Meet Your Instructors
Chris Bruce, M.A.
As Associate Director of Language Accessibility under the Office of Civil Rights, Chris Bruce oversees translation, bilingual staff, technology, and accessibility programs across the enterprise. Previous Advocate Health roles over 21 years include Manager of Language Services and Sign Language Staff Interpreter. During his career Chris has expanded bilingual teammate initiatives, implemented organizational language compliance plans, and introduced technology solutions that improve real-time interpreter access, communication, and accessibility for surrounding communities. Chris has integrated language access into patient care workflows and strengthened a culture of equity throughout the organization by listening to patients and partnering with clinical, operational, and civil rights leaders. Chris’s duties are driving enterprise-wide initiatives to enhance patient experience, ensure compliance, and achieve health equity through innovative technology and process improvements.
Vonessa Costa, CORECHI-P™
Vonessa Costa is Operations Manager for Interpretation and Translation at Children’s Hospital Colorado. Previously, she served as Sr. Director of Quality and Member Engagement for the Health Care Interpreter Network, a collaborative of health systems sharing interpreter resources. Prior to that, Vonessa was Director of Multicultural Affairs and Patient Services at Cambridge Health Alliance, recognized as Massachusetts’ top hospital for Health Equity by the Lown Institute (2021). Earlier, she led the Cross Cultural Communication Institute at CCCS, Inc., specializing in interpreter training and provider education in language access. A CoreCHI-P™ credentialed interpreter with Portuguese proficiency, and CCHI Commissioner since 2020, Vonessa has also held leadership roles in IMIA, ATIF, and FOCIS. She has co-authored articles on improving care for minority language patients in leading journals and received the 2019 Tony Windsor Award for advocacy in medical interpreting. Vonessa is a graduate of the America’s Essential Hospitals Fellows Program.
Sheryl Emery, M.A.
Sheryl grew up amid the turbulent 1960s, witnessing riots and the fierce struggle for civil rights. At 13, she became deaf due to spinal meningitis. Her great aunt taught her the Old English two-handed alphabet, fostering her ability to communicate and igniting a lifelong passion for advocacy. At 22, Sheryl became the founding president of the National Black Deaf Advocates (NBDA) organization. In October 2023, she returned as NBDA’s president. Her advocacy took her to Chicago, where she served as Director of Social Services and Advocacy at the Chicago Hearing Society. Following that she moved to Michigan and created initiatives such as the Macomb School to Work program and the Deaf HEAL and Shield programs at Deaf C.A.N! She made history as the first Black Deaf woman to lead a state-mandated Deaf agency, directing Michigan’s Division on Deaf and Hard of Hearing. She is the primary author Michigan’s original Sign Language interpreting regulations. A Gallaudet University alumna with a B.A. degree in Social Work and a M.A. in Rehabilitation Counseling from NYU, Sheryl now resides in Colorado, continuing her work as a Disability Community Equity and Engagement Specialist.
Ashley Walker, PharmD
Dr. Ashley R. Walker is a pharmacist, entrepreneur, and an advocate. Dr. Walker holds a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Xavier University of Louisiana and a Bachelors of Science in Biotechnology from Rochester Institute of Technology. She has been a pharmacist for 9 years with experience in retail pharmacy, hospital pharmacy, home infusion pharmacy, and long-term care pharmacy. In addition to being a pharmacist, Dr. Walker brought to life a new dream when she established her business Med Max Consulting, LLC. Under this business, Dr. Walker can advocate for members of the deaf and hard of hearing community as well as offer medication counseling services to help this unique community maximize and optimize their medication therapy.
Corey Axelrod, MBA
Corey Axelrod, MBA, is the founder and CEO of 2axend, a Deaf-owned strategic consulting and training firm working with organizations to provide user-centric experiences to Deaf and hard of hearing individuals. Prior to founding 2axend, Axelrod served in several business development roles for Communication Service for the Deaf, as well as principal and digital marketing consultant for Synergetic Business Solutions, digital marketing coordinator for Purple Communications and director of marketing and business development for Hager Productions. Axelrod earned his master of business administration (MBA) with a concentration in marketing and sales management and his bachelor of science in business administration from the Rochester Institute of Technology.
Lighthouse Interpreting & Training is an Approved RID CMP Sponsor for Continuing Education Activities.
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