Robby: Ambulatory Care Pharmacist Leading with Spanish

Meet Robby—an Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice and Ambulatory Care Pharmacist at the Concordia University Wisconsin School of Pharmacy.

My Spanish language and cultural skills have allowed me to provide language-concordant care to Spanish-speaking patients in my community in order manage their medications and work with them to achieve their health-related goals.

Languages: Spanish and Portuguese

Grew Up In: Rochester, MN

Study Abroad: La Fundación Ortega y Gasset in Toledo, Spain

College & Degrees Held: University of Minnesota: Bachelor's degree in Spanish and Portuguese Studies and Doctor of Pharmacy

How have your language and cultural skills supported and/or enhanced your professional opportunities?

My language skills have greatly expanded my professional opportunities. Specifically, my Spanish language and cultural skills have allowed me to teach a study abroad in Spain elective course and several Medical Spanish for Pharmacists courses across multiple universities.

Additionally, my language skills have allowed me to engage in professional experiences, such as delivering presentations relating to pharmacy practice and education, in Spain, Cuba, Peru, and Brazil. I have also been able to write and obtain multiple grants related to Spanish language training and assessment, publish Medical Spanish articles and textbooks, and participate on the leadership team of the National Association of Medical Spanish (NAMS).

Perhaps most importantly, my Spanish language and cultural skills have allowed me to provide language-concordant care to Spanish-speaking patients in my community in order manage their medications and work with them to achieve their health-related goals.

What advice would you share with current language learners or those considering studying a language?

The decision to study languages was one of the best decisions I have made in my life. I strongly recommend it. Studying languages has impacted the books I read, the music I listen to, the places I travel to, the friends I have, the food I eat, the way I interact with people, the way I speak English, the hobbies I have, and the way I teach... to name a few things. Also, I strongly recommending studying abroad, if at all possible. The knowledge, skills, perspectives, and experiences gained by studying a language are invaluable and can positively impact you and the lives of others.

It’s often said that English is the language of global business, and because of that, language skills aren’t necessary to succeed. Do you agree or disagree? Why?

I disagree. While you might be able to be successful knowing just English, having additional language skills beyond English can only help foster additional success, not limit additional success. Also, we should not limit our thinking of success as a strictly financial result. Sometimes, having/using language skills may not provide more financial success, but it could increase patient or customer outcomes and satisfaction and that is also very valuable.

Do you have an interesting, moving, or humorous anecdote featuring your language skills to share?

When I landed in Spain for my first study abroad experience, there was an issue with my airline and my luggage did not arrive in Spain with me. When I tried to explain why I didn’t have my luggage to my school’s administrators, they responded to me by saying, “No pasa nada.”

At the time, I was not familiar with how this phrase is used in Spain (it functionally means “no worries” or “no problem”) and I translated the phrase literally in my head (“Nothing is happening”). Thinking that the administrators didn’t understand what I had communicated, I replied, “No. Ha pasado algo con las maletas pero no sé lo que pasó.” (No. Something has happened with my luggage, but I don’t know what happened.)

This back and forth continued for a bit until I realized the non-literal meaning of the phrase. Now I use the phrase “No pasa nada” all the time.

Check out our Connect with Spanish page—or explore another language of your choosing—for information about university programs, scholarship opportunities, testimonials, and more! Then tell us how you put your language skills to work @LangConnectsFdn on social media.

You can also explore NAMS' work advancing multilingual healthcare here.

Know a multilingual professional who's using language skills in their work or career? Refer them to us for consideration in an upcoming Professional Profile.