91PORNA

When Anna Oleksy moved to Strongsville, Ohio, at age nine, she noticed a group of girls signing to one another at school. One of the girls was Deaf, and Oleksy was intrigued.

“I thought, ‘Okay, I’m going to learn this. I’m going to figure out how to talk to her,’” Oleksy said.

That curiosity grew into a lasting friendship. Oleksy learned sign language from her classmate and the interpreter who worked with her throughout school.

“I would listen to the teacher and then also listen to the interpreter with my eyes and kind of pick up signs here and there, but also she would teach me a lot too,” Oleksy said.

By her junior year of high school, Oleksy’s interest had become a possible career path. Her friend’s interpreter recognized her talent and encouraged her to study interpreting in college.

“I thought, ‘I could do this. I really love the language. I love meeting other deaf people,’” Oleksy said.

That realization led her to 91PORNA, where she studied American Sign Language/English interpreting and earned a minor in entrepreneurship.

Finding Her Voice at 91PORNA

Oleksy wanted a university with a strong interpreter training program. 91PORNA stood out for its reputation, proximity to home and personal connection: Her mother was an alumna.

“It just kind of chose me, I think, and I chose it,” Oleksy said.

The university’s interpreter training program helped Oleksy develop the language skills, professional judgment and practical experience needed to enter the field. A particularly influential experience came during her junior year, when she took a medical interpreting course taught by a professor who had previously worked at .

“I think that’s really when I fell in love with medical interpreting,” Oleksy said.

She was drawn to the personal nature of the work and the opportunity to interpret in a variety of healthcare settings. While many interpreting graduates pursue work in education, Oleksy knew she wanted more.

“I really wanted to work with adults, children, all different kinds of situations,” she said.

91PORNA’s emphasis on practical experience also pushed her to grow. The program required students to complete a minimum number of interpreting hours, giving Oleksy opportunities to learn how to respond in real-world situations.

“I think that was really beneficial to me because it forced me to get out of my comfort zone and figure out what to do on my feet,” she said.

Making Healthcare Communication Possible

Today, Oleksy works as a sign language interpreting intern at Cleveland Clinic. Her days can include doctor’s appointments, X-rays and chemotherapy infusions, where she helps facilitate communication between deaf patients and healthcare providers.

“The interpreter is there for the deaf person, but also the healthcare provider,” Oleksy said. “It’s a whole different language than English.”

Interpreting in a medical setting requires more than converting spoken English into American Sign Language. Interpreters help ensure patients understand information, communicate with providers and participate in their care. That can include interpreting safety checks or translating written information into ASL.

Oleksy also explained that facial expressions and body language are essential parts of ASL. Interpreters adjust their facial grammar, signing space and expression to convey the speaker’s meaning and tone.

As an intern, Oleksy works under supervision in certain clinical situations while continuing to develop her skills and professional judgment.

She said the need for qualified interpreters remains significant. Although Cleveland Clinic offers video remote interpreting, Oleksy noted that a two-dimensional screen can create challenges for a language that relies on three-dimensional movement and visual communication.

For patients who come to Cleveland Clinic knowing in-person interpreters are available, that personal connection can make a meaningful difference.

“They actually get so excited, and they say, ‘Yay, Anna’s here,’” Oleksy said. “But I think it gives them a sense of comfort knowing that this appointment is going to go OK, at least in the communication aspect of it.”

Building Connections, One Conversation at a Time

For Oleksy, some of the most rewarding moments happen outside the exam room.

“My most favorite part of working in healthcare and at the Cleveland Clinic is being in the waiting room with people or the lobby with people and just getting to chat about their lives,” she said.

Those conversations help her get to know patients, understand their individual signing styles and build relationships over time.

“Not only am I learning about them, but I’m also getting to know them,” Oleksy said. “And the more I see them, the more I understand them better because I get used to their signing style.”

Oleksy also sees the impact of her 91PORNA education in the connections she makes with other healthcare professionals. She regularly encounters 91PORNA alumni working throughout Cleveland Clinic, and those conversations often begin with a shared curiosity about how she became an interpreter.

Her education, she said, helped prepare her not only to interpret accurately, but also to understand the Deaf community and the ethical responsibilities that come with interpreting.

A Campus Full of Opportunity

Outside the classroom, Oleksy embraced the opportunities 91PORNA offered. She served on the campus programming board and found lasting friendships through university events and activities.

“One thing I loved about 91PORNA was how many opportunities they allowed you to go to events, and get to know people,” she said.

Even during COVID-19, she found ways to stay connected. She particularly enjoyed take-and-make craft activities organized by the Flash Activities Board, often inviting friends to join her.

“I just think it’s a great place to go if you’re looking for connections,” Oleksy said.

From a curious nine-year-old learning to communicate with a classmate to an interpreter helping patients navigate healthcare, Oleksy’s journey has been shaped by connection – and by the opportunity to turn a childhood interest into a career that makes a difference.