11th Annual OHCIA Conference
Ethics & Unity
Across Languages
Thank YOU // Welcome Speaker // Keynote // Award // Sponsors
Thank you for attending this year’s conference!
More than 200 healthcare interpreters joined us online on April 25, 2026, as we celebrated OHCIA’s 11th annual conference. It was a success! Thank you for all who were a part of the celebration.
Certificates for CEUs will be sent out to those eligible. All certificates will be sent via attendees conference registration email by Tuesday, May 12, 2026. 100% attendance is required to earn a certificate. If you do not receive a certificate within two weeks, you can reach out to training@ohcia.org
Thank you to all of our volunteers for your time and energy to support this conference!
Your hard work, kindness, and attention to detail helped everything run smoothly and created a welcoming experience for everyone involved. We truly appreciate your dedication and the important role you played in making this event a success.
Alejandro Rivas
Amanda Wheeler-Kay
Bethsabe Munoz
Claudia Magedanz
Cyrus Nahab
Dalia Arrieta
Dennis Lam
Edgar Valdez
Hemi Pariyani
Jessica Van Winkle
Juan Carlos Morales
Karla Gaitan
Lorena Pearson
Margot Sanabria Mendez
Maria Peña
Manuel Osuna
Here are a some more photos from the event and the staff who helped make the conference possible:
Keynote Address
Keynote Speaker: Leda I Garside, RN, BSN, MBA
Leda I. Garside is a bilingual/bicultural Latina healthcare professional with 42 years of nursing experience, she retired from direct patient care in March of 2025, currently practicing part-time as an independent Professional Nurse Consultant.
Leda was key in the development, implementation and success of Hillsboro Medical Center iSalud! Services, serving as the Clinical Nurse Manager for 32 years. iSalud! was created in the early 1990’s by a group of Oregon wineries owners and physicians to address the health needs and barriers faced by vineyard stewards their families and is fully funded from proceeds of the
annual iSalud! The Oregon Pinot Noir Auction and other private donations. The comprehensive and wholistic clinical mobile services are provided throughout the year and have served as an example of excellence in mobile health and migrant health practices.
Leda’s career interests have centered around health policy, advocacy, migrant health, nursing education, nursing research, health career mentoring, cultural competencies, health promotion, early interventions, best practices in language interpretation services, and community health initiatives.
Being an active member in professional organizations, coalitions and boards are ways to give back to the community, provide a voice on how to work towards eliminating health disparities and provide the patient with best health services experiences.
Her lived experiences as a clinician centered working with the Latino/a/x and Mesoamerican indigenous communities and other BIPOC population, which have provided her with a solid foundation for understanding and connecting to the various communities that make up Oregon.
Leda has published peer review articles related to migrant heath and Latinos, and has been recognized by her peer for best practices in community health, advocacy, mentoring and nursing leadership. Leda is an excellent resource to ensure that -- no matter the project – the work will be grounded in diversity, equity and inclusion.
Conference Schedule, Sponsors and CEU information coming soon!
Welcome Speaker
Aleksandr Riabinin
Aleksandr Riabinin is a Qualified Deaf Interpreter (QDI) based in the Pacific Northwest, providing interpreting services across legal, medical, immigration, and community settings. He brings a multilingual and multicultural approach to his work, with fluency in American Sign Language (ASL), Russian Sign Language (RSL), Ukrainian Sign Language, International Sign, and DeafBlind/ProTactile communication.
Aleksandr has provided interpreting services in state and local government settings, including work with former Oregon Governor Kate Brown, as well as mayors and public officials in Portland and Vancouver. His presence in these high-visibility
environments reflects his commitment to ensuring accurate and meaningful access at every level. He specializes in complex and high-stakes interpreting environments, where linguistic precision and cultural understanding directly impact outcomes. Aleksandr is especially passionate about serving underserved populations, including Deaf immigrants and DeafBlind individuals, ensuring communication is not just delivered—but truly understood.
He is dedicated to mentoring interpreters and strengthening the field by promoting equity, access, and professional growth. Aleksandr believes that interpreting is not just about language—it is about power, access, and human dignity. Every interaction is an opportunity to ensure that no one is left out of their own story.
Interpreter of the Year Award
The Interpreter of the Year is someone who demonstrates excellence, professionalism, and a strong commitment to advancing health care equity through language access across Oregon. Nominations were open to peers, managers, health care providers, and patients.
We want to congratulate Estephania Palacios Gómez as OHCIA’s 2026 Interpreter of the Year!
OHCIA Language Access Champion Award
During the selection process for the OHCIA Interpreter of the Year Award, the committee noticed that some of the nominees have made long-standing contributions to language access and community leadership that have had a profound, yet often overlooked, impact across Oregon. In these cases, OHCIA has the privilege of recognizing these remarkable language champions and presenting them with a special award reserved for such exceptional individuals.
Winners: Maria Peña and Alonna Watson
Sponsors
If you are a potential sponsor interested in showcasing your organization and learning more about the benefits and opportunities of having a booth at OHCIA conference, interacting with attendees and other sponsors, etc., please review the Ethics & Unity Across Languages Sponsorship handout. If you are ready to become a sponsor, complete the 11th Annual OHCIA Conference Sponsorship form.
