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Health Care Interpreter Continuing Education Mini Conference

Network with fellow Oregon interpreters and earn continuing education credits toward your OHA, IMIA/NBCMI, or CCHI renewal.

About the Mini-Conferences

#1) ONTARIO: Join us for this one-day mini-conference to network with other Eastern Oregon interpreters and earn continuing education credits.

Enjoy two 2-hour CEU courses that will count toward renewal with OHA, IMIA/NBCMI, and CCHI.

Want time to relax and mingle before the conference?

Sign up for the pre-conference dinner and social hour at 6pm on August 21st at Wingers Restaurant in Ontario.

This conference is CCHI-approved and NBCMI-approved for continuing education. Anticipated seat time: 6 hours.
 
#2 HERMISTON: Join us for this two-day mini-conference to network with other interpreters who live and work in the Columbia River Gorge/Tri-Cities area and earn continuing education credits.
 
Enjoy up to 8 hours of CEU courses that will count toward renewal with OHA, IMIA/NBCMI, and CCHI. Want time to relax and mingle with colleagues?
 
Sign up for the dinner and social hour at 6pm on November 20th.

Ontario Schedule & Locations

Pre-Conference Dinner & Social Hour

  • When: Friday, August 21, 6–8pm

  • Where: Wingers Restaurant

  • 1255 SE 1st Ave, Ontario, OR 97914

Conference Day

  • When: Saturday, August 22, 8am–3pm

  • Where: Malheur County Extension Office

  • 710 SW 5th Ave, Ontario, OR 97914

Time Session
6:00 – 8:00pm, Aug 21 Pre-conference dinner and social hour (optional)
8:00 – 8:30am Welcome and light refreshments
8:30 – 9:30am Coffee, networking and discussion
9:30 – 9:45am Break
9:45 – 11:45am Morning CEU: Ethics in Action
11:45am – 12:45pm Lunch break
12:45 – 2:45pm Afternoon CEU: State of the Profession
2:45 – 3:00pm Closing


CEU Courses

Morning CEU · 9:45–11:45am

Ethics in Action: Putting Professionalism and Professional Development into Practice

In this course, we will take a deep dive into two important ethical principles that are part of the NCIHC Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice: professionalism and professional development.

We'll review some of the often-overlooked standards that relate to these ethical principles and explore how the forthcoming updates to the NCIHC Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice connect them to other ethical principles such as advocacy.

You will be able to:

  • Define and distinguish between professionalism and professional development
  • Explain how updates to the NCIHC Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice change our conceptualization of these ethical principles
  • Describe the relationship between professionalism and professional development and other ethical principles
  • Evaluate which standards under each ethical principle are most overlooked, in their own practice and among interpreters in general
  • Critique their own practice and formulate a plan to strengthen their application of these ethical principles in their work
Recommended OHA categories: Ethics | Skills | Other

Afternoon CEU · 12:45–2:45pm

State of the Profession: A Re-Examination of Mikkelson's "The Professionalization of Community Interpreting" in Today's World

In 2004, Mikkelson's landmark article "The Professionalization of Community Interpreting" described the trajectory of professions as they develop, describing the features that distinguish nascent professions from those that are well-established, holding power, prestige and respect.

In this course, we will revisit the article, assessing where community interpreting fell on the spectrum at the time, what changes have occurred since then, and where it might fall today.

We'll look at data on the interpreter workforce and apply the social ecological model to develop recommendations for advancing the profession at the individual, interpersonal, organizational, community, and public policy levels.

You will be able to:

  • Explain and critique Mikkelson's assessment of community interpreting; evaluate how developed the profession was then and now using the features Mikkelson described as a guide
  • Describe changes to the community interpreting profession from 2004–2026
  • Interpret data on the health care interpreter workforce
  • Apply the social ecological model to develop recommendations for advancing the community interpreting profession at the individual, interpersonal, organizational, community, and public policy levels
Recommended OHA categories: Ethics | Other
 

Hermiston Schedule & Locations

 

Conference Day

  • When: Saturday, August 22, 8am–3pm

  • Where: OSU Extension Office in Hermiston

  • 1740 E Airport Road, Hermiston OR

 

November 20 - Day 1 Schedule
Time Session
1:00 – 5:00pm Session 1 - Do the Right Thing: Ethical Decision-Making in Healthcare Interpreting (4 hrs): Amanda Wheeler-Kay and Rodrigo Gaspar-Barajas ($75 price)
6:00 – 8:00pm Dinner / Social Hour at Kobe Hibatchi 1055 US 395. Ste 100. Hermiston, OR 97838

