The Scholars in Medical Spanish courses are designed for medical students who would like to earn credit while practicing their Spanish at the Advanced Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced levels.  This is an eight-week course, held one night a week from 5:45pm to 7:45pm, and focuses on oral Spanish skills. A maximum of 15 students are allowed in each level.  A Spanish language proficiency test is required and will be offered prior to the start of class each term.

The Advanced Beginner and Intermediate courses run for eight weeks and are designed around the basic history and physical, and are aimed at those who already speak some Spanish. Typically, the Advanced Beginner student has at least 2 years of general Spanish experience. The Intermediate course requires at least 3-4 years of general Spanish experience.

The Advanced course, for those who are already fluent in general Spanish, provides disease system-based medical terminology and topics for discussion. The Advanced level also allows students to take the OHSU Health Provider Certification Exam, enabling you to legally speak to patients without an interpreter while at OHSU. 

Frequently Asked Questions:

• Can I enroll if I am not a medical student?
• • No, at this time the course is open to currently enrolled medical students only.
    
• How many credits will I receive for the course?
• • 2 elective credits per term for a total of not more than 6 elective credits toward graduation.
    
• When is the course offered?
• • The course is held each term that there is sufficient enrollment for a course level.  The Diversity Affairs Office sends an email announcement to all medical students at the beginning of the term.

For more information on current course offerings, contact Laurie Mecham at mechaml@ohsu.edu, 494-1681.  For those who are just beginning to learn Spanish, we recommend the courses taught by Mercedes Cohan.  This schedule can be found at http://spanishclasses.org/.