Healthcare without language barriers: together, we can make it possible

Welcome! Proposed in 2006 and established in 2007, we are UC Berkeley's Volunteer Health Interpreters Organization. We provide free health interpretation and translation services for low-English proficiency populations in the Bay Area.

About our Volunteers:

We recruit new Mandarin, Cantonese, Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean, and Tagalog students as interpreters every fall. Throughout the fall, these bilingual students are trained in health interpretation protocols, confidentiality laws, and the correct medical terminology through an intensive 40-hour course (based on the Language Cultural Access Program curriculum from the Oakland Asian Health Services).

As a non-profit volunteer organization, we will refuse payment. Our transportation is reimbursed by grants we have received from local health organizations and UC Berkeley itself.

 

Fighting inequalities in healthcare. 

Our organization as a whole can be contacted at cal.vhio@gmail.com.

Interpreting for medical appointments at clinics
Interpreting at health fairs or screening events
If you have a medical appointment or are attending a screening event elsewhere, you may contact us to request an interpreter to accompany you to your appointment.
Translating healthcare-related documents
We keep your medical information confidential.
Providing health educational workshops
We host informational sessions about health topics at local community centers and sites. For information about our workshops

see here