Dr. Navarro shares story of hope, inspiration
Posted: January 23, 2015
“I traveled many years and thousands of miles to end up four blocks from where I started,” recounted Isaac Navarro, DMD, ’08, and ATSU board of trustees member, during the Jan. 22 George Blue Spruce Hero Healer Luncheon Series.
Dr. Navarro’s travels-literally speaking-are true, but also symbolize thousands of miles in hardships.
During his presentation, Dr. Navarro took students, faculty and staff on a journey back to 1978 to share the adversities and challenges he faced as an adolescent. He explained the importance of the people who coached and encouraged him, and how he eventually overcame unfortunate social determinants as a child.
With the help of mentors or “star fish throwers” as he calls them, Dr. Navarro was guided on a path where he would eventually care for the very patient he was while growing up in Visalia, California.
To-date, Dr. Navarro leads two of Family HealthCare Network’s community health center campuses (CHC)–not only as a dentist and site leader, but as an educator and mentor to patients of all ages, and inspiring others that everyday is a second chance. In collaboration with other CHC colleagues, he is currently working on ways to improve interprofessional processes so that patients are receiving more comprehensive care. He also helps ATSU by referring potential students through the University’s Hometown Scholars program.
During his presentation, Dr. Navarro encouraged students to consider CHCs as a career path, affirming the diverse benefits CHC providers have on underserved and underrepresented patients.
“I’m standing here as living proof that you can help people,” said Dr. Navarro. “The thing about CHCs is you’re there for everybody, truly everybody.”
