Medical Spanish/Latino Health Elective (MSLHE)

Why join the elective? The goal of the Medical Spanish and Latino Health Elective (MSLHE) is to equip medical students with the linguistic and cultural skills necessary to serve Latino populations both within the United States and abroad.

What is it? The MSLHE is a longitudinal experience that includes the following components:

• Canopy Medical Spanish Course: An online course that provides comprehensive instruction in both Spanish grammar and medical vocabulary.
• Intensive Summer Course: Held every morning in July between the first and second years, this course gives students the flexibility to pursue other opportunities such as research or community service, like the Urban Health Project, during the summer.
• Simulated Spanish Patient Experiences (SSPEs): Native Spanish-speaking actors simulate patient scenarios, allowing students to practice their medical history-taking and exam skills in Spanish, while exposing them to a variety of accents and vocabulary from across the Spanish-speaking world.
• Evening Seminar Series: Weekly Wednesday evening seminars throughout the school year focus on important cultural issues such as immigration, mental health, and intimate partner violence.
• Spanish Conversation Groups: These are led by second-year medical students to help first-year students practice their conversational Spanish.
• Service-Learning Opportunities: Students participate in community engagement activities within Cincinnati’s Latino community, including health fairs, free clinics, and other service agencies.

When is the elective? Medical students begin the elective in January of their first year and complete it at the end of their third year. Students receive four weeks of elective credit during their fourth year.

Who can apply and how? Any first-year medical student in good standing may apply. While prior Spanish coursework or experience working with Spanish-speaking communities is not required, it is preferred. Applications are sent to first-year students in November, followed by an informational session. Applications are due in December, and students are typically informed of their acceptance in January.

Contact Information For more information, please contact the course director, Christy O’Dea, MD, at Christine.odea@uc.edu.

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