If you would like to learn more about these opportunities or need additional customization, please contact Catalina White-Madrid at cwmadrid@ohcia.org
Current Sponsors
Platinum Sponsorship Level
Linguava - linguava.com
At Linguava, we believe interpreters are vital to creating a more inclusive healthcare system. Based in Portland, we are Oregon’s largest full-service language access provider, offering services in over 250 languages. We proudly support interpreters with 60-hour training, CEUs, and workshops designed to foster growth, connection, and career success.
Gold Sponsorship Level
OCIN - oregoncertified.com
OCIN is a trusted interpretation agency founded, owned, and operated by professional interpreters. With deep roots in the community, they connect skilled language professionals with clinics, courts, and public service organizations across Oregon. OCIN is a strong advocate for interpreter rights and access, investing in the profession through scholarships, mentorship, and education.
Bronze Sponsorship Level
Oregon Judicial Department - courts.oregon.gov
Court Language Access Services (CLAS) provides interpreting in Oregon circuit courts for people with limited English proficiency in over 200 languages, as well as for Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals. The Oregon Judicial Department (OJD) employs schedulers, full-time Oregon Certified Spanish and ASL interpreters, and contracts with freelancers to serve most judicial districts. CLAS trains interpreters in the Code of Professional Responsibility, court ethics and protocols. Over 100 interpreters in Spanish, Russian, Vietnamese, and other languages are certified or registered through CLAS programs. CLAS also maintains a roster for credential verification or hiring certified interpreters for out-of-court work.
Passport to Languages - passporttolanguages.com
Passport to Languages links professional interpreters and translators to individuals and organizations seeking interpretation and translation services. Our team has a real understanding of the issues that affect both our clients and their customers, and have a genuine enthusiasm for what they do. Our aim is to act as a trusted extension of our clients’ team; producing results that directly and positively impact on our client’s business objectives. We desire to measure success for our clients by being knowledgeable, punctual, flexible, responsive, and sincere. We place equally high value on our internal staff as well as our interpreters. This dynamic mix allows for a no-nonsense approach, clarity, and consistency. Passport to Languages is heavily engaged in embracing technology, and is proficient at providing its services in person, via telephone, video and the written word.
Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO) - irco.org
IRCO partners with interpreters and translators who want to make a real impact. We connect your language skills to meaningful work with community organizations, helping people access services, feel heard, and be treated with respect.
Certificate Commission for Healthcare Interpreters (CCHI) - cchicertification.org
CCHI is the only national certifying entity offering two accredited certification programs: CHI (available in Arabic, Mandarin, Spanish) and CoreCHI-Performance (for interpreters of all other languages). CCHI counts over 5,500 certificants nation-wide.
National Interpreting Service (NIS) -nationalinterpretingservice.org
NIS is the leading provider of ASL interpreting services for healthcare organizations across the Pacific Northwest. We help hospitals and clinics deliver equitable, compliant, and patient-centered communication for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing communities.
Oregon Interpreters in Action (AFCSME) -interpretersinaction.org
A multilingual organization by and for interpreters dedicated to advocating for interpreters and Limited English Proficient (LEP) individuals in all communities in Oregon. We are YOUR Union of interpreters.
Certified Language International (CLI) -certifiedlanguages.com
Certified Languages International (CLI) has remained at the forefront of providing on-demand interpreting services since our inception in 1996. CLI is the chosen vendor for thousands of organizations in every major industry. We are known for our reliably fast connection times, exceptional customer service, and interpreter quality.
Cross Cultural Communications - cultureandlanguage.net
Cross-Cultural Communications (CCC) is the leading international training agency for community interpreting, educational interpreting, healthcare interpreting, cultural competence and language access. CCC has designed curricula and trained interpreters since 2001. With over 500 licensed trainers in 43 U.S. states and six countries, CCC is the largest interpreter training agency in the world. CCC's self-paced courses combine a flexible and engaging learning environment with world-class interpreter training. Our more than 100 short courses (and counting) can be taken to meet CE education needs.
OHSU - ohsu.edu
As Oregon’s only public academic health center, OHSU unites healing, teaching, and discovery to rethink healthcare. We are dedicated to advancing health equity and serving our most vulnerable communities. Through relentless innovation and statewide outreach, we bridge gaps in care to bring hope and healing to every corner of Oregon.
LanguageLine Solutions - languageline.com
LanguageLine Solutions® delivers trusted healthcare interpreting, along with Oregon Health Authority–approved Interpreter Training and Language Proficiency Testing. Our LanguageLine Certified Interpreters®—many also OHA registered or certified—help ensure safe, compliant care across audio, video, and onsite services.
Office of Community Health and Engagement Oregon Health Plan (OCHE OHP) - oregon.gov
Oregon Health Authority’s Office of Community Health and Engagement (OCHE) supports close to 350 organizations and 1,800 assisters across Oregon. OCHE trains, certifies, and provides ongoing assistance to their partner network. Partners include trusted organizations that provide culturally and linguistically responsive outreach, health coverage enrollment help and healthcare system navigation.