When alumni Francisco Ramirez first began working at Fairview Health Services in 2013, his passion for serving diverse communities was already clear. Through outreach, community health education, and patient support, he built trust with individuals navigating the healthcare system, helping people access care, understand resources, and advocating for their needs.
A graduate of the University of Guadalajara in Mexico, where he practiced medicine before immigrating to the United States in 2004, Ramirez moved to Minnesota with his family in 2012. He instantly searched for opportunities to work with health education programs and was grateful to start working at M Health Fairview just a few months later.
In 2014, Ramirez launched the Colorectal Cancer Prevention Program at Fairview, responding to healthcare disparities within the Latine population. Recognizing the language and financial barriers to accessing healthcare, particularly for colorectal cancer, the second-most-diagnosed cancer among Latinos, he started a program offering free colonoscopies and health education for adults aged 45 to 75 who are uninsured or underinsured. To date, the program has performed 345 free procedures and provided preventive health resources to over 50,000 individuals. And it was the desire to deepen that impact that led him to Normandale Community College.
“I saw the Community Health Worker certificate at Normandale and knew it was exactly what I was looking for,” Ramirez shared. “Community health workers are trusted members of the communities they serve, and I wanted to grow in that role.”
Starting the Community Health Worker Certificate program in 2016, he quickly found what set Normandale apart: cultural competence, flexibility, expert faculty, and a curriculum grounded in real-world impact. “It was more than just a great experience, it was an amazing one,” Francisco shared. “The professors brought different perspectives and approaches to community health. That really opened my eyes to how broad the field can be.”
The program’s structure, including hands-on learning and an 80-hour internship, allowed Francisco to apply his skills immediately. His internship experience extended beyond their workplace to a community-based setting at a local food shelf in Burnsville, reinforcing the importance of meeting people where they are. “That experience helped me understand community health from multiple angles,” Ramirez explained. “Not just in clinics, but in neighborhoods and everyday life.”
Today, they continue their work at Fairview Health Services as a Supervisor of Community Education and Outreach, a role that reflects years of dedication and growth. Their work focuses on increasing access to healthcare, providing culturally responsive health education, supporting care navigation for patients, and advocating for both individual and community needs.
“Community health work is fundamental,” they said. “It creates a bridge between healthcare systems and the communities they serve. When we listen and respond to community needs, we can improve outcomes, reduce costs, and build stronger relationships.”
For Francisco, the mission of Fairview, “making health happen with compassion”, aligns perfectly with what he learned at Normandale.
Now based in Saint Paul, they remain deeply committed to both their organization and their community. “Fairview feels like a second home and Normandale even feels like a third” they shared. “The support, the teamwork, and the shared purpose in healthcare, it’s something really special.”
In 2024, Francisco was named one of Twin Cities Business’s 2024 Notable Hispanic Leaders for his tireless efforts to engage and support groups facing historical barriers to healthcare. In addition to his work in Community Advancement, Ramirez is a core member of the “Comunidades Latinas for Engagement Advancement and Development Employee Resource Group”, further exemplifying his dedication to advancing healthcare equity.
Looking ahead, they are excited about the future of healthcare education, especially interdisciplinary training. They believe collaboration across fields, public health, nursing, dental care, and more is essential to addressing complex challenges like mental health, chronic disease, and social determinants of health. “The more we work together, the better outcomes we’ll see,” they said.
For students considering the Community Health Worker program at Normandale Community College, his advice is simple but powerful: “Don’t be afraid to try. Step out of your comfort zone and give it your best. Normandale has incredible people who are ready to support your dreams. Stay positive, keep going, and don’t give up. You can achieve your goals.”
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