Burnett School of Medicine at TCU Students Strengthen Patient Communication By Reducing Language Barriers 

FORT WORTH –  Can a cup of coffee and conversation between Spanish-speaking patients and healthcare providers lead to better medical outcomes? 

In a clinical setting, communication barriers arise often, according to Michaela Mitchell, MS3 at the Anne Burnett Marion School of Medicine at Texas Christian University.  

“I have Spanish-speaking patients at every clinic I go to,” Mitchell said. 

These communication gaps in Fort Worth — where 12.2% of residents report Limited English Proficiency (LEP) — often lead to misdiagnosis, lower adherence to medical advice, and poorer patient outcomes. 

“Even when healthcare providers have a Spanish interpreter, they can talk really fast and use really big words,” said Karla O’Donald, Ph.D., Medical Spanish Director at the Burnett School of Medicine. “Then, the interpreter is using really big words and the patient is still not understanding.” 

To  help understand this issue, Mitchell and classmates Mary Conley, MS4, and Angel Sheu, MS4, launched Charlar Con Cafecito, which means “Chatting Over Coffee” in English. Backed by a $3,000 grant from the Texas Medical Association (TMA), the students are researching whether a low-stakes, language exchange could break down barriers and build clinical trust. 

Intentional Community Roots 

In June 2025, with guidance from the Physician Communication Department, the students began hosting monthly two-hour exchanges at Café Azul in Fort Worth’s Historic Northside. The location was a strategic research choice. Seventy-eight percent of Northside residents identify as Hispanic, according to Census data, 

“We wanted to be very intentional about bringing this program where it was needed and supporting local business,” Conley said.  

Before launching, they asked the community for input. Residents pointed them to the coffee shop as a vital community hub. 

Building Cultural Humility 

The exchange isn’t just a classroom in a cafe. The students partner with local organizations such as Ballet Folklorico Azteca to spark dialogue.  

“It’s not just about the language, it’s also about that cultural disconnect,” Conley said. “We had the dancers come in and we were able to talk about physical health.” 

As participants become comfortable, basic nouns and verbs evolve into deep cultural information.  

“The students took the right approach by building it slowly with the community first,” O’Donald added. 

Research Goals

Through the research, the students hope to strengthen cross-cultural connection, reduce barriers in health communication and improve health literacy.

By going outside the clinic, the students want to reduce social silos. For Mitchell, even basic Spanish has changed her clinical rotations.  

“If I walk into a room and say, ‘Lo siento, necesito practicar mi español’ [I’m sorry, I need to practice my Spanish], they just light up,” Mitchell said. “They lean in and want to share even more medical information.” 

At the Cafecito, participants practice real-life vocabulary in a low-pressure environment.  

“It’s very casual,” Conley said. “Half the time you’re speaking in English and half the time you’re speaking in Spanish.” 

Through bilingual conversations on health topics, both groups gain insights into medical terminology and expectations. To measure impact, the students conduct comprehensive surveys before and after each program.  

While the surveys provide the data, the true success is measured in the quiet confidence of a patient who no longer fears being misunderstood. 

“It helps us get a better sense of what they are benefitting from and what we can change,” Conley said.