Increasing Access to Quality Care through Language Solutions
Specialized compliance and cultural competency training for healthcare providers.
2023 Pitch Competition Winner! For Culturizing Access’ innovative solutions aimed at improving healthcare access and quality in Latinx communities.
At Culturizing Access, we go beyond traditional language services. We specialize in developing comprehensive language access solutions that ensure compliance with healthcare regulations, foster cultural competence, and improve patient experiences for communities who prefer receiving health services in other languages than English, also known as Limited English-Proficient (LEP).
Our expertise bridges the gaps between providers, interpreters, and clients, creating an integrated approach that strengthens communication, trust, and care quality. Through strategic consulting, training, and operational support, we help healthcare organizations build sustainable, effective language access programs that meet the highest standards included well trained culturally-competent providers.
Our Mission
Increase access to quality healthcare by empowering providers through language access and cultural competency. We are dedicated to equipping healthcare organizations and professionals with the tools, training, and strategies they need to communicate effectively with multicultural and multilingual communities.
We strive to eliminate language and cultural barriers that contribute to health disparities, ensuring that every patient feels heard, respected, and understood throughout their care journey. By offering tailored consulting, comprehensive training programs, and practical solutions, we help healthcare providers create sustainable, compliant, and inclusive practices that prioritize equity and foster trust.
Our mission extends beyond compliance; we aim to inspire systemic change by building bridges between providers and the diverse populations they serve. Whether through language access assessments, customized SOPs, or innovative outreach strategies, we are committed to supporting healthcare leaders in creating environments where equity and access are foundational pillars of care.
Through our work, we seek to transform the healthcare experience for Limited English Proficiency (LEP) individuals, promoting health equity and improving outcomes for all. Together, we can create a future where effective communication and cultural understanding are standard practices in every healthcare setting.
Our Vision
Transform the healthcare landscape into one where language and cultural differences are no longer barriers to quality care. We aspire to create a future where every healthcare provider and organization embraces diversity as a strength and is fully equipped to serve multicultural and multilingual communities with equity, compassion, and professionalism.
We believe that effective communication is the cornerstone of quality healthcare and that every patient, regardless of their language proficiency or cultural background, deserves to be understood, respected, and empowered in their care journey. Our goal is to bridge the gaps in communication, enhance cultural competence, and drive meaningful change in healthcare practices through tailored solutions that are both innovative and sustainable.
By empowering providers with the knowledge, tools, and support they need to meet the needs of Limited English Proficiency (LEP) populations, we aim to reduce health disparities, improve patient outcomes, and build stronger, more inclusive communities. At the heart of our vision is a commitment to fostering trust, ensuring compliance with regulations, and providing actionable strategies that healthcare organizations can rely on to create a lasting impact.
Together, we can build a healthcare system that truly reflects the diversity of the people it serves, where equity and access are not just goals, but a shared reality.
Meet Joana Tudela
My entrepreneurial journey started from this moment of vulnerability and empathy.
With over 12 years in healthcare and language services, I saw a gaping hole: a lack of comprehensive support for LEP individuals despite legal mandates. Because of my unique experience as a former LEP, interpreter and translator, and service provider, I am able to see the needs of all of those involved in the intercultural communication triangle – providers need training, organizations lack streamlined procedures, and LEP patients receive unequal and poor services resulting in stark health disparities.
No one should be left vulnerable in a healthcare setting due to language misunderstandings.
That’s why I founded Culturizing Access – not to provide language services, but to ensure that organizations have the strategic plans, training, and operational support they need to truly address language access gaps. My work goes beyond language services to tackle language access compliance, training, and strategic implementation in public health, providing organizations with culturally and linguistically responsive solutions.
¡Hola! I’m Joana Tudela, the driving force behind Culturizing Access. My journey, from arriving in the United States in 2005 as a Limited English-Proficient immigrant to founding Culturizing Access, has been deeply rooted in personal experiences.
Picture this: a pivotal moment with my mom, a recent immigrant to the US who faced language barriers.
During a medical procedure, I translated a warning sign in the dressing room, averting a potential disaster. It hit me hard: what if I hadn’t been there? The realization of how language barriers could alter lives, including my own family, struck deep chords. This was a turning point in my life.
In 2022, my immigration and entrepreneurship story received recognition in the best-selling book “Hispanic Stars Rising, Vol. III”. And in 2023, I shared my story in several podcasts and docu-series, but most recently, I proudly won the prestigious Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Pitch Competition, a testament to our commitment to breaking language barriers in healthcare. This victory reinforced the urgency of my cause and fueled my determination to transform the healthcare landscape.
Culturizing Access isn’t just about compliance; it’s about creating a world where language never becomes a barrier to care.
In 2023, our work was recognized when I won the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Pitch Competition for entrepreneurs improving Latino health. In 2024, I was honored as a Top 40 Under 40 by NHMA/NHHF and featured on the ALFPA Latinas to Watch List. These recognitions affirm my commitment and drive to make healthcare equitable and accessible.
To keep the conversation going, I recently launched Language Access is No Vitamin!, a podcast dedicated to exploring language access and healthcare. I’m on a mission to ensure no one faces the struggles my family once did. Join me in transforming healthcare with culturally responsive, linguistically appropriate solutions that build trust and save lives.
Team Work is Dream Work!
Jessica Salazar-Ramirez
Consultant & Translator
Ruben Machaen
Communications Director
Mariana Herrera
Social Media Manager
Alberto de Freitas
Audiovisual Coordinator
Claudia Silva
Client Engagement
& Support Specialist
Proud Members Of
Empowering Through Culture and Language
Founded as a minority women-owned small business, our mission is to increase access to quality healthcare by empowering providers through comprehensive language access solutions and cultural competency training. We help healthcare organizations bridge language gaps, comply with regulatory standards, and deliver equitable, patient-centered care.
Our Partners and Collaborators
