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Medical Translation: Getting Started - Skills, Experience, Qualifications?
Thread poster: Joseph Tein
Joseph Tein
Joseph Tein  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 21:29
Member (2009)
Spanish to English
+ ...
Oct 10, 2020

I often get asked 'How did you get started as a medical translator.' And I tell them my own story. My question for you colleagues is, what would you recommend to someone wanting to be a medical translator? Please mention things like what sorts of training/experience/education you consider necessary, as well as how and where to search for jobs in this field. Maybe also how you yourself got into the field. Thanks very much for your input.

[Edited at 2020-10-10 00:56 GMT]
 
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 05:29
Member (2007)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
My experience Oct 10, 2020

Some 20 years ago, I was contacted by a medical doctor asking me if I was interested in translating EN-PT a medical handbook on obstetrics in collaboration with her. After much negotiation with her and with the publisher we signed a contract. The job took about a year to complete with much back and forth, but was delivered within the deadline. At the time, I thought “never again” as it meant working hard during a whole year to complete the job and to keep my other customers happy; but then (... See more
Some 20 years ago, I was contacted by a medical doctor asking me if I was interested in translating EN-PT a medical handbook on obstetrics in collaboration with her. After much negotiation with her and with the publisher we signed a contract. The job took about a year to complete with much back and forth, but was delivered within the deadline. At the time, I thought “never again” as it meant working hard during a whole year to complete the job and to keep my other customers happy; but then (as it often happens in our profession) a global healthcare company focused on innovative therapies got in touch with me for the translation EN-PT and FR-PT of medical devices and certifications. We worked together for 10 years until suddenly they considered my rates too high and we part ways. Since then, I have been translating some medical stuff on Major depressive disorder and ATTR amyloidosis. As I have no medical training all my work is edited by a medical doctor. ▲ Collapse
 


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Medical Translation: Getting Started - Skills, Experience, Qualifications?







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