Nominations for NCIHC Board of Directors

President
Job Description

Division/Department: Board of Directors
Location: Virtual / Remote + Annual Meeting
Role Title: President
Term Dates: April 2026 – April 2028
Type of Role: Volunteer / Governance
Time Commitment: 15 - 20 hours/month

Summary

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.

NCIHC started as an informal working group in 1994 and met yearly until it was formally established in 1998. The group is composed of individuals from around the country. In the spirit of working to foster dialogue from a diverse group of stakeholders, NCIHC seeks Board Members from a variety of backgrounds, including providers, patients, researchers, interpreters and language program leaders. NCIHC is especially interested in adding board members that could impart an informed understanding of the voice of its most vulnerable stakeholders, the people who use languages other than English (LOE) for health care. NCIHC believes this diversity is critical for ensuring a broad, informed and nuanced opinion on the challenges of equal language access.

Mission

To promote and enhance language access in health care in the United States.

Vision

For all people to receive the same quality of health care regardless of their ability to communicate.

Values

Equity and Nondiscrimination: We pursue our mission with a commitment to equitable language access in health care and recognize that a failure to provide such services constitutes discrimination that may contribute to systemic patient harm.
Inclusivity and Respect: We pursue our mission with a commitment to respecting and supporting language access solutions for all peoples, including those who use spoken languages, those who use signed language, those who speak languages of lesser diffusion and indigenous peoples.
Education: We pursue our mission with a commitment to the advancement of training for healthcare system stakeholders in the delivery of culturally and linguistically appropriate services.

Role

Preside at all Board and Executive Committee meetings and exercise and perform such powers and duties as from time to time may be assigned to the President by the Board or prescribed by the NCIHC bylaws.
Serve as ex-officio member of all committees and may call any special meetings as necessary.
The general manager and Chief Executive Officer of the NCIHC and shall have the powers and duties of general supervision, direction and control of the business and affairs of the NCIHC, subject to the control of the Executive Committee.
Act as spokesperson, or designate another Board member, for the organization.
Periodically consult with the Board members to assess his/her role and performance, as well as to assess the overall functioning of the board.
Ensures the forward progress of the mission of NCIHC.
Ultimate oversight and governance responsibility for ensuring the organization works towards its mission.
Provides a high level of care, compassion, enthusiasm and visionary leadership for the work of language access.
Bring a unique, informed, relevant perspective to the challenges (and opportunities) of language access as faced by all relevant stakeholders.
Identify trends or challenges facing patients who use LOE.
Propose and/or support legal initiatives that provide more equity for patients who use LOE.
Inform and support stakeholders sharing best practice ideas related to language access.
Develops innovative strategies for helping the organization address the ever-evolving challenges of equity as it relates to language access.
Shape long-term strategy for the organization.
Carry out special assignments as requested by the Board. Such as participation in other committees or sub-committees (Organizational Development; Outreach and Membership, Social Media, Annual Membership Meeting).

Requirements

President must have previously served on the NCIHC Board.
Candidates for officer positions that will have access to NCIHC financial assets must pass a criminal background check, which will be paid for by the NCIHC.
Empathetic listening and the capacity to see, appreciate and truly inhabit, the diversity of challenges and perspectives faced by all stakeholders in language access.
The capacity to communicate clearly and simply and dialogue openly, candidly and respectfully with all stakeholders, including fellow board members.
The ability to value another’s opinion and change one’s mind.
The ability to take initiative willingly and enthusiastically investigate, assess and pursue new and relevant opportunities for NCIHC and all stakeholders.
Mission minded and personally invested with a truly self-less and earnest desire to see the challenges of language access meaningfully addressed.
Attendance at the Annual Membership Meeting. The Board shall set the location, date and time and notify members no less than three (3) months prior to meeting date and time.
Must be a member of the Executive Committee.
Ability to serve a term of two years with a limit of three consecutive terms.
Attend all Board meetings and serve on the Executive Committee. This means one 60-minute and one 90-minute monthly meeting. Preparation for Board Meetings requires reading of the reports prepared for the meetings which may consist of reports from committees, and include pending policy or fiscal decisions as well as decisions on new initiatives.
Board Members are expected to follow a duty of loyalty by completing a Conflict of Interest form on a yearly basis, and by informing the Board of any new conflict of interest activity as it may impact their role as a Board member. Board Members shall not accrue financial gain from their relationship with NCIHC.