One day in the early ’80s, Yolanda Delira’s mother browsed a Spanish-language newspaper and saw a job advertised that she thought was perfect for her daughter. The former Children & Youth Project in West Dallas was seeking a Spanish speaker to work with patients in clinics.

“I had to replace clerks who had called in, so I went to different clinics and worked at the front desk signing in patients, coordinating schedules, and pulling charts,” says Mrs. Delira, a Data Research Specialist for the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine. “I really enjoyed it.”

When the former UT Southwestern program switched over to Parkland Memorial Hospital, Mrs. Delira stayed with UTSW and transferred to a family planning clinic once run by the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She later moved to a clinical research role in the Department.

In her current job, Mrs. Delira enjoys working and conversing with patients and providing assistance. She helps the Division find patients to qualify for studies, explaining the study and working with patients to sign consent forms if they agree. She also helps the patients schedule appointments and inputs data related to this work. Her demeanor has been credited with helping get much-needed patient information and building a trusting patient-clinic relationship.

She has come a long way since starting at UT Southwestern in 1981. Amid switching positions and witnessing expansions, she also found time to learn a new language.

Growing tired of the Spanish-language movies on Netflix, she became fascinated with a Korean YouTube movie with English subtitles. From there, Mrs. Delira picked up watching online Korean dramas, which are usually 16-episode seasons. Her co-worker became an invaluable resource on the Korean language and culture.

“I started watching the food they ate and observing the culture, which I really like. I had a Korean co-worker and I would ask her questions or to interpret,” says Mrs. Delira. “Nowadays I can understand a lot of words and some of their customs, and I’ve been to Asian supermarkets.”

There is no word on if she will travel to Korea one day, but Florida is her favorite place to visit. In fact, she’s traveled across nearly the entire state.

“Previously, I would go with my family, my husband, and kids, but now it is only my husband. I am really afraid to travel because of COVID-19, but I cannot stop living,” Mrs. Delira says. “I have been vaccinated, but I am still being very careful. Hopefully this summer I might go to Miami again or – who knows – maybe somewhere farther.”

“I am retiring this year, God willing,” Mrs. Delira adds. “I am a little sad though, because I really love UTSW, our patients, and everything we do to help them.”