2026 Deaf In Healthcare Summit for Interpreters

Connecting Care, Closing Gaps

April 17-19, 2026│ Virtual Summit

The 2026 Deaf in Healthcare Summit for Interpreters will be an action-packed, virtual summit where interpreters can earn up to 1.6 CEUs. Sessions range from interactive presentations to armchair discussions and are focused on providing interpreters with insight, solutions and best practices to position Deaf and hard of hearing clients for success in healthcare settings!

Conference Registration

Join us in April for the 6th annual Deaf in Healthcare Summit for Interpreters!

Agenda

Friday, April 17, 2026

2:30 – 2:45PM (CT)

Welcome

3:00 – 5:00PM (CT)

A1: Session Title Coming Soon

A2: Session Title Coming Soon

5:45 – 7:45PM (CT)

B1: Session Title Coming Soon

B2: Navigating the Critical Care Environment: A Comprehensive Guide to the ICU

7:45 – 9:00PM (CT)

Virtual Exhibit Hall Open

Saturday, April 18, 2026

9:30 – 9:45AM (CT)

Welcome

10:00AM – 12:00PM (CT)

C1: Session Title Coming Soon

C2: When the Body Turns on Itself: Understanding Autoimmune Disorders

12:00 – 1:15PM (CT)

Lunch/Exhibit Hall

1:15 – 3:15PM (CT)

D1: Access, Equity, and Accuracy: Parallels Between Legal and Healthcare Interpreting

D2: Session Title Coming Soon

4:00 – 6:00PM (CT)

E1: Bridging the Gap: The CODA Experience in Senior Healthcare Navigation

E2: Session Title Coming Soon

Sunday, April 19, 2026

10:00AM – 12:00PM (CT)

F1: Opioids Explained: Understanding Use, Risk, and Impact

F2: Session Title Coming Soon

12:00 – 1:00PM (CT)

Lunch/Virtual Networking

1:00 – 3:00PM (CT)

G1: Session Title Coming Soon

G2: Session Title Coming Soon

3:45 – 5:45PM (CT)

H1: Session Title Coming Soon

5:45 – 6:00PM (CT)

Closing Remarks

Earn up to 1.6 RID CEUs during the summit.

Earn up to 1.6 RID CEUs, including .55 RID PPO CEUs. Workshops designated with an * will provide RID PPO CEUs.

Meet Our Presenters

Aaryn Adams, RID NIC, BEI Master & BEI Court

She/Her/Hers

Aaryn has been an interpreter for 20 years, earning her first certification in 2010. Aaryn values collaboration and strives to establish best practices within interpreting communities for managing vicarious trauma, navigating ethical decisions and building our businesses. The majority of her career, Aaryn has served on designated interpreter teams for medical professionals, PhD candidates and government employees. Aaryn has extensive experience working with CDIs. Her practice currently specializes in conference and business travel interpreting. Aaryn is a practitioner first, which is reflected in her interpreting practice, presentation topics and business relationship style. Each of her workshops include intrapersonal awareness and interpersonal navigation components for consideration. Aaryn fosters spaces in which participants co-create knowledge and understanding.

Alexandria Miller, CDI

She/Her/Hers

Alexandria is a Deaf employee at the Department of Justice who carries a rich experience of understanding how the language functions in the interpreting process. She has worked with sign language interpreters for more than thirteen years and is from a Deaf family where signing is the primary mode of communication. She has graduated from Seymour Joseph Institute's Interpreting in Training Program where she and others were the first Deaf CDIs to graduate from the program. Alexandria has taught classes at the Interpreting in Training Program; Ethics in Interpreting, Contrasting of the Interpreting Models, Legal Interpreting, and Working with the Deaf Interpreter. She obtained her Masters of Science in Criminal Justice Administration from Tiffin University and has worked in the Tri-States as a freelance Certified Deaf interpreter.

ASHLEY R. WALKER, PHARMD

SHE/HER/HERS

Dr. Ashley R Walker is a pharmacist, entrepreneur, and an advocate. Dr. Walker holds a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Xavier University of Louisiana and a Bachelors of Science in Biotechnology from Rochester Institute of Technology. She has been a pharmacist for 9 years with experience in retail pharmacy, hospital pharmacy, home infusion pharmacy, and long-term care pharmacy. In addition to being a pharmacist, Dr. Walker brought to life a new dream when she established her business Med Max Consulting, LLC. Under this business, Dr. Walker can advocate for members of the deaf and hard of hearing community as well as offer medication counseling services to help this unique community maximize and optimize their medication therapy.

