NEWS from The Corvallis Clinic
July 28, 2014
Judy Corwin 541-754-1374
CORVALLIS — John Navarro, PA-C, has joined The Corvallis Clinic Orthopedics Department. He can be reached at 541-754-1276.
Mr. Navarro brings eight years of experience as a physician assistant. He was a Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery Physician Assistant at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Corvallis from 2008 to 2014; and from 2006 to 2008, he was Internal Medicine Physician Assistant at Ranadive Internal Medicine in Petaluma, Calif.
Mr. Navarro said he moved into orthopedics because it’s where you can improve a person’s quality of life by helping them pursue things that are most treasured to them. “Whether it’s walks with their loved ones, playing with the grandkids, returning to work, or taking care of their yard,” he said, “orthopedics is about returning them to their life.”
He earned a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies and a Master of Public Health from Touro University in Vallejo, Calif., in 2006. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Biological Sciences at University of California at Davis in 1992.
Mr. Navarro is certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.
The son of retired physicians, he said he had to “convince himself” that he did not want to be a doctor. So, he became a high school science and math teacher and an online science curriculum developer. But when he learned about the physician assistant field, he concluded there was a role in health care for him.
With a teaching and curriculum background, it’s not surprising he said a big part of his approach to care is education focused. “Explaining what is going on in terms the patients can understand in order to accomplish their goals is a major focus in my patient interactions.”
He lives with his wife and two children on a small homestead just east of Corvallis where they raise farm animals, garden and have a fruit and nut orchid. He is also songwriter and plays bass for a local band. In addition, he collects musical instruments and plays the guitar, ukulele, clarinet, flute, saxaphone, and didjeridoo (a wind instrument developed by indigenous Australians).
“Sometimes it feels like my life is really just pursuit of hobbies!” he said.
The Corvallis Clinic, an independent, physician-led medical group, is a comprehensive multi-specialty organization, serving Benton, Linn and Lincoln counties. It offers more than 100 board-certified providers and advanced professionals in 27 specialties at seven area locations. As the fifth-largest area employer, The Clinic has 600 employees.
