2023 Deaf in Healthcare Summit for Interpreters logo.

Deaf In Healthcare Summit
for Interpreters

Together Towards Transformation

April 14-16, 2023

Join us for the 3rd ever #DeafInHealthcare Summit for Interpreters!

A total of 1.5 CEUs will be offered during this action-packed, virtual summit. Sessions range from interactive presentations to armchair discussions focused on providing interpreters with insight, solutions and best practices to position Deaf and hard of hearing clients for success in healthcare settings!

We will also be co-hosting a pre-conference on the topic of language deprivation/acquisition and its impact on interpreting dynamics in healthcare settings.

Conference Registration

Registration for the 2023 Deaf in Healthcare Summit for Interpreters is closed.

Agenda

Friday, April 14, 2023
2:30 – 2:45PM (CT)
Welcome
3:00 – 5:00PM (CT)
A1: Oncology: A Case-Based Session with a Physician and an Interpreter
A2: Self-Awareness in Mental Health Settings*
5:45 – 7:45PM (CT)
B1: Theoretical Approaches Used in Mental Health Settings
B2: How Do You Sign That: A Look at Commonly Prescribed Medications
7:45 – 9:00PM (CT)
Virtual Exhibit Hall Open
Saturday, April 15, 2023
9:30 – 9:45AM (CT)
Welcome
10:00AM – 12:00PM (CT)
C1: Mental Health Interpreting: A Review of the Fundamentals
C2: Think-Tank Discussion: An Analysis of Real-Life Scenarios*
12:00 – 1:00PM (CT)
Lunch/Virtual Networking
1:00 – 2:30PM (CT)
D1: Armchair Discussion: Defining Equitable Care for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Individuals*
3:15 – 5:15PM (CT)
E1: How Do You Sign That: A Look at Specialty Medications
E2: Linguistics and Considerations: Nervous System
5:15 – 6:30PM (CT)
Virtual Exhibit Hall Open
Sunday, April 16, 2023
9:00 – 9:45AM (CT)
Virtual Exhibit Hall
10:00AM – 12:00PM (CT)
F1: Understanding Conditions and Diseases Resulting from Hormone Dysfunction – A Discussion with an Endocrinologist
F2: Linguistics and Considerations: Cardiovascular System
12:00 – 1:00PM (CT)
Lunch/Virtual Networking
1:00 – 2:30PM (CT)
G1: Ask a Family Physician Anything
G2: Armchair Discussion: A Conversation on Gender-Affirming Care*
3:15 – 5:15PM (CT)
H1: Together Towards Transformation*
5:15 – 5:30PM (CT)
Closing Remarks

Earn up to .9 RID PPO CEUs

Workshops designated with an * will provide RID PPO CEUs.

Meet Our Presenters

Headshot of Amy Ryals.

AMY RYALS

SHE/HER/HERS
Ami Garry is a Deaf Certified Reiki Master Teacher currently working within the field of Energy Medicine. With her background and expertise in mental health, victim services, and trauma-informed care, Ami provides training, workshops and consultation services to those working within legal, mental health, medical, human services, and educational settings.
Headshot of Ashley R. Walker, PharmD

ASHLEY R. WALKER, PHARMD

SHE/HER/HERS
Dr. Ashley Walker is a pharmacist, entrepreneur, and an advocate. Dr. Walker holds a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Xavier University of Louisiana and a Bachelor of Science degree in Biotechnology from Rochester Institute of Technology. She has been a pharmacist for 7 years and recently transitioned into full time entrepreneurship. Through her business, Med Max Consulting, LLC., Dr. Walker advocates for members of the deaf and hard of hearing community, as well as offers medication counseling services to help this unique community maximize and optimize their medication therapy.
Headshot of Carla Shird, CDI.

CARLA SHIRD, CDI

SHE/HER/HERS
Carla Shird is a Certified Deaf Interpreter (CDI). She has expertise in providing workshops, consultation, mentorship, and mental health counseling including working with ASL users. Carla is passionate about helping people create self-awareness, practice self-care, and becoming more connected with themselves, others, and their purposes.
Headshot of Caroline K. Koo, MS.

CAROLINE K. KOO, MS

SHE/HER/HERS
Caroline K. Koo is an Adjunct Professor in the Student Development and a Registration Liaison at Austin Community College, Austin, Texas for 12 years. She also taught Deaf students in Early Childhood to Adult Learners for 10 years. She is currently a doctoral student in Deaf Studies Deaf Education at Lamar University with interests in language deprivation, mental health, and intersectionality. She has a lifelong passion for educating, presenting, and training on post-secondary opportunities. Moreover, she enjoys advising on navigation with accessibility, diversity, inclusion, and equity. Healthcare for Deaf patients is her latest area of deep interest.
Headshot of Christopher Moreland, MD, MPH.

