From Classroom to First ATA Conference: A New Path
A New Chapter Begins
After completing the Spanish-English Translation Certificate Program at the University of Massachusetts Boston, I felt proud of my progress but uncertain about my next step. I worked as an in-house medical interpreter and translator at a Harvard-affiliated teaching hospital in Boston for nine years. My work taught me to listen closely, think quickly, and communicate with compassion. However, I wanted to build on that experience through medical translation.
Soon after graduation, I was selected as one of five recipients of the American Foundation for Translation and Interpretation’s (AFTI) First-Time ATA Conference Attendee Scholarship. The award allowed me to attend my first ATA Annual Conference and bridged the gap between the classroom and the career I hoped to build.
From Interpreting to Translation
Medical interpreting has already given me a solid foundation. I helped Spanish-speaking patients and healthcare professionals understand one another during appointments, procedures, emergencies, and difficult conversations. That work deepened my knowledge of medical terminology, cultural differences, health literacy, and the consequences of unclear communication.
As an interpreter, I developed a skill set that allowed me to convey messages on the fly between patient and provider. My experience with research, text analysis, and translation-specific strategies was limited. The UMass Boston program helped me understand these differences between the two professions. It challenged me to examine tone, register, purpose, audience, and terminology more deliberately. By graduation, I no longer viewed translation as simply written interpreting. I saw it as a distinct profession and a new way to apply my skills.
Joining the ATA Community
Walking into my first ATA Annual Conference felt exciting and intimidating. I was surrounded by translators, interpreters, educators, agency owners, and other language professionals from around the world. At first, I wondered if someone with my background would fit in. Those doubts faded once I talked with people.
One of the most meaningful parts of the conference was reconnecting with former classmates and colleagues. We reminisced about our shared experiences and talked about where our careers were headed. Some planned to pursue certification. Others wanted to specialize, build freelance businesses, or explore new areas of language work. Their goals reminded me that careers rarely follow one path. Even experienced professionals keep learning. My transition was not a fresh start but a chance to build on my experience.
Learning Beyond the Classroom
The conference sessions broadened my perspective with presentations on professional development, technology, business practices, and the future of the language industry. I found the AI sessions particularly interesting. Rather than portraying AI as a miracle solution or a threat, the speakers discussed how language professionals could use it responsibly. They emphasized the importance of protecting confidentiality, maintaining quality, and applying human judgment where it matters most.
Other sessions focused on how newcomers can protect themselves from job scams, unethical recruitment practices, and suspicious job offers. Speakers emphasized the importance of researching companies, reading agreements carefully, and avoiding offers that promise “guaranteed” work in exchange for a fee.
While formal education taught me how to translate, the conference taught me how to navigate the profession. One valuable business lesson I learned was the importance of thinking like a business owner rather than a language professional. I realized that freelance work takes more than strong translation skills. I also needed to market myself, build relationships, and create opportunities.
The Value of Showing Up
Some of my strongest memories were made outside of formal sessions. These included hallway conversations, shared meals, introductions, and informal exchanges with people who offered advice.
I used to feel uncomfortable with networking because I associated it with self-centered promotion. At the conference, however, I began to see it differently. Networking meant listening to others’ stories, learning from their experiences, and letting them learn about mine. It meant building genuine relationships rather than collecting contacts.
That community changed how I viewed my future. I arrived as a recent graduate and longtime interpreter, and I left with greater clarity, new connections, and confidence.
Paving a New Path
My first ATA Annual Conference didn’t provide a clear roadmap, but it showed me that there were many possible paths. My interpreting experience, translation training, and healthcare background were not separate entities. Instead, they formed the foundation for the medical translation career I hope to pursue.
You don’t need to plan every step before pursuing an opportunity. Sometimes progress begins when you complete a program, submit a scholarship application, attend a conference, introduce yourself, and bet on your potential.
The classroom gave me new skills. The AFTI scholarship opened the door. The ATA Annual Conference gave me the confidence to walk through it. My goal is to transition to a full-time career in medical translation and start my own business. Thanks to my first ATA conference, that future no longer feels distant—it feels possible!
About the Author
Marie M. Cabeza, CMI (Spanish), is an ATA member and medical language professional with nine years of experience at a Harvard-affiliated teaching hospital in Boston. After completing the Spanish-English Translation Certificate Program at UMass Boston, she began pursuing a full-time career in medical translation. She’s interested in patient education, health literacy, public health, clinical trials, and the responsible use of AI in translation. She aspires to launch her own business one day. Connect with her at mariem.cabeza@umbtranslation.org or on LinkedIn.