About Us
Medical Communications Ambassadors (MCA) provides quality medical interpretation course for students who are bilingual in Mandarin Chinese and English. The course is designed for individuals who are bilingual, have a desire to learn how to be a professional interpreter, and wish to further their education and expertise.
Our Mission
The mission of Medical Communication Ambassadors is to provide innovative and quality interpretation training services to a diverse population with regional, organizational, and individual needs. The mission of our training program is to serve as a stepping stone to careers in medical interpreting.
Nova Fritz
Co-Teacher & Admin, Owner
Nova (Nathan) Fritz lived and worked in mainland China for four years and completed her MA at The Johns Hopkins University – Nanjing Center for Chinese and American Studies, a Chinese/English bilingual MA program based in Nanjing, China. In addition to translation and Chinese language research work, Nova serves on the board of MCA, co-teaches MCA’s English/Mandarin courses, and manages administrative affairs.
You can reach Nova at:
Shirley Liao Barker
Instructor
Ms. Barker has worked as a medical interpreter since 2013, receiving her certification through the National Board of Certified Medical Interpreters (NBCMI) as a Certified Medical Interpreter (CMI) in Mandarin Chinese in 2018. Ms. Barker’s varied experience covers in-person and remote phone and video interpreting. Aside from work as a full-time medical interpreter, Ms. Barker also takes assignments in court and business interpreting, in which she serves as a professional interpreter at various state and immigration courts, as well as at the Warren-Buffet Berkshire Hathaway Annual Meeting and various college commencement ceremonies.
Ms. Barker is a member of American Translators Association (ATA), International Medical Interpreters Association (IMIA), National Association of Judiciary Interpreters & Translators (NAJIT), The National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS), and one of the few founding members and Executive Officers of the North American Chinese Bilingual Toastmasters International Club.
In her free time, Ms. Barker organizes a weekly interpreting practice group and develops medical and court interpreting training materials. When she has time, she also enjoys watching TV (especially legal shows) with her beloved sidekick corgi, by her side.
Maria Schwieter
Health Care Consultant
Maria Schwieter was raised in Bolivia, coming to the U.S. when she was 20 years old. She’s author of MCA’s Spanish/English medical interpreter’s course and MCA’s textbooks. She and her colleagues, doctors Chris Watson and Eileen Stiller, continually evaluate course content, making updates as needed.
Maria has extensive experience working as a health care provider. She has been a critical care nurse, emergency room/ trauma nurse specialist, diabetes educator, CPR, PALS, & ACLS instructor, mental health counselor, and nursing instructor.
Maria is a Certified Health Care Interpreter (CHI) and has worked as a medical interpreter since the year 2000.
Maria has served on the board of directors of the Midwest Association of Translators and Interpreters (MATI), International Medical Interpreters Association (IMIA), chair of the National Board of Certified Medical Interpreters (NBCMI), and the National Council of Interpreters in Health Care (NCIHC). She a member of the American Translators Association (ATA) and the founder and president of the Northern Indiana Medical Interpreters Association (NIMIA).