Alma Kuhlemann, Ph.D., CHI, has been with UofL Health for almost six years. As the translation coordinator and as a Spanish translator/interpreter for UofL Health – Language Services, Alma works with team members and providers throughout the organization to make document translation a reality for those wanting to give their patients clearly written instructions in their own language. It is Alma’s hope to make sure that every person in the system knows they can reach out to her with their translation requests, and that she will do her very best to fulfill them.
Alma loves her work at UofL Health. She truly enjoys the challenges that translating medical, technical and legal texts poses at practically every step of the way.
“When it comes to solving problems, I am like a dog with a bone,” Alma said. “And I am thankful for the support of my co-workers, who spot documents that merit translation and send them my way so that we can further serve our patients.”
In addition to her role with Language Services, Alma volunteers on a regular basis as an interpreter for the Louisville Free Smiles Clinic, held at the Family Community Clinic in Butchertown, and led by Drs. James Ransdell and Joseph Jacobi, with the help of University of Louisville Dental School students. This clinic strives to provide free dental services to uninsured members of our community. “I believe that everyone has a right to health care and a happy smile, no matter their circumstances,” Alma said.
Alma also volunteers as a subject matter expert for the Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters (CCHI), contributing to the advancement of the profession.
Alma is originally from Montevideo, Uruguay, where she obtained her bachelor’s degree in legal translation. An avid traveler and adventurer, Alma obtained her master’s degree in technical translation at the University of Mainz in Germany and her Ph.D. in Latin American languages and literatures at The Ohio State University where she met Tom, her husband. After a few years of a long-distance relationship due to her work as a college professor, Alma returned to Louisville and settled down with Tom and their dog, Diva.
“We spend our free time watching art house films, playing with little Diva, swimming and traveling,” Alma said. “I also like to make time for practicing my German on Zoom conversation meetings offered by the Goethe Institute of Chicago so that it doesn’t get too rusty!”
Louisville is now Alma’s home and building a solid translation services program at UofL Health is her goal. Alma asks that you keep those documents coming her way and Language Services will make communication happen!