UK Professor Translates BH WELL Comics to Reach Spanish Speakers
BH WELL is proud to collaborate with Dr. Juan Canedo, Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine and Behavioral Researcher at Markey Cancer Center at the University of Kentucky, to bring their comic book series, The Dimensions, to Spanish-speaking audiences. Originally from Bolivia, Dr. Canedo is a native Spanish speaker who has lived in the United States for more than 25 years. His work focuses on reducing cancer and health disparities in Hispanic communities through community-engaged research.
Dr. Canedo led the effort to translate the comic book series into Spanish. He brings a unique perspective to the translation process—one that goes far beyond linguistic accuracy. “We’re trying to make the translation understandable to anyone in Latin America,” he explained. “The Hispanic community is often described as monolithic, but it’s incredibly diverse. A word that makes sense in one country may not in another.”
Dr. Canedo is drawn to the use of comic books as educational tools because they can effectively engage people who may struggle with literacy. “This approach helps people with limited literacy visually understand the message. It’s an interesting tool that can break the barrier to learning.”
But language wasn’t the only concern. Dr. Canedo raised important cultural considerations throughout the translation process. For example, when the term comic book is translated directly from English to Spanish, it is libro cómico, which implies humor. Dr. Canedo expressed concern that using the term libro cómico could potentially undermine the serious mental health topics addressed in the series. He suggested using the term photonovela as a more appropriate alternative that reflects the visual nature of the content while conveying the importance of the topics addressed in the series.
Mental health terminology also required careful thought. In previous community-engaged research, Dr. Canedo helped develop a bilingual guide that addressed mental health topics. “The community told us not to use the term ‘mental health’ because of the stigma,” he recalled. “They preferred the phrase ‘emotional health’—even though we were talking about the same things.” This kind of feedback, he emphasized, is critical for ensuring that materials are both culturally sensitive and effective.
Ultimately, Dr. Canedo believes community input should be part of every step of the translation process. “We need to talk more about health. But to do that successfully, we need the community involved in shaping the message. They help us find out what is taboo, what carries stigma, and how we can make the information truly helpful.”
Through his expertise and deep commitment to community engagement, Dr. Canedo is helping BH WELL deliver important information on mental and behavioral health to Spanish-speaking audiences in a way that resonates with— and reflects—their own experiences. Thank you, Dr. Canedo!
