The Bilingual Medical Spanish Distinction Track is a longitudinal program designed to enhance the medical Spanish communication skills of medical students entering with intermediate to advanced proficiency levels.
Instructional activities throughout the four years of medical school training emphasize the development of:
- Oral/aural proficiency in medical Spanish
- Cultural responsiveness
- Core medical competencies
The program’s main goal is to graduate cohorts of physicians who are competent to work as bilingual Spanish-English health care providers. Students enrolled in this track will be better prepared to serve the health care needs of limited English proficiency, Spanish-speaking patients and perhaps have an advantage in applying to residency programs in communities with a growing Spanish-speaking population.
When to Apply
The Bilingual Medical Spanish Distinction Track (BMS) will be available to first-year medical students beginning in the spring semester. Interested medical students must schedule an initial interview with the program director. First-year medical students interested in joining BMS must complete an oral proficiency interview in the fall semester (Year 1) and reach an ACTFL1 — intermediate-high or above level of proficiency to be accepted in the program. BMS is not currently available for second- to fourth-year medical students or students from other health professions.
Medical students accepted to BMS are required to complete a variety of instructional activities during each of the four years of medical school training. Students who complete all activities satisfactorily and reach an 80% score or above in the Clinician Cultural and Linguistic Assessment – Spanish exam (CCLA-S) developed by ALTA Language Services, Inc., will be awarded the college’s Bilingual Spanish Healthcare Provider Certification.
| Year | Required Instructional Activities | Description |
| First | Complete Year 1 Clinical Medical Spanish coursework | Spring (1 hour/week) |
| Complete one standardized patient interview in the Spring semester | H&P with standardized patients in Spanish with feedback by instructor | |
| Attend 1-2 Cafecito w/ Dr. Z sessions or alternative Spanish-speaking events | Informal monthly conversation during lunch hour; offered in collaboration with Latino Medical Student Association | |
Summer between
| Complete Clinical Spanish Immersion (4 weeks) Alternative: Keep working on completing the volunteering hours. | Can be completed concurrently with Global Health or Rural Health distinction tracks / Alternative: volunteering in a clinic with Spanish-speaking patients |
Second
| Complete Year 2 Clinical Medical Spanish coursework | Fall (1 hour/week) |
| Complete two standardized patient interviews in the fall semester | H&P with a simulated patient in Spanish, supervised by the instructor | |
| Finish completing clinical volunteering: CUP clinics | Fall/spring semester | |
| Take ALTA’s Clinician Cultural & Linguistic Assessment – Spanish exam | Bilingual Spanish Clinician Certification exam | |
| Third & Fourth | Recommended to complete elective with Spanish-speaking preceptor (4 weeks) | Can be completed concurrently with Global Health or Rural Health distinction tracks |
| Complete Medical Spanish Capstone Elective (MED 800D) | 8-10 page reflection paper (4 credit units corresponding to a 4-week block) | |
| Retake ALTA’s Clinician Cultural & Linguistic Assessment – Spanish exam | Only those not passing the exam on the first attempt |
This distinction track is only open to University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson students.