CHRISTOPHER MORELAND, MD, MPH

HE/HIM/HIS
Dr. Chris Moreland is an academic internal medicine physician and associate residency director at Dell Medical School at UT Austin. As a clinician educator and administrator, and as President of AMPHL, he supports and mentors current and future healthcare professionals, and has been highly engaged in interpreter education. His publications and presentations address health disparities, workforce diversity, and the education of interpreters as healthcare specialists.
Headshot of Colin Hill, MD.

COLIN HILL, MD

HE/HIM/HIS
Dr. Colin Hill is a radiation oncologist at NYU Langone's Perlmutter Cancer Center. He has a clinical and research interest in head and neck and gastrointestinal cancers. His clinical and translational research allows him to develop innovative ways to treat cancer, including new ways of delivering stereotactic radiation for pancreatic and liver tumors. He also has an interest in diversity, equity, and inclusion research to improve accessibility to healthcare for deaf patients and other patients with disabilities. Dr. Hill has published in numerous textbooks and medical journals. He also serves on several national committees focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts and is actively involved in the NCI task force for pancreatic cancer.
Headshot of Corey Axelrod, MBA.

COREY AXELROD, MBA

HE/HIM/HIS
Corey Axelrod is fourth generation Deaf, a passionate social justice advocate and social entrepreneur. As founder and CEO of 2axend, he helps organizations deliver user-centric experiences for Deaf and hard of hearing individuals. Corey currently serves as a member of the ASTM International F43.06 Subcommittee on Captioning Standards. Previously, he served as a member of the Northwest Community Hospital’s Patient and Family Advisory Council and as a three-term president of the Illinois Association of the Deaf.
Headshot of Jennifer Vold, CI/CT, NIC: Master.

JENNIFER VOLD, CI/CT, NIC: MASTER

SHE/HER/HERS
Jennifer Vold has been interpreting since 1997 and mentoring since 2005. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s degree in TESOL. A Maryland native, she currently resides in DC where she primarily works in academia, including lectures and conferences.
Headshot of Josephine "Josie" Krueger, MA.

JOSEPHINE "JOSIE" KRUEGER, MA

SHE/HER/HERS
Josephine "Josie" Krueger identifies as a transgender woman. Her transition journey started when she was 46 and she has reached most of her goals in her transition. She recently completed her MA in Sign Language Education from Gallaudet University.
Headshot of Kearnan Welch, DO.

KEARNAN WELCH, DO

HE/HIM/HIS
Dr. Kearnan Welch is an Endocrinologist, who practices in Monterey, California. He completed his undergraduate and graduate education at UC Davis, where he majored in Neurobiology, and received his Master's in Nutrition. He attended Touro University in California for Medical School and completed his Endocrinology fellowship at UC Davis. Kearnan has a passion for gender affirming medicine and enjoys international travel, baking and playing the piano.
Headshot of LaTanya E. Jones, MSM, NIC, MSW, MEd.

LATANYA E. JONES, MSM, NIC, MSW, MED

SHE/HER/HERS
LaTanya E. Jones is a nationally certified sign language interpreter with seventeen years of experience. Currently, she is the Principal Investigator and Project Director of Project Level Up: Increasing Healthcare Interpreter Competencies at the CATIE Center of St. Catherine University. LaTanya is also an adjunct professor in the Interpreter Education Program at the Community College of Philadelphia. Additionally, LaTanya is a pre-licensed therapist who offers trauma-focused therapy and counseling services. LaTanya has sat on the boards for the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) and the District of Columbia’s chapter of the National Alliance of Black Interpreters (NAOBI-DC), and served as the President of the Pennsylvania Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (PARID).
Headshot of Megan Jack, MD.

MEGAN JACK, MD

SHE/HER/HERS
Dr. Megan Jack is a Deaf family physician working in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. She serves individuals who are Deaf/hard of hearing and individuals with medically and/or socially complex issues at two community health centers within multidisciplinary teams that includes two designated interpreters.
Headshot of Mel Whalen, Ph.D., LP.

