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Patient Navigation Training and Resources
The GW Oncology Patient Navigation Training: The Fundamentals, launched in 2015, has provided free training for more than 12,000 patient navigators from over 42 countries. It has been adapted for speakers of Spanish, Portuguese, and American Sign Language. Given major updates to the patient navigation field, GW launched an updated training in 2025. To update the training, current literature was examined, new standards and resources were gathered, and 15 subject matter experts were asked to suggest updates, revisions, and new resource additions. These experts are listed below along with the presenter of each lesson.
Updates to the training included streamlining content, adding new resources, and expanding resources for greater inclusivity. New resources that were included were: the AONN+/ American Cancer Society Navigation Metrics Toolkit, AONN+ CATCH resources, the Oncology Navigation Standards of Professional Practice, the GW Patient Navigation Barriers and Outcomes Tool (PN-BOT), the GW Community Needs Assessment Guide, and the GW Financial Navigation lesson.
The updated GW Oncology Patient Navigation Training: The Fundamentals ensures greater inclusivity to diverse populations, updated evidence and resources critical to the navigation profession, and improvements to the learner experience. The training continues to adhere to CMS training requirements for auxiliary personnel performing PIN services, and can be accessed at bit.ly/PNTraining.
Oncology Patient Navigator Training Resources
Patient Navigator Training Guide - English
Coming soon!
This guide accompanies the updated training and can be useful for review. The guide offers a reduced and compact overview of each lesson. It does not replace the course, but is offered as a complement to enrich and reinforce key takeaways.
Downloadable Slide Decks from Training
Patient Navigation Resources from Training
Coming soon!
Coming soon!
Coming soon!
Coming soon!
Coming soon!
Coming soon!
Communication Toolkit to Promote Oncology Patient Navigator Training
You can click here to download a zip file to access all of the tools GW has created for you to help share and promote this training. Or please select one of the resources below and help us promote this updated training.




Use this video to promote the release of the revised Oncology Patient Navigator Training.
Use this video to promote the release of the revised Oncology Patient Navigator Training.
Use this video to promote the release of the revised Oncology Patient Navigator Training.
Use this video to promote the release of the revised Oncology Patient Navigator Training.
Social Media Messages and Graphics
Acknowledgements
Developing and revising this training was a year-long collaborative process. Below is the list of individuals who assisted in revising the training and content and a list of the presenters for each lesson.
Subject Matter Experts Included in Training Review
Alex Hurst, MHA |
National Council for Mental Wellbeing |
Erika Bergeron, MPH |
Gallaudet University |
Flint Huffman, MEd |
National LGBT Cancer Network |
Janette Merrill, HDA, CHES |
American Society of Clinical Oncology |
Jess Quiring, CN-BA, OPN-CG |
Patient Navigation Advisors |
Julie McMahon, MPH |
Susan G. Komen |
Katie Garfield, JD |
Harvard Law School |
Laurie Kierstein, MD, FACS |
American College of Surgeons, Commission on Cancer |
Marcela Gaitán, MPH, MA |
Nuestra Voces, National Alliance for Hispanic Health (The Alliance) |
Monica Dean, HON-OPN-CG |
Academy of Oncology Nurse and Patient Navigators |
Nancy Peña, OPN-CG, CMI |
Navegación de Pacientes Internacional, Inc. (NPI) |
Reesa Sherin, MBA, MSN, RN |
Association of Cancer Care Centers |
Shonta Chambers, MSW |
Patient Advocate Foundation |
Va’a Tofaeono, MBA |
American Samoa Community Cancer Coalitions |
Zarek Mena, OPN-CG |
Patient Navigation Advisors |
Lesson Presenters:
Lesson 1: Cancer Basics: Continuum of Cancer Care Lesson 11: Ethics and Patient Rights |
Reesa Sherin, MSN, RN Association of Cancer Care Centers (ACCC) |
Lesson 2: Medical Terminology Lesson 4: Team-Based Navigation and Role Delineation Lesson 12: Program Evaluation and Quality Improvement |
Kelly Angell GW Cancer Center |
Lesson 3: What is Patient Navigation & What Does a Navigator do? Lesson 8: Shared Decision-Making with Patients and Caregivers |
Zarek Mena, OPN-CG Patient Navigation Advisors |
Lesson 5: US Healthcare System, Payment and Financing | Katie Garfield, JD Harvard Law School |
Lesson 6: Professional Development and Practice-Based Learning | Nancy Peña Navegación de Pacientes Internacional (NPI) |
Lesson 7: Communication with Patients and Caregivers | Shonta Chambers, MSW Patient Advocate Foundation |
Lesson 9: Patient Advocacy Lesson 10: Strengths-based Individual and Community Assessments to Address Barriers to Care |
Jess Quiring, CN-BA, OPN-CG Patient Navigation Advisors |
Lesson 13: Clinical Trials | Janette Merrill, HDA, CHES American Society of Clinical Oncology |
Introduction Lesson 14: Value of Patient Navigation |
Mandi Pratt-Chapman, MA, PhD, Hon-OPN-CG GW Cancer Center |