It aims to guide others through the complex health care system for cancer survivors.

Danni Valks, a non-traditional student at Metropolitan State University in Denver, is a 10-year breast cancer survivor who chose a career in health care so she can help others going through the same struggle.

When she was diagnosed in her 30s, she didn’t have health insurance and hit road after road trying to get care. Her presenters’ tone was indifferent, even cold, she says. Valks remembers receiving her test results. “It said ‘invasive ductal carcinoma,’ and I started crying,” she said. “’Does this mean I have cancer?’ I told him. And (the physician’s assistant) just screamed.

After enduring that challenging experience, Valks wanted to support others on their health care journey. After she finished chemotherapy, she applied to phlebotomy school because it was the fastest way into the health field.

Today, she is eager to grow her career to make a bigger difference. “I really like phlebotomy, and I like working in the lab, but I’m ready to do what I came here to do,” she said.

Valks finished last spring Basics of health care department at MSU Denver, hoping to become a healthcare explorer.

Healthcare navigators – also health educators, community health workers, care managers, patient access managers or patient advocates – help patients understand the healthcare system and find resources to help them get the best possible care.

The course is part of MSU Denver. Career launch pad, which offers affordable options for high-demand jobs. The course is fully online and self-directed and offers great flexibility – ideal for students with full-time jobs like Valx.

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Valks has worked as a phlebotomist for 10 years and is highly regarded for her work. She had her eye on a patient-explorer job for a while, but knew she needed more education before applying.

We looked into other health care programs in Colorado, but most of their class schedules didn’t fit around her full-time work commitments, she said. When she saw an ad on social media for the Fundamentals of Health Survey at MSU Denver, she knew it was the course for her.

“I’m confident that I’ll be able to go into patient-navigator work and do a good job,” she says. But taking the basic health assessment class helped me understand more about how to help them (patients) and what barriers they face.

Because it is a body Sortable – testimonials program, the course allows students to take the class as a stand-alone non-credit course and immediately apply for jobs and enter the workforce. Or students may choose to convert the course to credit and earn a certificate or bachelor’s degree in public health.

Alison Dreyer teaches at MSU Denver. Department of Health Professions Since 2014, he has worked in healthcare for 15 years. She has experience in social work and is a full-time community health care manager.

“I encourage anyone going into health care to have these skill sets,” she said. “If you want to be a healthcare provider one day, if you want to go to nursing school, if you want to be an administrator in a hospital, the coursework will help you interact with patients on an individual level to understand exactly what it is. We’re coming up with that.”

According to Dreyer, the course helps health professionals understand the social dimensions of health that go beyond the physical body.

“(Do the patients) have relationships with people outside of themselves?” She said. “Do they have access to healthy food? You know, do they have access to electricity, basic human needs? If those needs aren’t met, they’re less likely to live a healthy lifestyle, or it’s more challenging.”

Valks understands these challenges better than anyone. When she discovered a small lump in her breast, it immediately brought back painful memories of her mother and aunt dying of breast cancer. But Valks was earning $12 an hour at a doggy day care at the time and had no health insurance. She put the masses out of her mind.

But after a year, she couldn’t ignore it anymore. She turned to Planned Parenthood, where she got a free mammogram and a consultation with a surgeon. However, Valks felt she was still struggling with her diagnosis on her own. Eventually, her Planned Parenthood nurse suggested she go to the Caritas Community Clinic at St. Joseph Hospital. “Caritas took care of everything,” Valks said.

Now that she has completed the Basics of Health Navigation class, Valks plans to take the next two courses and sit for the exam to become certified as a health navigator in Colorado. From there, she will have the option of continuing on to her undergraduate degree. Public health.

Before cancer, Valks, she was a “total door.” Going through a traumatic experience helped her find her voice. Now, she can help others find theirs.