MEL WHALEN, PH.D., LP

SHE/THEY
Dr. Mel Whalen is a Deaf clinical psychologist offering counseling in ASL and spoken or written English. She works with both Deaf and hearing adults, couples and families. She is available for counseling via a secure video platform to clients throughout the states of Michigan and Vermont.
Headshot of Nigel Howard

NIGEL HOWARD

HE/HIM/HIS
Nigel Howard is an adjunct professor at the University of British Columbia and the University of Victoria. He used to work at Douglas College – the Program of Sign Language Interpretation (INTR), and Child, Family and Community Studies (CFCS) for 25 years. Nigel has interpreted for nearly 30 years in various settings, including medical and mental health settings. He is an Accredited International Sign Interpreter by the World Federation of the Deaf and World Association of Sign Language Interpreters. He is part of the United Nations team of International Sign interpreters and interprets frequently on media.
Headshot of Shannon Shiver, MSW, LCSW.

SHANNON SHIVER, MSW, LCSW

SHE/HER/HERS
Shannon Shiver is a licensed clinical social worker with over ten years of experience working with a diverse range of clients in a variety of clinical practice and community settings. She has gained a wealth of experience in multidisciplinary roles, where she has acted as a counselor, educator, and overall advocate of the Deaf community. As a strong endorser of community-based intervention and outreach efforts, Shannon has an appreciation for the many real-world factors that take place outside of the therapy office, and thus impact the success of advocacy service. As a clinician, she aspires to provide her clients with tools that are realistic and can be practically-applied to the surroundings they face.
Headshot of Shawn M. Norris, RID: ED K-12, NIC, CORECHI.

SHAWN M. NORRIS, RID: ED K-12, NIC, CORECHI

HE/HIM/HIS
Shawn Norris currently works at Flagler Health+ in St. Augustine, Florida as the Coordinator of Interpreting Services, Section 1557 and ADA Coordinator, and ASL Interpreter. He created the Interpreting Services program and provided a more robust service to the community. Due to being raised by Deaf parents, Shawn has close ties to the local Deaf community and serves as an advocate and volunteer. He spends time mentoring new interpreters both at work and as a volunteer. Shawn has been working in the interpreting field for over a decade, serving as an interpreter and manager for several companies and government agencies. Previously, he established a local agency that provided interpreting services in ASL and Spanish. Additionally, Shawn is the current President of the Florida Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf.
Headshot of TJay Middlebrook, MA.

TJAY MIDDLEBROOK, MA

HE/HIM/HIS
TJay’s family is primarily Deaf and hard of hearing – he is the 5th generation in his family to be born with Hearing Loss. TJay grew up navigating the Deaf/HoH and hearing worlds, both which were entangled in racism and ableism. TJay has a bachelor’s degree in Political Science – Human Rights from the University of Minnesota and a master’s degree in International Business from Saint Mary University of Minnesota. TJay currently works at the Minnesota Department of Human Services as a Program Manager. When he is not working, he loves spending time with his wife, Genna, and two daughters, hiking around the state, and getting involved in local community advocacy and work.
A Pre-Conference:

A Specialized Learning Opportunity

Association of Medical Professionals with Hearing Losses (AMPHL) is collaborating with 2axend again to co-host the pre-conference – this year’s topic is on language deprivation/acquisition and its impact on interpreting dynamics in healthcare settings.

Have a Question?

frequently asked questions

All workshops and panel discussions will be conducted via Zoom. All details will be provided to participants as we get closer to the summit.

For more information, please visit our Registration Options page.

The 2023 Deaf in Healthcare Summit for Interpreters will offer up to 1.5 CEUs and .6 CEUs for the pre-conference.

This summit will not be recorded. To earn the full CEUs, you must attend all sessions.

The official language of the Deaf in Healthcare Summit for Interpreters is American Sign Language (ASL). With the exception of English-based chats, all program sessions and activities at the Deaf in Healthcare Summit for Interpreters will be delivered in ASL. No spoken language interpretation or captions will be provided. This summit is appropriate for students in interpreting training programs, working interpreters, or native language users.

Reasonable accommodations for this summit may be requested by emailing info@2axend.com.

Our Wonderful Sponsors

Ascending Sponsors
Contributing Sponsors
Participating Sponsors
CEU Sponsor

Deaf-Hearing Communication Centre, Inc. is an Approved RID CMP Sponsor for Continuing Education Activities. This General Studies and Professional Studies program is offered for 1.5 CEU’s at the ‘Some’ and ‘Extensive’ Content Knowledge Levels.

It is the policy of 2axend to promote an environment of mutual respect and prohibit any discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, and any other protected class, in any of its activities or operations.