The Spanish Club at Siena University has held many events this academic year, including tertulias (informal student-led conversation groups) and different themed events. They culminated the semester with an event about Medical Spanish (SPAN 250), a class developed by Dr. Garcés that she teaches every spring semester. The course includes an overview of medical vocabulary, social justice based cultural exercises as the course is a Franciscan Concern Social Justice Core Course, and online conversations with native speakers versed in medical topics through the online platform Talk Abroad.

Many of the club’s officers have taken the class since they are students in the Albany Medical College and Health Studies programs at Siena, so it will be useful to them in their future careers to have proficiency in medical vocabulary and cultural norms of the Spanish-speaking world.

The students were very creative in developing a special evening for their classmates as the event was not only about medical Spanish vocabulary, but they also paired it with comfort foods like empanadas and foods that are known to have healing properties such as chamomile tea and a hearty soup, a nod to natural remedies that are discussed in the class textbook. They also gave away prizes, making the event even more interactive!

Next year, the club officers are Gabrielle Hix (President), Cristiana Hoene (Vice President), Mya Chrysogelos (Secretary), Tanya Shukla (Treasurer), Giovanna Pérez (Event Coordinator), and Gael Peña Reyes (Public Relations).

¡Buen trabajo!