New Collaboration Between RSCPRX and Brookdale Community College Interpretation Program to Enhance Medical Interpretation Skills

To further enrich the training and practical experience of its interpretation students, Brookdale Community College has announced a groundbreaking collaboration with Ritesh Shah Charitable Pharmacy (RSCPRX) that is dedicated to increasing access to medications, immunizations, health education, and pharmacy services for uninsured and underserved patients, thereby reducing clinical and social health inequities in the community. The partnership aims to provide students enrolled in Brookdale’s Interpretation Program with valuable observation hours in a medical setting, within the pharmacy.

“We are excited about this collaboration with RSCPRX as it provides our interpretation students with invaluable hands-on experience in a medical setting,” stated Business, Career & Technical Training Program Manager Chris Carroll of Continuing and Professional Studies at Brookdale Community College. “While many of our students pursue careers in judicial interpretation, we recognize the importance of medical interpretation skills in addressing language barriers within healthcare. This partnership benefits our students and contributes to the community’s access to quality healthcare services.”

Brookdale Community College’s Interpretation Program has a long-standing reputation for excellence, offering courses in Spanish/English or Portuguese/English interpretation. With an enrollment of 20-25 students per year, the program focuses on community interpreting and specialized training in judicial and medical interpretation.

Traditionally, after completing the program, students are required to fulfill 12 hours of field observation in a judicial setting, typically within county or superior courts. Under the new collaboration, interpretation students can now allocate three out of the required 12 observation hours to gain firsthand experience within the medical environment. This strategic decision broadens the students’ exposure to different interpretation contexts and serves the community by enhancing access to language services in healthcare settings.

“Brookdale student Gaby Gaynor, whose support in communicating with our patients, particularly our Hispanic community, has been invaluable, said Program Director Ayan Davis of the pharmacy. “RSCPRX is honored to host the student’s observation hours and we look forward to strengthening ties with more Brookdale students.”

The partnership between Brookdale Community College and RSCPRX sets a precedent for innovative collaborations to enrich educational experiences and foster community engagement in interpretation and healthcare services. By integrating practical experiences in medical settings, interpretation students are better equipped to meet the evolving needs of multicultural communities, enhancing the quality of language services and healthcare delivery.

Ritesh Shah Charitable Pharmacy is located at 224 Shrewsbury Avenue, Red Bank, NJ and is open Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 11:00 am – 4:00 pm and Friday from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm.