Ronda Rankin, NIC, CoreCHITM
Ronda Rankin is the Founder and Facilitator for DCAL and Deaf-Centric Hospital. She is a nationally certified sign language interpreter through the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID), holding licenses to interpret in 14 states. She graduated with honors from Iowa Western Community College with an Associate of Applied Science Degree in sign language interpreting. She has 16 years of professional interpreting experience. Deciding to specialize in healthcare interpreting, she continued her education and obtained national certification in healthcare interpreting; then completed an internship in mental health interpreting. She recently accepted a position at Children's Hospital and Medical Center in Omaha, as the Interpreting Services Coordinator and looks forward to this new chapter. She is also the Practicum Supervisor for the Interpreter Preparation Program (IPP) at the University of Nebraska, Omaha (UNO). The goal for developing Deaf-Centric Hospital and the workshop series is to provide future healthcare providers the information and resources needed to provide effective communication access and improve healthcare outcomes in the Deaf/HoH community. We collaborate with members of the Deaf/HoH community, sign language interpreters and interpreting students to provide these events.
Tami Richardson-Nelson
Tami Richardson-Nelson is the Co-Facilitator for DCAL and employed at Creighton University. She has worked there for 33 years! She is a graduate from the University of Nebraska, Omaha (UNO) with a Bachelor of General Studies (BGS) Degree. Tami was born Deaf and did not learn sign language until entering Gallaudet University, in Washington DC, the only Deaf University in the United States. She currently serves on several boards; the Interpreter Review Board for the State of Nebraska, the Omaha Association of the Deaf as their Treasurer and the Midwest Athletic Association of the Deaf as their Hall of Fame Director. She is actively involved in sports, any kind of sports, but especially softball! You can find Tami watching/playing/enjoying the game along with her two pups. Tami loves advocating for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community by promoting equal access to all communication and educating about Deaf Culture and language. Tami states, "I am excited to be involved with DCAL and look forward to seeing this continue to grow and expand." We are extremely fortunate to have her on the team!
April Kammerer, BSN
April Kammerer is a Registered Nurse with a BSN from Clarkson College and former Co-Facilitator for DCAL. During her time at Clarkson College she was an active member of the National Society for Leadership and Success, Sigma Alpha Pi. She is still actively involved. She started her career in the Heart and Vascular Unit at CHI. Her experience includes working one-on-one with patients presenting with cardiac, pulmonary and vascular diseases in the ICU. She is a passionate advocate for the Deaf community. April is Deaf herself and attended the Iowa School for the Deaf (ISD) in Council Bluffs, Iowa. She presents at several Deaf schools sharing her experiences as a Deaf healthcare professional. She currently works as a Public Health Nurse for the geriatric population. April will still serve as a presenter at one of the workshops. We are grateful for her past contributions and are lucky she is still a part of our team!