Accent on clarity: Doctors seek classes to Americanize their speech

Physicians say effective communication boosts their self-confidence, eases interactions with colleagues and improves patient care.

By Myrle Croasdale, AMNews staff. Sept. 18, 2006.

Psychiatrist Fabien Tremeau, MD, originally from France, no longer has to repeat himself to be understood.

He credits professional coaching with strengthening his American pronunciation, leaving him with just a mild French accent.

International medical graduates such as Dr. Tremeau are among myriad immigrants working in the United States who find clear communication crucial to their work. For physicians, there's an added urgency, because a patient's health and life may be at stake.

One out of every four practicing physicians in the United States is an IMG, though there are no data on how many speak English as a second language. Nevertheless, as the number of IMGs rises, anecdotal information shows that whether it's to improve patient interactions or to boost their own self-confidence, there are more doctors taking steps to tone down their accents. They're turning to speech experts and dedicating an hour or more a week for 12 weeks and longer to polish their American pronunciation.

Dr. Tremeau, who's been in the United States for 11 years, decided to get formal speech training when he realized he was no longer making headway on his own. "[My accent] wasn't too much of a problem, but there were times I was not sure how to pronounce words. Sometimes I had to repeat myself," Dr. Tremeau said.

He also found that his accent could be a distraction.

"When I was with patients, asking them questions about themselves, they'd answer back, 'Oh, you are French. Where are you from?' " Dr. Tremeau said.