Milly Valverde, MA, CMI, receives Ohio State Distinguished Staff Award

The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center honors staff members whose work transforms the university’s mission into daily action through their commitment to innovation and collaboration. Milly Valverde, MA, CMI, senior director of the Destination Medicine: Global Health Care Program at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (the OSUCCC – James) was selected as one recipient for The Ohio State University 2026 Distinguished Staff Awards.

Valverde is a visionary leader who has helped strengthen and expand the enterprise-wide Interpreter Services Department. She also co-founded the Destination Medicine: Global Health Care Program, which has transformed equitable access to cancer care for patients from all 50 states and more than 120 countries. Her work has strengthened the OSUCCC – James' reach across borders by:

• Establishing a clear link between the surge in interpreter requests and growing population of patients with limited English proficiency, demonstrating the need to meet increasing demand for language services and directly tying this capability to the quality, safety and equity of patient care, regardless of language barriers.
• Training medical interpreters to build a professional pipeline and preparing them for national certifications, which directly elevates the quality of language access.
•  Delivering an exceptional patient experience while expanding equitable access by addressing the logistical, cultural and financial factors that influence a patient’s ability to receive specialized care, no matter where they live.
• Extending the OSUCCC -- James’ expertise to the global community by welcoming international patients, reviewing their cases and developing treatment plans before they arrive. This creates a more personalized and coordinated experience and sets teams up to support patients through life‑changing outcomes.
• Strengthening the Destination Medicine Program through expansion of new digital pathways that help patients access care earlier, including connecting them to clinical trials and bringing elements of their care closer to home.

Congratulations to Milly Valverde, for receiving this prestigious award.