Otero Junior College’s vision is to provide superior educational opportunities and be a valued partner with the communities we serve. The Health Navigator program is a specific example of how it does just that. OJC boasts the state’s first associate degree in health navigation and a potential career pathway that extends from community health worker to health navigator to a master’s degree in public health.
A health navigator is someone who guides individuals and families through the complex health care system to take advantage of services appropriate and available to them, largely through the Affordable Care Act. Their duties include linking patients with services, providing information and resources, helping providers interact with patients, and offering health education and promoting healthy behaviors.
