Episode 18 - Language Justice in Maternal Care: Breaking Barriers for Spanish-Speaking Mothers with Dr. Richard Bryce and Dr. Angelina Palacios

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Access to high-quality care during pregnancy and childbirth shouldn’t depend on the language you speak. Yet for many Spanish-speaking mothers in the U.S., communication barriers can mean delayed care, missed diagnoses, or feeling unseen in critical moments. Understanding and addressing these inequities requires more than translation; it demands a system built on language justice.

In this episode, host Ana Suarez speaks with Dr. Richard Bryce, Program Director for the Henry Ford Family Medicine Residency and Chief Medical Officer at the Community Health and Social Services Center (CHASS) in Detroit, and Dr. Angelina Palacios, a third-year Family Medicine resident at Henry Ford, about their recent study on language access as a maternal health barrier. Together, they explore the real-world implications of limited interpreter support during labor and delivery, the importance of bilingual providers, and the steps needed to make equitable maternal care a reality.

Their conversation delves into the stories shared by Latina mothers and healthcare staff, highlighting how community-driven solutions like improved interpreter availability, compliance tracking, and staff education can bridge gaps in care.

For more information about CHASS and ways to support their work, visit:
 www.chasscenter.org 

To learn more about NAMS membership benefits, visit https://www.namspanish.org/resources
Student memberships are free!

Hosted by: Ana Suarez
Guests: Dr. Angelina Palacios, Dr. Richard Bryce
NAMS Medcast Production Team: Alexis Spencer, Ana Suarez, Manuel Panzardi, Rafael Ramos

Intro and Outro Music:
Bossa Samba Ballad by Studio Le Bus
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