About The National Institute for Coordinated Health Care
NICHC is a Non-Profit Organization committed to eliminating healthcare disparities by the development of Clinical and Academic Community-based measures to increase awareness of public health issues affecting the general population, with emphasis on low-income and limited-English proficient populations.
About US
Our Mission
The National Institute for Coordinated Health Care is dedicated to the elimination of healthcare disparities in low-income and limited-English proficient populations through the provision of education, resources, research and technology within collaborative environments. We seek to address the lack of effective communication between target patient populations and healthcare systems to secure the effective provision of patient-centered care through the training of professional medical interpreters.
STAFF
Our Team
Our team of experts consists of a multidisciplinary group of professionals, with experience in biomedicine, education, medical interpreting, public health and more, who all have the same goal: eliminating healthcare disparities.
Executive Director
J. Nicole Martin Lawton, Esq., MPH
J. Nicole Martin Lawton, Esq., MPH is the Executive Director, President and Chief Executive Officer of The National Institute for Coordinated Health Care, Inc.
Nicole is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, and a licensed attorney in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and state of New Jersey, with years of experience in health care law. Nicole practiced health law as a partner at a Philadelphia-headquartered law firm that ranks among the top 100 firms in the country.
She utilizes her years of experience in health care law in her position with the Institute, which provides training for professional medical interpreting and continuing education to individuals, as well as clients for their own staff in an array of sectors.
CMIT® Instructor
Katie Alves, MA
Katie has been a Spanish interpreter since 2015 and a CMIT® trainer since 2017. She holds a master’s degree in Intercultural Communication, Translation, & Interpretation in Public Services which she received from the University of Alcalá de Henares in Spain. Her passion is to create ways to empower clients/stakeholders to elevate the importance that interpreting holds in all areas. Katie has worked in the foreign language industry for over 15 years and looks forward to the impact that intentional interpreter training will have on the future of the profession.
CMIT® Coordinator
Katelyn Maldonado
Kate oversees all CMIT® recruitment and enrollment. Her superb customer service skills and desire to meet the needs of our clients is invaluable.
CMIT® Instructor
Gerardo Lazaro, Ph.D., CHI™
Gerardo is a nationally certified interpreter since 2012. On behalf of the National Institute For Coordinated Health Care, Gerardo contributed to the creation of the Core Medical Interpreter Training® program and has spent his professional career working diligently to ensure quality-based language access through a public health lens.
CMIT® Instructor
Sofí DiSepio, M.Ed., CHI™
Sofí has worked as a Spanish interpreter since 2017 and received her CHI certification in 2020. Sofí holds a Masters of Education with Teacher Licensure. Her passion to raise the standard in the interpreting profession is evident as she works with our team to ensure quality assurance and interpreter development.
CMIT® Instructor
Debi Saldaña, CHI™
Debi has held multiple roles within the language access industry since 1994, including Spanish interpreter, quality assurance and formerly a longtime interpreter trainer. Debi is a nationally certified interpreter and a CMIT® Instructor. She has honed her skills and continues to grow as a conference interpreter. Debi has an undergraduate degree in French Literature and Languages from St. Joseph’s University and did graduate work in Spanish Literature and Education at Villanova University. Debi has worked in the foreign language industry for 30 years and finds great satisfaction in educating stakeholders in the industry.