Joana Tudela

Joana Tudela was born in Portugal and grew up in Venezuela. At 18, without knowing English or anyone in the country, she moved to the United States. Joana has over twelve years of experience helping public health organizations provide quality language and cultural services while increasing access to services to the Latinx, immigrant, BIPOC, and Limited-English Proficient communities. Joana has a BS in Medical Laboratory Sciences from Rush University (IL). She has earned two master’s degrees, one in Translation and Interpreting Studies from Wake Forest University (NC) and one in Public Health – Health Education and Promotion from Benedictine University (IL). Joa is a contracted consultant for several organizations, including the CDC, as an HIV Prevention Trainer. In addition to consulting, Joana has been actively involved in diversity initiatives such as Building Integrated Communities in North Carolina, Newark Head Start’s Health Services Advisory Committee, City of Winston-Salem Human Relations Committee, and YMCA’s Latino Achievers. Joana is a Board Member of United Latinas and a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives in the New Jersey Chapter. Joana was recently published as a co-author of Hispanic Stars Rising, Vol. III sharing her story. Joana founded Culturizing Access, a consulting and training business focused on helping health organizations implement and improve language services to improve patient safety and experience outcomes. She recently founded Immigrants Beyond Immigration. A non-profit organization focused on improving the lives of immigrants through a language-specific program focused on creating awareness, education, and capacity for immigrants so that they cannot only navigate US systems but start being part of the conversations and solutions to be more inclusive.