Over the past few weeks, I put on my developer hat and built a new app from scratch (with a little help from my friendly chatbot Ari). It's a simple but powerful tool designed to help create quick, professional-looking quotes for clients — because let’s be honest, quoting shouldn’t be a chore.
I also designed a new logo for myself as a freelance translator. It was a great opportunity to reflect on visual identity and how I want to present my services.
Both projects reminded me just how empowering the DIY mindset can be for linguists and freelancers. By handling the coding and design work myself, I not only saved time and money, but also gained new skills and a real confidence boost. In a fast-evolving industry like ours, being self-sufficient and adaptable is a huge advantage!
Insights from Tremédica 2025
At the end of April, I attended (virtually) the XIV Jornadas Internacionales de Traducción e Interpretación Médica in Córdoba, Spain. This international medical translation conference (organised by Tremédica) covered a range of fascinating topics. Key themes included:
Technology and AI in medical translation – how CAT tools and even large language models (LLMs) are influencing translators’ work (with a roundtable of experts debating the opportunities and challenges of AI in our field).
Health literacy & patient communication – the importance of using plain language and clear terminology so patients can understand medical information. Several talks showed how visual aids like infographics and graphic medicine (think comics for health education) can make complex information more accessible.
Cultural sensitivity and humanisation – projects aimed at humanising healthcare through language, and discussions on adapting translations to different cultures to improve patient outcomes.
One of my biggest takeaways was the emphasis on making medical content accessible and inclusive. Whether it’s translating clinical trial information or hospital brochures, we must bridge the gap between complex medical jargon and patient-friendly language. It was inspiring to see how our community is innovating – from new terminology management tools to creative approaches like graphic medicine.
Tremédica 2025 conference details
What’s Next: May 2025 Events Preview
The month of May will be busy (and exciting) with several industry events on the horizon:
59th EMWA Spring Conference 2025 – The European Medical Writers Association’s Spring conference is in early May (6–9 May, Riga, Latvia). This event brings together medical writing professionals from across Europe for workshops and expert sessions. This year’s programme is expected to cover things like patient-centric communication in healthcare, regulatory writing updates, and even how generative AI is shaping medical writing. (More info: EMWA Conference)
ELEVATE 2025 – RWS’s big annual conference for translation technology users is also coming up in early May (6–8 May, online). As a translator who uses Trados, I’m excited about this one. Key themes will likely include the latest CAT tool features, machine translation and AI integration, and overall language industry trends. It’s always a great opportunity to see what’s coming next in translation tech and to pick up tips directly from experts. (Details: ELEVATE 2025)
TranslateGuimarães 2025 – 6th APTRAD Edition – While I won’t be attending, I highly recommend keeping an eye on APTRAD’s flagship event in Guimarães, Portugal (17 May). Known for its friendly atmosphere and strong sense of community, TranslateGuimarães offers a solid programme of talks and workshops, with topics ranging from cognitive load in translation to AI futures. It’s always a fantastic opportunity for professional development and networking. (Event page: TranslateGuimarães 2025, Facebook event)
Semmelweis Medical Linguistics Conference 2025 – In late May, I’ll be tuning in to this academic conference (23–24 May, Budapest, Hungary). Hosted by the Institute of Languages for Specific Purposes at Semmelweis University, SMLC 2025 focuses on research in medical language and communication. The theme this year is “Inclusivity and Diversity in Healthcare Communication”. I’m expecting insights on medical terminology, doctor-patient communication, and the latest research on medical translation and interpreting in healthcare settings. (Info: SMLC 2025)
It looks like a jam-packed spring full of learning and networking opportunities. I’m thrilled to keep growing — both by creating my own solutions (who knows, maybe more DIY projects will emerge soon!) and by engaging with the professional community at these events. Here’s to continuous improvement and shared knowledge in 2025!
