Oncology Focus: 3-Day Training for Cancer Patient Care Navigation
NAU’s Partnership for Native American Cancer Prevention Program, funded by the National Cancer Institute, in collaboration with the American Cancer Society and Pfizer, Inc., hosted a Connected Care three-day Oncology Patient Navigation Training in January to strengthen cancer care support across Northern Arizona.
The training was facilitated by Center for Community Health and Engaged Research (CHER) faculty and staff Nicky Teufel-Shone, Samantha Sabo, Louisa O’Meara, and NAU’s Carol Goldtooth-Begay.
Thirteen community health workers, health educators, and nurses serving Native American communities completed the training and earned certification as Oncology Patient Navigators. Participants represented Northern Arizona Healthcare, the Hopi Tribe, Tuba City Regional Health Care Corporation, and Native Americans for Community Action, Inc. (NACA).
For participants, the training provided practical tools to better support patients and strengthen coordination with existing cancer services. Hopi Tribe Community Health Representative Charnel Talashoma shared that the training helped participants identify key roles they can take on, including transportation support, advocacy, and education, while working alongside the Hopi cancer program.
“As CHRs and CHWs, we have flexibility to educate and bring resources directly into our communities,” said Talashoma.
She added that the training also supports their next steps to connect with outside organizations, making services more accessible through partnerships, online options, and collaboration with NAU and other programs.
For Talashoma, the training offered guidance on how to find resources, use them effectively, and implement them in ways that help guide community members in the right direction.
MPH students Chelsie Begoody, Kyra Slim, Desirae Bain, and Ling Zhang served as teaching assistants and provided technical support throughout the program.
Additional support for participant expenses, including materials, meals, lodging, and travel, was provided by Indian Health Service, Arizona Department of Health Services, Northern Arizona Healthcare, and Blue Cross Blue Shield.
NACA and an NAU student cancer education project also contributed wellness materials to support participant engagement during the training.
This certification strengthens the regional cancer services workforce and enhances care coordination, patient navigation, and community-based cancer support across tribal, clinical, and community settings in Northern Arizona.
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