown women, the inability to speak directly to their provider isn't just a barrier to comfort; it is a threat to their safety. Growing up in a highly diverse community among intergenerational Spanish-speaking families, I have seen first-hand how communication is as vital as any clinical intervention. Patients often feel marginalized or ashamed by their inability to communicate in English, and as a result, face significant health disparities. Historically, the attempts of non-Spanish speaking health professionals to interpret concerns without fluency have led to life-altering misdiagnoses and, in the worst cases, preventable death.

I am honored to have been accepted into a cohort of 25 students for the Spanish & Shadowing Study Abroad program—a 9-week immersion across three Latin American countries.

By supporting my campaign, you are helping me:
  • Complete 9 weeks of healthcare shadowing: Shadow physicians in resource-limited environments to see how excellence is achieved despite systemic scarcity. 
  • Achieve Professional Fluency: Learn the language in a "360 degrees of Spanish" location through intensive classes and real-world interactions with patients.
  • Give back to the local community: Participate in volunteering projects such as home building and supporting children's hospitals.
  • Engage in Cultural Exchange: Build cultural empathy through local immersion, including city tours, cooking lessons, and community festivals.
  • Earn a Certification of Spanish for Health Professionals

In 2012, a Spanish-speaking man was admitted to a hospital with acute abdominal pain and shortness of breath. No interpreter was available, and no one communicated with him in his native tongue during his entire two-day stay. He was only made aware that his condition was fatal 90 minutes before he died.

This program will help me to become a clinical lifeline for patients who are at higher risk because they are chronically underserved and overlooked. By investing in my training, you are investing in a future where Spanish-speaking patients receive the quality of care they deserve in a culturally competent and linguistically inclusive clinical environment.
  • Argentina
  • Peru
  • Chile
  • Ecuador

Updates

1

  • It’s Official: Spot Secured!

    It’s Official: Spot Secured!
    It's really happening! I just made my deposit and secured my spot for the Summer 2027 Spanish & Shadowing Abroad program. The journey is underway, and there's a long way to go before the funding goal is met.

    Thank you to everyone who has donated so far for helping me reach this milestone. Every donation, no matter the size, brings me one step closer to studying Spanish and shadowing doctors in Latin America. Will you help me reach my next funding milestone?

    Let's build up the momentum! You can help me reach the finish line by donating today or sharing my link with your network!
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