Interpreting For Healthcare Episode 39 with Manuel Higginbotham

This month’s episode of the Interpreting in Healthcare podcast, sponsored by the National Council on Interpreting in Health Care (NCIHC), welcomes a powerhouse of language access expertise—namely, Manuel Higginbotham — LBBP, CHI™-Spanish.

Manuel brings 27+ years of frontline experience in language access, working passionately to improve care for Limited English Proficient individuals. From training interpreters and crafting language‐access programs for more than 140 hospitals, to leading interpreter teams (including the first program with 100% dually nationally certified staff), Manuel’s career spans consulting, ownership of a language services company, and leadership in healthcare for large hospital systems.

He currently directs the Language Access Services Department at the world-renowned MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. His languages? Spanish, English and Portuguese.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Manuel’s journey into healthcare language access and what drove him to lead.
• Inside stories of building new alliances and creating equity in access across communities.
• A peek into how top-tier hospitals approach language access and the strategies that make a real difference—like hosting your own conference on the medical center’s campus when budget constraints don’t allow you to pay for staff to attend professional events.
• A forward-looking take on where our profession is headed—and how YOU can stay ahead.

Whether you’re an interpreter, trainer, program manager, or advocate for language equity, this conversation is packed with actionable insight and inspiration.

Tune in now on YouTube, Spotify or wherever you get podcasts and don’t miss this chance to hear from one of the most influential voices in our field.