Welcome to the Medical Division of the American Translators Association!

Caduceus: The Medical Division's Quarterly Newsletter

Highlights of the Fall 2009-Winter 2010 Issue:

New elections will be held during the coming ATA Annual Conference. Caduceus bids farewell to the current Administrator Esther Diaz and wishes her well in her future commitments.

• Georgetown University Hospital Tour - A recap of the 2009 Mid-Year Conference highlights the salient features of this successful meeting. Anne Connor describes the tour with a special emphasis on the Cyberknife Stereotactic Radiosurgery System.
• A brief review of healthcare systems around the world by Dr. Rafael Rivera gives a general idea of the international scene, given the current political US system, which is followed by a personal view of the Canadian System by Medical Division member, Elizabeth Abrahams.
• Dr. Jose Marti gives us an overview of anesthesia with a specific note on the anesthetic medication mentioned in the death of Michael Jackson.
• Dr. Elena Sgarbossa gives us a detailed historical review of the word influenza across time and up to the present epidemic.
• Dr. Jim McAninch tells us about the use of stem cells in modern therapy.
• Carmen Cross, a new contributor, summarizes the current status of Fibromyalgia, a complex painful condition with no real solutions in sight.
• New contributors, Monica Guelman and Steven Becerra begin a comprehensive three-part series on Medical Interpretation.
• Giovanna Lester bring up on date on the fomatin of the Florida Interpreters and Translators Associaton.
• ATA Board Secretary, Virginia Perez-Santalla explains what the Certification Commision for Healthcare Interpreters is from he perspective as a Commissioner.
• Bits-Pieces-Facts-Figures and the Glossarium round up the current issue with bite-sized pieces of information and terminology. The ranking of US best Hospitals for 2009 appears on this issue.

View/download the Fall'09-Winter'10 issue.

[ return to top ]

Highlights of the Summer 2009 Issue:

Besides the usual brief notes by the Caduceus Editor and the Medical Division Administrator here is a listing of the highlights of the present issue which is a larger than usual special issue prepared for the Mid-year Conference:

• 2009 Mid-Year Conference Program
• Genetics Part II finishes up our Genetics series with a simple explanation of the process of transcription, the process that transcribes DNA into RNA and the subsequent process of translation that translates the RNA into a protein that expresses the intended physical characteristic.
• The Genetics and Breast Cancer deals with the history and application of genetics to breast cancer. Specifically, the relation between the BRCA-1 and BRCA-2 genes to breast cancer.
• Bits and Pieces and Glossarium carry the usual bite sized pieces of information on terminology and medically related topics of interest. Also you will find some interesting websites on medical and health related information, medical abbreviations and a reminder of Dr. Rivera's Medical Translation Section at the Translation Journal.
• Pitfalls and Caveats brings to us an evolutionary connection to the origins of hiccups and choking.
• Hematology Series in this issue brings us the concept of targeted therapy for lymphoma.
• Book Review introduces the reader to the work of Dr Sherwin Nuland one of the best medical storytellers of our time.
• Influenza - The Animal Collection is a short recollection of the influenza virus with emphasis on the present influenza pandemic.
• 2009 MD Survey Results shows the results of the medical division survey conducted in 2009.
• HIV/AIDS Acronyms is a comprehensive collection of the best medical resources available online. Includes an English-Spanish listing of the most frequently used HIV/AIDS acronyms and a short list of Spanish sites worth knowing about.
• Nominations Form for Division Officer

View/download the Summer 2009 issue.

[ return to top ]

Highlights of the Spring 2009 Issue:

• Genetics Part I - a general basic introduction to the field of Human Genetics, early evolutionary thinking, the discovery of DNA and a closer look at the field
• The Glossarium is dedicated to Genetics terminology and information sources
• Surgical Perspectives - Robotic Surgery
• Hematology series - Monoclonal antibodies - the Basics
• Bits - Pieces - Facts - Figures - a little bit of everything. Headaches. Pulses. Look-alike words. Look up the excellent Brain Tutorial mentioned.
• Bone geography - a bit of relaxing word finding
• Pitfalls and Caveats - Remembering Darwin on his 200th anniversary and 150 years after his Origin of the Species
• Interpreters at Work - keeping professional boundaries in a very challenging situation.

