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Amanda Wheeler-Kay
Amanda Wheeler-Kay
Amanda Wheerler-Kay
Amanda Wheeler-Kay (she/her), Certified Healthcare Interpreter, teacher, and lifelong learner. Amanda is a white woman from Oregon whose second language is Spanish. A former social worker, she has worked as a community/health care interpreter and interpreter educator in Portland since 2007 when she completed the Healthcare Interpreter Training Program at Portland Community College. She is a founding member of Oregon Interpreters in Action, the first union for health care interpreters. She previously served as a volunteer interpreter and board member of the Clackamas Volunteers in Medicine Clinic.
In June 2025 Amanda received her master’s degree from Western Oregon University in Interpreting Studies, with a focus on teaching and educational interpreting. She currently serves on the board of Nuevas Sonrisas, a local nonprofit organization supporting health hygiene and dental education for school children in Guatemala; 2026 will be the third year she will serve as the trip lead.
Amanda loves to travel with friends/family and play noncompetitive soccer. Her heart lives in two other communities that were home once: Washington DC, & Buena Vista, Cuscatlán, El Salvador. Amanda does her best to “make good trouble, necessary trouble” following the call to action of the late Civil Rights leader and Georgia Congressman John Lewis.
Rodrigo Gaspar-Barajas
Rodrigo Gaspar-Barajas
Rodrigo Gaspar-Barajas (he/they) is the Client & Interpreter Relations Manager with English 2 Spanish and serves as a Co-Chair for this year’s conference planning. With nearly a decade of experience as an English<>Spanish interpreter, they have navigated the full spectrum of the field—from the fast-paced, high-stakes environment of the Emergency Department to the nuanced complexities of legal and educational settings.
A graduate of the University of Portland with a BA in Music, Rodrigo brings a performer’s ear to their work and enjoys the performance aspects of interpreting. They find professional fulfillment in the linguistic challenges of Behavioral Health and Speech Therapy, where precise note-taking and cultural nuance are paramount. Having balanced the "hustle" of freelance work with the stability of staff roles over the years, they bring a holistic understanding of the vital relationship between clients, language professionals, and the people they serve.
When not managing relations or interpreting, Rodrigo can be found practicing opera singing, diving into a non-fiction book, or watching a K-Drama!
Christopher Michael Fallas Ureña
Christopher Michael Fallas Ureña
Christopher Michael Fallas Ureña is a certified medical interpreter and a certified court interpreter in California and Oregon with more than 25 years of professional experience across the Americas. He works as an interpreter, instructor, translator, and lecturer specializing in interpreting in Spanish, English, and Norwegian.
He has trained and mentored court and medical interpreters for many years through professional training programs and continuing education initiatives. His work ranges from teaching OHA-approved 60-hour healthcare interpreter programs to helping develop and deliver continuing education workshops for certified court interpreters while serving as a staff interpreter for the Oregon Judicial Department at the Multnomah County Courthouse.
Christopher is delighted that this spring brings the opportunity to exchange ideas with interpreters who keep language flowing across Oregon’s high desert country—steady as the Deschutes.
Elizabeth Sánchez
Elizabeth Sánchez
Elizabeth Sánchez
Elizabeth Sánchez is a certified medical interpreter with 11 years of experience, a language access leader, and an entrepreneur based in Oregon. She is the founder of English 2 Spanish and has dedicated her career to advancing language access by strengthening professional standards in interpreting through innovation, training, and systems development.
Elizabeth has completed multiple Artificial Intelligence courses in Mexico, online, and in Oregon to deepen her understanding of emerging technologies and their practical application in professional settings. She actively integrates AI into her own interpreter preparation process and has developed structured methods to help interpreters use AI ethically and effectively.
An early adopter of technology, Elizabeth is known for introducing tools that strengthen interpreter performance, preparation, and professionalism. She believes AI will not replace interpreters, but it will leave behind those who do not learn to use it responsibly. Her mission is to empower interpreters to think critically, stay current, and confidently lead the future of the profession.
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