Working with Interpreters

Sandra Quezada, MD, MS

Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology

UM School of Medicine

Sandra M. Quezada, MD, MS is an Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the University of Maryland Medical Center. She also serves as the Assistant Dean for Admissions, and is Course Director for the Medical Spanish course elective at the UM School of Medicine.

Dr. Quezada received her undergraduate degree from Hood College and her medical degree from the UM School of Medicine. She completed her postgraduate training in Internal Medicine at the University of Maryland and Baltimore VA Medical Center. She completed her fellowship training in Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the University of Maryland Medical Center. In addition, Dr. Quezada obtained a Master of Science degree in Human Nutrition at the Institute of Human Nutrition at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. She also obtained a Master of Science degree in Clinical Research at the UM School of Medicine, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health.

She assumed the role of Course Director for Medical Spanish in 2012. She redesigned the course curriculum to follow a systems-based approach that mirrors the main medical curriculum studied by students at the School of Medicine, and incorporated a clinical service component to the course.

Bonnie Bissonette

Director of Education Abroad and International Safety

University of Maryland, Baltimore

Bonnie Bissonette, MA, EdD, has been the Director of the Student Center for Global Education at the University of Maryland, Baltimore since March 2012. She works to strengthen international opportunities for students at all seven schools at the University by working collaboratively with faculty and staff. Bissonette works to develop processes and procedures, appropriate safety and security mechanisms, and other logistics relevant to student international experiences.

Before coming to UMB, Bissonette was the Associate Dean of Business and International Education at North Central Technical College in Wausau, Wis., for 10 years, and, before that, a U.S. foreign service officer (management), serving for 13 years at U.S. embassies in England, Madagascar, Mauritius, Eritrea, and Qatar. She served on the board of directors of NAFSA-Association of International Educators (2008-2011) and is a frequent presenter on international education leadership topics. At present, she is serving as a public member of the governing body of the Commission on English Language Program Accreditation (CEA). She received her BA at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn.; her MA at George Washington University in Washington, D.C.; and her EdD at the University of Minnesota.