Ruby Ramicone, CHI™
Spanish Medical Interpreter
I have been providing interpreting services at BCH since it first opened in 2015. Born in San Francisco to Mexican immigrants, I only spoke Spanish growing up, especially since we lived in Mexico for a few years when I was in elementary school, so I didn’t start learning English until I was 9 years old. By the time I got to high school, my English was a lot better, and despite being a shy theater kid I always got volunteered to read the morning announcements in Spanish and interpret at school assemblies. In college, I was having a hard time balancing a full class schedule, my extracurricular activities (dance and theater) and a part-time job. A flexible work schedule would accommodate all of that, so I became a freelance interpreter. It was only supposed to be temporary, but I quickly fell in love with it, and it was an easy choice to make it my career.
What I love the most is that I get to work in every unit and with all specialties. I am constantly learning something new, like the time a music therapist asked if I could learn the lyrics to “Let It Go” in Spanish for a little kid who loved Frozen. Moments like this keep me challenged, and our patients make it easy to go the extra mile!