Call for Nominations

2023 NCIHC Language Access Champion Award

The National Council on Interpreting in Health Care (NCIHC) is pleased to announce the call for nominations for its 2023 Language Access Champion award.

The purpose of this award is to honor a person, a program, or an organization whose work has contributed to improving the lives of all persons through the promotion of language access in health care. NCIHC will present the award to the honoree during the two-day virtual learning experience at the NCIHC Congress held on September 29-30, 2023.

Nomination Process & Criteria

The NCIHC Language Access Champion award is a recognition that comes directly from NCIHC members.

Please note:

  • Persons who are submitting nominations must be NCIHC members in good standing, holding any type of membership status, but nominees do not need to be NCIHC members.
  • Current NCIHC board members are not eligible.

Submit your nomination through the link below.

Deadline for nominations is Friday, June 23, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time.

To prepare for filling out the nomination form, you will need to include the following information.

  • Nominator (person offering the nomination)
    • Name
    • Position
    • Organization/Affiliation
    • Contact telephone number
    • E-mail address
  • Nominee (person/program/organization being recommended for the award)
    • Name (primary contact for nominating a program or an organization)
    • Position
    • Organization/Affiliation
    • Contact number and/or email address
  • A description of a person, a program or an organization that demonstrates their outstanding commitment and contribution to language access.

Once submitted, the online form does not allow for edits.

It may be helpful to remember the NCIHC mission and vision:

The National Council on Interpreting in Health Care (NCIHC) is a multidisciplinary organization whose mission is to promote and enhance language access in health care in the United States.

Our vision is that one day all people will receive the same quality of healthcare, regardless of their English proficiency level. That being the case, we promote:

Social justice

  • Respect for and acceptance of all peoples, including small communities, native peoples, and cultural communities whose tradition is oral
  • The empowerment of Limited English Proficient Communities
  • Culturally and linguistically appropriate practices in health care


Before you begin completing your submission, make sure that you read all the criteria in the Call for Nominations. Prepare your paragraph in advance and gather all the information you need on the nominee. Once you submit you will not be able to return to edit. Deadline for nominations is Friday, June 23, 2023, 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. To submit the nomination form, all fields must be completed. If you have any additional questions, please contact NCIHC Annual Membership Meeting WorkGroup at [email protected] prior to submission of your form.

Scroll down to the bottom for the Submission Link.

FAQs regarding the NCIHC Language Access Champion Process

Who can make a nomination?
Any current NCIHC member in good standing can submit a nomination.

Must the candidate be an NCIHC member? What if I am not sure if they are a member? Candidates for the Language Access Champion Award do not have to be an NCIHC member. However, current board members are not eligible.

Where can I find the nomination form?
Click on the 2023 NCIHC Language Access Champion Nomination link to submit your nomination.

Must the candidate be an interpreter?
The award may be given to anyone in the field of language access in healthcare, regardless of position. Thus, Directors/Coordinators of Interpreter Services, healthcare providers, administrative staff, managers, and other staff in addition to interpreters may be nominated. In addition, individuals in the larger healthcare arena, including but not limited to, insurers, funders, grantmakers, policymakers, and other advocates may be nominated.

How will award recipients be determined?
The selection of the award recipient will be based on the strength of the particular nomination as deemed by the NCIHC Board of Directors.

When is the deadline for nominations?
The deadline for nominations is Friday, June 23, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time.

When will the award recipient be announced?
NCIHC will inform the recipient at least one month prior to the NCIHC Congress to be held on September 29-30, 2023.

When will the award be presented?
NCIHC will present the award during the 2023 NCIHC Congress, September 29-30. The meeting will be virtual. Registration to attend is open to members and non-members.

Who were the previous honorees?
In 2022, NCIHC honored the organization Found in Translation and Melinda Paras, Previous Language Access Champions can be found here.

If you have any additional questions, please contact NCIHC Annual Membership Meeting WorkGroup at [email protected].

 
Language Access Champion Submission Link