View/download the Spring 2009 issue.

[ return to top ]

Highlights of the Fall 2008-Winter 2009 Issue:

• The Practice of Medicine - How many varieties of medical practices are there?
• Breast Cancer - Part II - Staging System, Use of Chemotherapy, Detection and Screening
• Pitfalls and Caveats - Emerging terminology
• Glossarium - Look-alike medical words and illustrations
• All About Medical Boards - From Medical School to Practicing Specialist
• Bits and Pieces - A little bit about everything - from Alzheimer's to golden standard to dietary fiber and more
• Interpreters at Work - The patient speaks better English than the Interpreter
• Mental Status Glossary - German - English - Spanish

View/download the Fall 2008-Winter 2009 issue.

[ return to top ]

See Your Name in Print!

If you've got an idea for an article related to medical translation or interpreting, we would like to hear from you. Unsolicited submissions are welcomed! Both members and non-members may submit articles for consideration.

The deadline for contributions for the Spring 2009 issue of Caduceus is January 31, 2009. the Articles should be sent electronically in Word format to Dr. Rafael Rivera, Caduceus Editor.

[ return to top ]

About Caduceus

Caduceus is a quarterly publication of the Medical Division of the American Translators Association, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the recognition of translating and interpreting as professions.

• Interim Editor: Suzanne Couture caduceusnewsletter@gmail.com
• Assistant Editor: Elena Sgarbossa, MD
• Proofreaders: Esther Diaz, Maria Rosdolsky
• Graphic Design: Deborah Sales

The full color version of Caduceus is available for downloading once its publication is announced by ATA Headquarters. It is divided into two parts for ease of receiving and downloading the electronic format. There is also a printed version that members can elect to receive by regular mail. This can be requested upon signing up at initial membership, upon renewal of membership, or at any time during the year by going to www.atanet.org/divisions/division_admin.php or by contacting Jamie Padula at Jamie@atanet.org. The printed version is limited to 20 or less black and white pages.

Currently, Caduceus is published 3 times a year - Spring, Summer and a Fall-Winter issue.

Submissions for publication must be sent electronically in Word format.

Contents of this newsletter are the property of the Medical Division of ATA. Permission to use, republish, or reproduce information contained herein can be obtained from the editor.

[ return to top ]

Brief History of Caduceus

It was in November of 2002 during the ATA annual conference that a roomful of people got together to express interest in the creation of an ATA medical division. A day later a handful of us huddled together in a side hallway of the hotel with the then President Ann Macfarlane and committed ourselves to making it happen. Martine Dougé and Dr. Marla J.F. O’Neill were at the helm. Christmas and the New Year rolled around and by the Spring of 2003 our very first Medical Division newsletter under the editorial direction and production of Naomi de Moraes came out. Zarita Araujo, Vonessa Williams, Chris Marquard and myself were the early settlers. Everybody cheered us on. And the rest, as we always say, is history.

A newsletter-naming contest was declared early on and Caduceus was established as the official name. In time I became Editor and later took leadership of the division. From our humble yet well defined beginnings we have created a newsletter that along with the growth of ATA is read in as many places as we have members and affiliated groups. I do receive frequent favorable comments and requests to copy or use our printed material.

Sincere thanks to Zarita Araujo and Vonessa Williams as well as Dr. Elena Sgarbossa, Dr. Gilberto Lacchia, Leon McMorrow and Maria Rosdolsky all of whom now have or have had regular columns or have been regular contributors to Caduceus. We need and welcome contributions, large or small, from our members.

[ return to top ]