1. Cross cultural medicine and interpreter services in Geneva, Switzerland
Patricia Hudelson, PhD
Medical Anthropologist
Department of Community Medicine and Primary Care
Geneva University Hospitals

2. Presentation plan Describe Swiss/Geneva context
Describe service, teaching and research activities being developed at our hospital
Illustrate integration of interpreter services into broader area of cross-cultural medicine
Present the challenges we face
Ask for your input, feedback and ideas!

3. The context
HUG
Geneva
Switzerland
Europe

4. Switzerland is…

5. But also…
4 distinct linguistic regions: German (63.7%), French (20.4%), Italian (6.5%), Romansh (0.5%)
21% foreign-born population
46% from Italy and Ex-Yugoslavia
42% from other European countries
12% from non-European countries
Religion: Roman Catholic (41.8%), Protestant (35.3%), Muslim (4%), Jewish (0.2%); no religious affiliation (15.4%)
A country characterized by diversity
Pop. 7.5 million