Nutrition and Diets: A Guide for Medical Interpreters

Presented by

Bernardo Alfredo Valencia, MD

SPANISH ONLY

Date: Wednesday, March 25, 2026

Time: 6:00 pm – 9:15 pm (inclusive of 15 minutes break)

Location: Live Streaming Via Zoom Events
ZOOM Link will be shared after successful completion of payment

Education Level: Intermediate to Advanced

Credits/Contact Hours

CCHI: This program is accredited by CEAP for 3 CE hours, CEAP accreditation #10964.

IMIA: This program has been approved for 0.3 IMIA/NBCMI CEUs with the unique Education Registry ID 25-1210

MassRID CEU: The RID Activity Number: 0081.1125.13. The bearer of the certificate is “eligible for up to 0.3 Professional Studies CEUs or ACETs taught at the “some” previous knowledge content level.”

Workshop Fees: $45

CEU Fee: $45 workshop fee is inclusive of CEU fees for CCHI and IMIA
RID CEUs are free to all members in good standing pending proof of attendance and completion of CEU request form and evaluation.

Workshop Description

Nutrition conversations span routine counseling to complex inpatient orders. This interpreter-focused workshop builds practical fluency with the terms, concepts, and rationales behind common diets and therapies. We start with Nutrients 101, definitions, the MyPlate model (and why the old pyramid is obsolete), macronutrients and micronutrients, and food examples. Next, we take a simple tour of digestion and absorption; what happens to carbs, proteins, and fats from the mouth to the intestine and ultimately to the blood and liver. We then explain metabolism and total daily energy expenditure (TDEE): where energy comes from, which organs use it, and why NEAT often matters more than gym time. Major diet patterns (Mediterranean, DASH, plant-forward, low-carb/keto, intermittent fasting) are defined with evidence, indications, and cautions. Finally, we connect to clinical practice: hospital diet orders (NPO → clear → full → soft/regular), and an introduction to enteral (tube) and parenteral (IV) nutrition, including refeeding syndrome labs. Three brief case studies anchor terminology, cultural sensitivity, and teach-back phrasing. Workshop is designed for educational purposes only, not for medical advice.

Learning Objectives

During and at the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to:

1. Describe core nutrition concepts (macros, micros, MyPlate vs. pyramid) and explain food examples.
2. Explain digestion and absorption, stepwise pathways for carbs, proteins, and fat, and identify common clinical terms (e.g., bile, pancreatic enzymes, malabsorption).
3. Describe TDEE (BMR/REE, TEF, NEAT, exercise), including typical percentage ranges and organ roles in everyday energy use.
4. Identify and compare major diet patterns (definition, rationale, evidence, indications, and cautions) and apply interpreter-appropriate phrasing for hospital diet orders and EN/PN basics.

Successful Completion Requirements: Participants are expected to sign-in at the required time, must attend the entire program for 3 hours, and complete a CEU request form and an evaluation. Certificates will be distributed to participants by email within 6 to 8 weeks following the program. The moderator will monitor attendance throughout the event.

Refunds: No refund will be provided after 10 full calendar days prior to the date of the program.

Special Requests: For any special requests requiring accommodations, please contact Silvana M. Kirby at 413-842-5160 or [email protected] at least 15 days before the training.