Jackelin Ramos ’24 aims to work in healthcare and become medical interpreter
Jackelin Ramos ’24, a major in biology and biomedical sciences with a chemistry minor, is the president of the Multicultural Student Organization (MSO), a senator on the Student Government Association (SGA) and a resident advisor. Combining science and her passion for multicultural awareness, Ramos plans to become a medical interpreter and a nurse someday.
Choosing Salve
Ramos is originally from Central Falls, Rhode Island. While she never got to tour Salve in person, her sister had travelled to Newport and got to witness a tour – and the photos were enough to convince Ramos it was a place worth looking into further.
After doing a lot of personal research, Ramos liked how Salve offered small classroom sizes and how specific the biology curriculum was. The more she looked into it, Ramos knew that the school was going to be everything she wanted – and she chose biology and biomedical sciences as a major, because she knew that would make it easier to get into healthcare later on.
Jackelin Ramos ’24 and her family.
Getting a degree in biology is not an easy task, but Ramos stuck to it, even though there were moments she felt like giving up. But it’s the friendships she’s made along the way that helped her realize she could do it no matter the obstacles.
“I think that’s one of my favorite things about Salve — the joyful moments — because I can easily make new friendships,” Ramos said.
Getting involved in student life
During orientation, Ramos met with the Multicultural Office of Multicultural Programs and Retention and became part of the office’s “I Believe I Can” mentorship opportunity. Ramos secured a work study job with the office. Ramos’ mentor was a part of the Hispanic and Latinx Student Organization and introduced Ramos to the Multicultural Student Organization. She joined the MSO, climbed up the ladder and was asked if she wanted to go for one of the board positions. Ramos started as a secretary, then as vice president and is now president.
Many of her friends also motivated her to be in the SGA starting her sophomore year, and Ramos has been a senator ever since.
Along with her mentors and friends, Ramos credits Rose Albert, associate director of the Office of Multicultural Programs and Retention, as being her role model while at Salve.
“Albert was always been there from the beginning, and she always helping hold me accountable when it came to grades and trying new things,” said Ramos. “She’s kept me sane and helped motivate me to push forward and make it to graduation,” Ramos said.
Ramos (far right) with Salve friends who’ve encouraged her along the way to graduation.
Future aspirations as medical interpreter
Ramos plans to be in a healthcare position where she can help people of color with language barriers and get better healthcare access within the medical system. She’s already done things like help with a free dental clinic, where she interpreted for Spanish speakers.
“I helped Spanish speakers fill out paperwork and explain to them how they should fill out the form,” Ramos said. “It was very rewarding, because the language barrier can be so hard when it comes to the complications of medical care.”
After she graduates, Ramos she hopes to get into a medical interpreter program to get certified. Ramos is excited to help translate questions and answers between people who speak English and Spanish. The professional process of being certified as an interpreter in a medical setting would also include how to say surgical words, being able to ask the patients about their medical history and getting the proper training on exact translations.
After that, Ramos she also hopes to become certified as a medical assistant or as a phlebotomist, so that she can gain patient care hours and work towards becoming a nurse.
Article written by student writer Ridhika Patil ’27
Salve Spotlights is a series of people-centered stories periodically featured on SALVEtoday. Check out the tag Salve Spotlights for more stories.