Casey King BSN, RN, CCRN

SHE/HER/HERS

Casey King was born with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. In 2013, prior to high school, Casey was implanted on her left side. Casey graduated from Capital University’s School of Nursing in May 2023. Along with her nursing degree, Casey also earned a minor in mathematics. Casey has been a nurse for over two years in the SICU/NCCU at the James Cancer Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. Her previous medical experience includes over two years at the Ohio State East Hospital on a stroke/geriatrics unit as a patient care associate. Casey obtained her CCRN this year and she plans to continue her advanced nursing education.

Corey Axelrod, MBA

He/Him/HIS

Corey Axelrod, MBA, is the founder and CEO of 2axend, a Deaf-owned strategic consulting and training firm working with organizations to provide user-centric experiences to Deaf and hard of hearing individuals. Prior to founding 2axend, Axelrod served in several business development roles for Communication Service for the Deaf, as well as principal and digital marketing consultant for Synergetic Business Solutions, digital marketing coordinator for Purple Communications and director of marketing and business development for Hager Productions. Axelrod earned his master of business administration (MBA) with a concentration in marketing and sales management and his bachelor of science in business administration from the Rochester Institute of Technology.

Jeremy Quiroga, MFA, CDI

he/him/his

Jeremy Quiroga is an accomplished professional who channels his passion for life and American Sign Language (ASL) through national workshops and performances. Beginning his career as a medical interpreter, Jeremy became the first staff Certified Deaf Interpreter (CDI) for the University of Rochester Medical Center, marking a pivotal moment that steered his focus toward medical interpreting. With exceptional ASL mastery and a wealth of life experience, Jeremy delivers dynamic interpreter workshops equipped with a wide array of tools tailored for diverse interpreting settings. Currently, he works as a Video Remote Interpreter (VRI) specializing in the medical field. Outside of work, Jeremy enjoys cooking, hiking, and gardening, pursuits that reflect his zest for creativity and connection with nature.

Kelly Matamoros, MA, CI/CT

She/her/hers

Kelly Matamoros learned ASL and engaged in the Deaf community at a young age and since has sought Deaf-centric spaces to learn, live and work. She obtained her Master's Degree from Gallaudet University and has 20+ years of interpreting experience, in predominantly medical and behavioral health settings. She has supported and led interpreters in various roles throughout her career and is passionate about collaboration, challenging herself and others to create and maintain space for co- interpreting, critical especially in healthcare settings.

Kimberly Kelstone, DNP, CNM, CI, CT

She/her/hers

Kimberly Kelstone is a Nurse-Midwife (board certified and New York licensed), who focuses on all aspects healthcare for women and people assigned female at birth, providing full-scope health care to patients throughout their lifespan. Prior to Midwifery, she provided ASL/English interpretation for a wide variety of settings for over 30 years. Specializing in medical settings, Kimberly was involved in establishing the Interpreters in Healthcare member section of RID and has interpreted for countless Deaf patients & their families as well as Deaf medical residents, researchers, doctors, and other professionals in various healthcare related fields. She had the good fortune to also receive training through the CATIE center specific to their Medical Immersion program. She has worked closely in the past with NTID on their Medical Interpreting certificate, as well as the Master’s Degree in Health Care Interpreting.

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.

The Pre-Conference

Have a Question?

frequently asked questions

Which platform will be used?

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

Where can I find information about pricing?

For more information, please visit our Registration Options page.

How many CEUs will be offered?

The 2026 Deaf in Healthcare Summit for Interpreters will offer up to 1.5 CEUs and .6 CEUs for the pre-conference.

Will this event be recorded?

This summit will be recorded. Recordings will be made available for individuals to purchase. This will be a separate cost from summit registration. More information will be shared after the summit.

Will English interpretation be provided?

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.

What if I need a special accommodation?

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

Stay Informed: Sign Up for Summit Email Updates

Receive email updates with the latest presenter announcements, detailed session titles, and in-depth descriptions, ensuring you’re fully prepared for the summit.

Our Wonderful Sponsors

Ascending Sponsors

Contributing Sponsors

Participating Sponsors

Community Sponsors

CEU Sponsor

ASL Communication 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.

Connecting Care, Closing Gaps

Conference Registration

Agenda

Meet Our Presenters

Aaryn Adams, RID NIC, BEI Master & BEI Court

Alexandria Miller, CDI

ASHLEY R. WALKER, PHARMD

Casey King BSN, RN, CCRN

Corey Axelrod, MBA

Jeremy Quiroga, MFA, CDI

Kelly Matamoros, MA, CI/CT

Kimberly Kelstone, DNP, CNM, CI, CT

Nigel Howard

A Specialized Learning Opportunity

Have a Question?

Stay Informed: Sign Up for Summit Email Updates

Our Wonderful Sponsors

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