In this page you will find:
VCI owes enormous gratitude to Mr. Contreras for creating these materials and his nephew Paul Garcia for making them available to all of us at VCI and allowing to use them in our training program.
Who was Bonifacio Contreras? (1943-2006) Born in Belen, NM. He grew up in Albuquerque’s south valley, graduating from Rio Grande High School in 1962. He attended both UNM and Arizona State University and graduated with degrees in Linguistics and related fields. Bonifacio (Bon) was a linguist, educator and Founder and Publisher of Educational News Services, Inc. He was awarded a prestigious Fulbright Scholarship. He traveled extensively Europe, specifically in Macedonia, Yugoslavia, and Mexico. He published the monthly periodical “Salud Medical Spanish” from the Spring of 1996 to the Summer on 2000. Founded in 1989, Educational News Services, Inc. published monthly language magazines, grammar guides and books for English speakers learning Spanish. Educational News Services, Inc. was dedicated to providing a smooth transition from one language to another. Universities, colleges and High Schools across the country have used his magazines, grammar guides and books as supplements to curriculums.
Health Idioms and Phrases
This section has both a recording and a PDF of the accompanying booklet developed by Mr. Bonifacio Contreras.
How to use this recording
We suggest that you first download the PDF booklet and have it open when using the recording. The recording is only in Spanish. You will find the equivalent idiom or phrase in the booklet in English. To make these recorded exercises work best we suggest that you use a recording device that allows you to record yourself as you are doing the exercises. Most smart phones have recorder apps available. You can pause the recording if you need to and then repeat and record yourself saying the idiom or phrase in English. Playback your recorded exercise and check yourself for accuracy.
Click to download the Health Idioms & Phrases booklet.
Salud: Medical Spanish Vocabulary Builder
Quick and easy-to-use reference books for healthcare translators and interpreters.
- Click to download the Salud: Medical Spanish Vocabulary Builder booklet.
- Click to download the Salud: Medical Spanish Vocabulary Builder – Cancer and Treatment booklet.
Medical Terminology Charts
These PDF documents give an explanation of each medical term in English and Spanish.
Click on a category to display additional content.
Cardiovascular / Circulatory system
- Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (Aneurisma Aórtico Abdominal)
- Achalasia (Acalasia)
- Angioplasty (Balloon) & Stents (Angioplastia)
- Chest Pain & Angina (Dolores de Pecho)
- Cholesterol (Colesterol)
- Congestive Heart Failure (Insuficiencia Cardiaca Congestiva)
- Coronary Heart Disease (Enfermedades Cardiovasculares)
- Diabetes & Heart Disease (Diabetes y Enfermedades del Corazón)
- Heart (Corazón)
- Heart Attack (Ataque al Corazón)
- Heart Disease & Women (Mujeres y Enfermedades del Corazón)
- Valve Repair or Replacement Surgery (Cirugía de Válvula de Corazón)
Digestive system / Excretory system
- Constipation (Estreñimiento)
- Digestive System (Aparato Digestivo)
- Food Poisoning & Foodborne Disease (Intoxicación Alimentaria)
- Heartburn & Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) (Acidez)
- Hepatitis
- Hepatitis A & Hepatitis A Vaccine (Hepatitis A y Vacuna)
Endocrine system
- Diabetes
- Diabetes Type 1 (Diabetes Tipo 1)
- Diabetes & Heart Disease (Diabetes y Enfermedades del Corazón)
- Endocrine System (Sistema Endocrino)
- Gestational Diabetes (Diabetes de Gestación)
Integumentary system / Exocrine system
- Skin & Skin Cancer (Piel y Cáncer de Piel)
Lymphatic system / Immune system
- Allergies (Alergias)
- Anemia & Iron Deficiency (Anemia)
- Breast Cancer (Cáncer de Mama)
- Chickenpox & Chickenpox Vaccine (Varicela)
- Tonsils, Tonsillitis & Aenoids (Amigdalitis)
Muscular system / Skeletal system
- Arthritis, Joint Pain & Osteoarthritis (Artritis)
- Bones: Composition & Development (Huesos)
- Muscles (Músculos)
Nervous system
- Alzheimer’s Disease (Enfermedad de Alzheimer)
- Alzheimer’s Disease: Making The Home Safe (Seguridad en Hogar y Alzheimer)
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) (Trastorno por Deficit de Atención Hiperactiva)
- Ear Infection (Infecciones de Oído)
- Eye Care (Cuidado de los Ojos)
- Eye Emergencies (Emergencias Oftalmológicas)
- Eyes & Vision (Ojos y Vista)
- Glaucoma
Renal system / Urinary system
- Urinary Tract Infections (UTS) (Infecciones del Tracto Urinario)
Reproductive system
- Pap Smear (Tinción de Papanicolau)
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (Enfermedad Inflamatoria Pélvica)
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) (Enfermedades Transmitidas Sexualmente, ETS)
- STDs & Pregnancy (ETS y Embarazo)
Respiratory system
- Asthma (Asma)
- Asthma & Pregnancy (Asma y Embarazo)
- Cough & Coughing (Tos)
Mouth & Teeth
- Dental Cavities (Caries Dental)
- Dental Hygiene – Child (Higiene Dental para Niños)
- Malocclusion, Braces & Retainers (Aparatos de Ortodoncia)
- Mouth & Teeth (Boca y Dientes)
- Periodontitis (Gum Disease) (Periodontitis)
Children & Infants
- Birth Defects (Defectos Congénitos)
- Dental Hygiene – Child (Higiene Dental para Niños)
- Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (Síndrome Alcohólico Fetal)
- Hearing Tests to Screen Babies (Pruebas de Audición para Niños)
- Low Birthweight (Bajo Peso al Nacer)
- Newborn Screening Tests (Pruebas de Defectos de Nacimiento)
- Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) (Sala Pediátrica de Cuidados Intensivos)
Pregnancy & Childbirth
- Asthma & Pregnancy (Asma y Embarazo)
- Birth Defects (Defectos Congénitos)
- Gestational Diabetes (Diabetes de Gestación)
- Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (Síndrome Alcohólico Fetal)
- Labor & Delivery (Parto)
- Low Birthweight (Bajo Peso al Nacer)
- Morning Sickness (Náuseas Matutinas)
- Newborn Screening Tests (Pruebas de Defectos de Nacimiento)
- STDs & Pregnancy (ETS y Embarazo)
Other topics
- Advance Directives & DNR Orders (Directrices Anticipadas)
- Drug Abuse, Addiction & Dependence (Dependencia de Drogas)