Interview with Andrew Simpson, CIOL Fellow and Founder of French Medical Translators

In the world of specialist linguistic services, few fields demand as much precision, clarity and trust as French medical translation. Today we sit down with Andrew Simpson, founder of French Medical Translators, a boutique agency dedicated exclusively to French - to - English medical and certified translation. Recently appointed a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Linguists (CIOL) - one of the highest professional honours in the UK language industry - Andrew shares how this milestone strengthens the agency’s commitment to accuracy, ethics and excellence.

This in - depth Q&A explores the impact of Fellowship status, the evolving landscape of medical translation, and what clients can expect when working with a certified specialist.

Q&A with Andrew Simpson, Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Linguists

Q1 – First of all, congratulations on becoming a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Linguists. What does this recognition mean to you personally?

Thank you. Becoming a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Linguists is a significant professional honour, and one that represents many years of dedication to the craft of translation - particularly within the medical sector. Fellowship is awarded only to linguists who demonstrate extensive experience, consistent excellence, and a strong record of professional contribution.

For me, it is both a personal milestone and a validation of the work I have done to advance high - quality, specialist French medical translation. It also reinforces my commitment to maintaining the highest standards of ethics, accuracy and continuing professional development.

Q2 – For your clients, what practical difference does your Fellowship make?

From a client’s perspective, Fellowship provides enhanced reassurance. It signals that they are working with someone who has been vetted and recognised at the highest level within the profession. This is particularly important for certified French translation, where clients often submit translations to regulatory bodies, courts, medical councils, insurers, publishers or academic institutions.

Being a CIOL Fellow demonstrates not only linguistic competence but also reliability, professionalism, and strict adherence to industry standards - crucial considerations when clients need accurate, legally acceptable translations.

Q3 – Could you explain your background and how you came to specialise in French medical translation?

Certainly. I originally trained and worked as a certified legal translator and interpreter, working extensively in UK courts and with several Premier League football clubs. This early stage of my career involved high - pressure environments where precision, confidentiality and absolute accuracy were non - negotiable.

Later, I moved to Paris to live and work, and it was during this period that my career took a new direction. After experiencing a particularly difficult personal time at Saint Antoine Hospital in central Paris, I found myself having to translate my own complex medical records and correspondence. This experience revealed both the challenges and the importance of accurate medical communication, especially for patients navigating a foreign healthcare system.

It was this combination of linguistic expertise, legal - certification background and first hand medical experience that motivated me to specialise in French medical translation. The result was the foundation of French Medical Translators, built on a commitment to precision, clarity and compassionate understanding of medical contexts.

Q4 – What makes French Medical Translators different from other translation providers?

Our defining strength is specialisation. While many agencies handle a broad variety of topics, we work solely with French medical translation and certified French translation for medical, pharmaceutical and health - related industries.

This niche focus allows us to develop unparalleled depth of knowledge. We handle:

• Clinical trial documentation

• Medical research papers

• Patient case reports

• Pharmaceutical regulatory submissions

• Medical device documentation

• Hospital records and medico - legal files

• Specialist health policy and medical insurance documents

• Certified translations for official and legal purposes

Because we only work in this domain, we understand its terminology, its precision requirements and its regulatory expectations, enabling us to deliver translations that meet the standards of medical professionals, researchers, regulators and courts.

Q5 – You mentioned certified French translation. Why is certification so important in the medical sector?

Certified translation is essential whenever a document must be legally valid or officially recognised.

In medical contexts, this may include:

• Patient medical records needed for legal proceedings

• Documents submitted to health authorities or insurers

• Proof of medical qualifications for licensing or employment

• Clinical documentation required for ethical approval or regulatory submission

• Medico - legal reports used in litigation

Certification ensures accountability and provides a clear statement that the translation is accurate, complete and produced by a qualified professional.

As a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Linguists, clients can trust that I meet the profession’s highest standards for producing certified translations that stand up to scrutiny.

Q6 – What challenges do you encounter in French medical translation, and how do you address them?

The main challenges stem from the complexity of medical language. French and English medical terminology may have false friends, differing abbreviations, or context - dependent meanings.

Medical documentation is often dense, technical and unforgiving of error. A mistranslated term can lead to misinterpretation, regulatory issues or even clinical consequences if the text informs treatment.

To address this, we combine:

• Deep knowledge of French and English medical terminology

• Strong research methodologies

• Regular collaboration with domain experts

• Continuous updating on regulatory and scientific developments

• Rigorous quality assurance workflows

These steps ensure translations are not only linguistically accurate but also medically and contextually sound.

Q7 – How has the translation sector changed since you began your career?

The biggest shift has been the increasing demand for specialisation. Where generalists once dominated the landscape, today’s clients expect linguists who understand industry - specific terminology, regulations and writing conventions.

Another major change is the integration of technology. While tools can support consistency and efficiency, they must be used with caution in high - risk fields such as medical translation. Automated suggestions can introduce errors, so human expertise is indispensable.

Finally, the rise of globalised healthcare - clinical trials spanning multiple countries, pharmaceutical collaborations, international movement of patients and professionals - means that reliable, certified translation is more important than ever.

Q8 – What advice would you give organisations seeking French medical translation services?

I always recommend that organisations look for:

1. Specialist expertise – Medical translation is too precise to entrust to generalists.

2. Professional accreditation – Working with a CIOL Fellow or Chartered Linguist ensures quality and accountability.

3. Experience with certified documents – Especially important for regulatory, legal or medical - legal submissions.

4. Transparent processes – Clear timelines, workflows and quality controls are essential.

5. Confidentiality – Medical and legal documents must be handled securely and ethically.

Choosing the right translator can dramatically reduce risk while ensuring clarity, compliance and professionalism.

Q9 – What does your Fellowship mean for the future of French Medical Translators?

The Fellowship reinforces our core mission: to provide an exceptionally high - quality service rooted in expertise, ethics and professional recognition. It demonstrates that the agency’s leadership meets the highest benchmark in the industry.

For clients, it means even greater confidence that their project - whether a clinical report, pharma dossier or certified French translation - is handled with the utmost competence.

Looking ahead, it also supports our continued expansion into more complex medical subfields and strengthens our relationships with healthcare organisations, insurers, law firms and research institutions.

Q10 – Finally, what motivates you to keep specialising in French medical translation?

Medical translation has a direct impact on people’s lives. Whether it’s facilitating a patient’s treatment abroad, enabling a medical professional to work in a new country, or supporting research that may improve public health, the work is meaningful.

The combination of scientific complexity, linguistic precision and professional responsibility makes this field uniquely challenging - and uniquely rewarding. That is why I have dedicated my career to it and why I am honoured to continue advancing professional standards as a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Linguists.

Conclusion

Andrew Simpson’s appointment as a CIOL Fellow is not just a personal milestone; it represents a strengthening of the standards and expertise underpinning French Medical Translators. For clients seeking French medical translation or certified French translation, this Fellowship provides an additional layer of trust and assurance.

In a sector where accuracy is paramount and the repercussions of error can be significant, working with a highly qualified and professionally recognised expert is essential. Andrew’s journey and his dedication to excellence ensure that French Medical Translators remains a leader in its field - committed to precision, clarity and the highest levels of integrity in medical translation.