 

November 21 – Day 2 Schedule

Time Session
8:00 – 8:30am Welcome and light refreshments
8:30 – 10:30am Session 2 - Professionalism in Practice: Beyond the Code of Ethics (2 hrs): Amanda Wheeler-Kay and Sandra Valdez ($40 price)
10:45 – 11:45am Networking & Discussion 
11:45am – 12:45pm Lunch on Your Own 
2:45 – 3:00pm Session 3 - Interpreting in Public Health (2 hrs): Felicity Ratway ($40 price)
 

CEU Courses

 Afternoon CEU · 1 - 5pm

Do the Right Thing: Ethical Decision-Making in Healthcare Interpreting

Interpreters have historically been taught there are specific “dos and don'ts” to ethical reasoning. Yet real world encounters often place interpreters at the intersection of accuracy, harm prevention, power dynamics, and human dignity. Choosing the “right thing to do” in this context is hard!

In this interactive workshop, participants will consider how to preserve fidelity while exercising professional judgment, cultural awareness, and ethical responsibility (without violating standards). Participants will contrast a rules-based “dos and don’ts” approach with dynamic, context-based decision-making; and they will be introduced to a practical tool for evaluating ethical decisions: Demand-Control Schema (DC-S).

We will use the revised NCIHC 2025 Code of Ethics and the framework of Cultural Humility to explore four key ideas essential for navigating complex ethical scenarios:

  1. interpreting is a practice profession

  2. there are multiple right ways to interpret

  3. the interpreter is an active participant

  4. context-based decision-making versus rules-based decision making. 

Morning CEU · 8:30 - 10:30am

Professionalism in Practice: Beyond the Code of Ethics

You know the ethics—now gain the confidence to apply them! While many trainings cover principles, this participatory workshop bridges the gap between theory and application.

Topics include key vocabulary, core ethical values, recognizing limitations in the moment, and opportunities to practice giving and receiving feedback.

Participants will engage in role plays for meaningful debriefs. Ideal for interpreters seeking actionable skills, confidence in difficult moments, and strategies for sustained professional growth grounded in actual work—not just conceptual frameworks.

Participants will be able to:

  • Define basic terminology related to professionalism and the ethics of interpreting.

  • Practice ethical decision-making related to the ethical standard of professionalism.

  • Develop self-evaluation skills. 

Afternoon CEU · 1 - 3pm

Interpreting in Public Health

Health care interpreters are called upon to interpret for not just medical appointments but also public health initiatives, from community health needs assessments to learning collaboratives to well water safety classes.

In this course, we will learn about what distinguishes public health from health care, explore terminology relevant to public health, and build the skills needed to interpret effectively in public health.

Participants in this course will be able to:

  1. Define public health; distinguish between interpreting assignments that are public health and those that are health care

  2. Name organizations that lead public health initiatives in their communities

  3. Identify the skills necessary to interpret in public health

  4. Prepare effectively for public health interpreting assignments 

 

Who Should Attend

Health care interpreters looking to network, learn, and earn CEUs to renew their credentials with OHA, IMIA/NBCMI, or CCHI.

Whether you're renewing an OHA Qualification/Certification or a national credential, this mini-conference offers ethics- and skills-based continuing education alongside a chance to connect with fellow Eastern Oregon interpreters.

Connect With Your Professional Community

 

Questions?

Questions about the course?

Contact Felicity Ratway, Health Care Interpreter Program Coordinator and Instructor.

 

calendar
Eastern Oregon (Ontario)
August 21 - 22, 2026
Columbia River (Hermiston)
November 20 - 21, 2026
Time: varies - see conference details
price (2)
Half Day: $40 (2 CE hours)
Full Day: $75 (4 CE hours)
Multi-Day: $125 (8 CE hours)

Instructors

Felicity Ratway
Felicity Ratway is a licensed trainer with The Community Interpreter who holds a PhD in Public Health from Oregon State University and Master of Arts degree in interpreting and Translation Studies from Wake Forest University. Her research focuses on access to interpreters in the health care setting. She has been working as an interpreter in Oregon since 2015 and has experience as both an employee and freelance interpreter.
 
In addition to her experience training interpreters, Dr. Ratway has taught a number of continuing education courses for interpreters on topics ranging from medical marijuana to ethical advocacy in interpreting. She presents regularly on health care interpreting for audiences at national and state conferences.

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