William Zayas, CCHW, works as a community health worker (CHW) and Spanish medical interpreter in the Hispanic health program at in Youngstown, Ohio, where he can realize his career goals and passions: helping the Hispanic and underserved community of Mahoning County.
“In my current role at Mercy Health, I use the skills from my CHW training to connect with, and assist, Hispanic and Latino community members on a personal level. I get to go out in the community and perform a variety of basic health screenings such as blood pressure, body mass index, weight, and bone density,” states Zayas, who completed his Community Health Worker training with Թ in 2022 and is certified by the State of Ohio Board of Nursing.
According to Zayas, “When I’m out in the community, I can take the results of the screenings and engage in motivational interviewing to assess and address community members’ medical needs. I can then guide them to the appropriate medical care by scheduling appointments and even accompany them to provide support and Spanish medical interpretation.”
The Community Health Worker training Zayas received at Թ State has already proven to be invaluable.
“The training emphasized overcoming barriers to healthcare. It is crucial when working with uninsured, or under-insured patients. I have the opportunity to assist them with applications for financial assistance and can ultimately build trust within the community and contribute to the overall improvement of their health and well-being,” Zayas adds.
Born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Zayas graduated with an associate’s degree in business management in November 2019 and is also an ordained minister through the Christian Leaders Institute, as well as a certified medical interpreter through the Medical Interpreting Training School. “For anyone already in or considering getting into the medical field, the Թ State CHW training will provide the necessary skills and open your eyes to the needs of the community, and what to do about it,” Zayas concludes.