The staff at EIS welcomed Heather Fox back from her maternity leave on Monday, October 5, 2009.  Heather will now be available in our Homer office M - F, 7:30am - 4:30pm.



Virginia Scarpino began subcontracting with EIS shortly after the business was started in February of 2003.  Virginia has become a true advocate for professional interpreting services and for the best we can offer our consumers.  Virginia attended the ITP at Corning Community College and holds her CT.  She also has an MA in Biology from SUNY Geneseo, which makes her perfect for interpreting any of those science-related classes!

In addition to her work in virtually all areas of community interpreting, Virginia has recently begun training and working in the legal realm.  Always wanting to improve her skills and add to her repertoire, Virginia has completed training in tactile interpreting and works with our deaf/blind consumers.

Virginia is a professional that constantly 'steps up' when needed.  This shows so often in her willingness to put extraordinary hours into mentoring new people in the field.  She is regularly working with someone to help improve their knowledge of our profession and to advance their skills.  We are honored to recognize Virginia Scarpino this month in our newsletter!


Ruth State began working for EIS in the fall of 2008 as a Spanish Interpreter.  Ruth is fairly new to freelance interpreting, however her professional qualities are very similar to that of an experienced Interpreter.

Ruth State was the first in her family to leave Guatemala and move to the United States, back in 1989.  Her previous work experience as an Interpreter/Caseworker at a local migrant seasonal outreach program brings an edge that some Spoken Language Interpreters in Upstate New York do not have.  Understanding the migrant workers in Central New York is highly valuable especially as a Medical Interpreter.  In addition, Ruth graduated from the Practical Nurse Program at OCM BOCES and has several years experience working in various medical settings.

Ruth continues to educate herself in the interpreting community.  Her most recent training was "Bridge The Gap", a 40 hour Medical Interpreting Program. Unfortunately, the field of Spoken Language Interpreting does not yet have a national certification like Sign Language Interpreting has.  Therefore it is even more important for Interpreters like Ruth to continue their education, showing interest & involvement in the interpreting community.

It is a pleasure to have Ruth as part of our team!  Her skills, professionalism and compassion to advocate for Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Individuals rights are above par and we applaud Ruth on her progress in such a short period of time!

Video: Forum 
National Board Of Certification For Medical Interpreters


Click To Play



What Would You Do If You Were In These Shoes?
 

You have interpreted for a young couple through all of their natural childbirth classes and it's the day of the big event.  The mother-to-be is in labor, and the doctor takes one more look and says they still have a little more time to wait.  He says he's going to grab a quick bite to eat and tells the woman to use the call button if she wants the nurse to page him.  The frightened woman begs the doctor not to go.  She's sure the baby is coming now but he checks her again and assures her they have plenty of time.  The nerve-racked father steps out to have a cigarette and it's only the two of you left in the room.  Suddenly the woman starts screaming for help and in the overhead mirror, you see the newborn's head emerging.  You run around to the end of the table and see the baby starting to slide out.

~Encounter's With Reality, pg. 212 Brenda E. Cartwright