Health Care Providers:

We help you to meet the challenge

ABOUT US

OUR MISSION

To teach medical Spanish to health care providers, in order to better serve the Latino community. The "Latino" population is the fastest growing group in the United States, and Health Care Professionals may wish to be prepared to meet the challenge and the needs of this sector of the population by educating themselves in the language and the culture.

OUR STAFF

Tamara Ríos

Ph.D. CEO

CEO of Ríos Associates. Dr. Ríos was raised in both Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico and Tucson, AZ, is bilingual and bicultural and holds a BA and an MS in Psychology with a minor in Spanish as well as a PhD in Psychology and Education. She has been developing, teaching and coordinating programs with Rios Associates since 2000.

Dr. Ríos has served as a consultant to various hospitals and medical groups for over 15 years. In addition, she has collaborated with and served as a consultant to a number of international hospitals and medical groups in Mexico, Spain and Peru.

She is the co-author of the Complete Medical Spanish textbook, 4th edition.

Her passion and goal are to help the underserved Latino community by teaching Medical Spanish and Cultural Awareness courses to medical professionals and helping bridge the language and cultural gap.

Joanna Ríos

Ph.D. Founder and Director

Founder and director of Ríos Associates and developer of this unique system, Dr. Ríos has been teaching General, Medical & Legal Spanish for over 25 years and has authored several published text-books and recorded corresponding audio packages using the "Ríos Method".

She is the co-author of the Complete Medical Spanish textbook, 4th edition.

She was a translator and simultaneous Interpreter for various International businesses, the Court System; as well as, an instructor and consultant at the University of Arizona.

Dr. Ríos designed and developed her delightful and creative, yet highly intensive specialized programs and techniques which have proven extremely successful over the years.

She holds a B.A in Spanish and romance languages, as well as an M.A. in Latin American studies from the University of Wisconsin (Madison). She is ABD towards Ph.D. coursework in Latin American Studies at U.N.A.M (National Autonomous University of Mexico (Mexico City), and also holds a Ph.D. in Education and Spanish Studies from Columbia Pacific University.

José Fernández Torres

M.Sc.

José is a native Spanish speaker born in Mexico and raised in Cuba. He lived and was educated in several countries giving him a unique international flavor.

He translates legal and medical documents, and has developed and negotiated international business contracts, acting as the liaison for various U. S. and foreign companies. He has also taught Spanish in several colleges and Universities over the past 25 years, specializing in medical, legal and business Spanish. Lic. Fernandez has been an integral part of Ríos Associates since 1993.

He is the co-author of the Complete Medical Spanish textbook, 4th edition.

Milagros Martinez

M.D.

Born and raised in Camagüey, Cuba, Dr. Martinez graduated with honors from Habana University with an MD in Pediatric Medicine and Child Psychiatry. She has been the medical consultant for Rios Associates since 2000.

Rafael R. Ghinis

M.Sc.

Rafael has contributed many of the drawings for Rios Associates being an Architect graduated from UNAM, The National Autonomous University of Mexico. He also received his Master’s degree from the University of Arizona. He has been a consultant, teacher and contributor to Rios Associates since 1990.

Enrique A. Tuchmann Dominguez

M.D.

Dr.Tuchmann graduated from the Colegio de Medicina at the Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara as a surgeon with a specialty in Sports Medicine. He also graduated with honors from the University of Miami in Cosmetic Surgery. Currently, Dr Tuchmann is working at el hospital Juan Maria de Salvatierra, as counsel for the State’s Commission on the Prevention of Accidents in Baja California Sur, México, as well as tending to the athletes' medical needs at the Sports Institute of Sudcalifornia.

Dr. Tuchmann has worked with Rios Associates since 2004 as a consultant and as a guest speaker in many of our courses.

A woman with glasses smiling for the camera.

Valentina Rivera

B.A.

Valentina was born in Mexico City and moved to Atlanta, Georgia with her family at a young age.

She holds a BA in Education with a Minor in ESL and a Spanish Language Teacher certification.

She has worked as both a Spanish and English teacher for the past 16 years, both in the US as well as in Mexico, giving her a unique cultural insight, which enriches her classes. She also works as a translator/interpreter and snorkel guide in La Paz, Baja California Sur.

Valentina has worked with Rios Associates since 2021 as an instructor in many of our courses.

Pearl Mecenas

M.B.A

Pearl Mecenas is a team-oriented professional with 20 years of experience in business development, consulting, relationship management, and project management. Since 2017, she has served as Rios Associates' Brand and Business Development Manager. She earned her Masters in Business Administration from Pepperdine Graziadio Business School.

Blanca Alicia Pastrana Bohórquez

M.B.A.

Blanca was born and raised in Mexico City, Mexico. She graduated from the Universidad del Valle, in Mexico City with a BA in Finance, and went on to receive her MBA from the Universidad Mundial in La Paz, B.C.S., Mexico.

She is presently living in La Paz, BCS, Mexico, where she has worked as an adjunct professor at the Universidad Mundial and is presently an adjunct professor at the Universidad Internacional.

Since 2013 until the present, she has been the Chief Financial officer for the Mexican government program CONANP (Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas - Federal Commission for National Protected Areas).

She has been collaborating with Ríos Associates since 2016 as our resource coordinator for our CME Medical Spanish and Cultural Competency courses in La Paz, BCS, Mexico.

She knows the ins and outs of the city, universities, government programs, hospitals and tourist activities. Have a question about La Paz? Ask Blanca!