Tamas Farkas has been instrumental in shaping the landscape of Cross Cultural Health Care Programs since joining the Colorado Cross-Cultural Health Care Program (CCHCP) in 2019 as the Language Access Programs Director. His profound expertise and dedication have significantly enhanced how healthcare organizations approach language access and cultural competency, making him a pivotal figure in the field.
In his role, Tamas has collaborated extensively with a diverse range of institutions, including health departments, government bodies, hospitals, language service organizations, universities, and educational institutions. His work focuses on vital aspects of medical interpreting and language access, ensuring that healthcare services are accessible and equitable for all, regardless of linguistic or cultural background. He is recognized as CCHCP’s lead trainer for the esteemed Bridging the Gap medical interpreting program and training of trainers program, a testament to his skill in curriculum development and instructional design. Furthermore, Tamas played a key role in creating CCHCP’s specialized Medical Interpreting in Mental Health curriculum, addressing the unique challenges within mental health service accessibility for diverse populations. His contributions extend to various other curricula centered on language access and promoting equity within health care systems.
Beyond training and curriculum development, Tamas has overseen the critical translation of numerous medical, mental health, and genetics glossaries at CCHCP. This work is crucial for maintaining accuracy and consistency in communication across different languages within healthcare settings. His commitment to linguistic precision is further underscored by his own credentials as a nationally certified medical interpreter (CoreCHI-P™) proficient in five languages, including his native Hungarian, German, French, and Spanish acquired through study and immersion in Switzerland and Puerto Rico.
Tamas’s passion for knowledge sharing is evident in his extensive teaching experience. He has held language instructor positions at Xi’an Jiaotong University in China, Institut Monte Rosa in Switzerland, and the Spanish Easy and Fun Language School in the USA. This diverse teaching background enriches his approach to training healthcare professionals and interpreters, bringing a global perspective to cross cultural health care program development.
His dedication extends beyond professional roles into active engagement with immigrant and refugee communities. Prior to his tenure at CCHCP, Tamas held multiple positions with the Interpreter Network, a program of the Spring Institute of Colorado, ranging from Interpreter and Coordinator to Trainer and Program Manager. Notably, he contributed to a grant project aimed at educating young people about interpreting, which subsequently influenced the implementation of improved language access service policies and training within the Denver Police Department. Further community involvement includes volunteering with FIUTS (Foundation for International Understanding Through Students), serving as a Board Member for the International Medical Interpreters Association (IMIA), and teaching Hungarian with the Hungarian American Association of Washington. His past role as a Board Member of Recreative Denver and current volunteer work with Recreative Seattle highlight his broad commitment to community enrichment.
Tamas is also a sought-after speaker in the field of medical interpreting and language access. He has presented at numerous conferences and meetings for organizations such as the Utah Language Access Conference (ULAC), the National Council on Interpreting in Health Care (NCIHC), the University of Massachusetts, IMIA, the California Healthcare Interpreting Association (CHIA), Kent State University, and Denver Public Schools. These presentations underscore his authority and experience in advancing cross cultural health care programs and advocating for improved language access.
In his personal time, Tamas enjoys creative pursuits such as art, running, and swimming, showcasing a well-rounded individual dedicated to both professional excellence and personal enrichment. His multifaceted background and unwavering commitment make Tamas Farkas a leading expert in the realm of cross cultural health care programs, significantly contributing to CCHCP’s mission and the wider healthcare community.
