UA Little Rock Launches Medical Spanish Course for Working Healthcare Professionals
The University of Arkansas at Little Rock is launching a new Medical Spanish course designed to help healthcare professionals communicate more effectively with Spanish-speaking patients. Offered through the university’s Office of Corporate and Community Education, this 10-week course provides practical language skills tailored to real-world healthcare settings.
The course begins January 26 and will meet Monday evenings from 5–7 p.m. in the Reynolds Business Building. It is open to nurses, doctors, pharmacists, administrative staff, and other professionals with little to no prior Spanish experience.
Participants will learn essential vocabulary, explore grammar fundamentals, and gain cultural insights to help build trust and overcome language barriers in clinical environments.
“Knowing some Spanish in the medical field is no longer just a career advantage—it’s becoming essential,” said Rex Wilkins, Ph.D., assistant professor of Spanish at UA Little Rock. “From physicians to front desk personnel, bilingual professionals can make a significant impact on patient outcomes and may even earn up to 20% more in salary than their monolingual peers.”
The course will be taught by Mercedes Rodriguez, a Spanish instructor at UA Little Rock with extensive experience in both language education and medical interpretation. She emphasized the real-world impact of even basic language skills in healthcare, noting that when professionals speak to patients in their own language—even just a little—it can change the interaction. “It builds trust and helps deliver better care,” she said.
Nick Stevens, director of Corporate and Community Education, emphasized that the course reflects the university’s commitment to regional workforce development.
“Our goal is to identify training needs across Arkansas and match them with the expertise of our faculty,” Stevens said. “The Medical Spanish Jumpstart course is a great example of how UA Little Rock is developing programs that serve both professionals and the community.”
To learn more or register to take part, visit ualr.edu/extended.