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Cliff Despres

Cliff Despres, who has more than a decade of experience in journalism and public relations, is communications director for Salud America! and its home base, the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio.

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Articles by Cliff Despres

La Necesidad Enorme de Tener una Representación Latina Equitativa en los Estudios Clínicos


clinical trials latino family home volunteer

Los latinos representan menos del 10% de los voluntarios en los estudios clínicos de cáncer (enlace en inglés). La falta de latinos en los estudios clínicos hace que sea más difícil para los investigadores encontrar tratamientos desarrollados específicamente para este grupo – que representa el 18.5% de la población de los Estados Unidos y una diversidad de culturas. Las doctoras Amelie G. Ramírez y Patricia Chalela de UT Health San Antonio identificaron barreras y estrategias para promover la representación latina en los estudios clínicos en un nuevo comentario (enlace en inglés) publicado en JCO Oncology Practice. Se necesitará más que simplemente aumentar el conocimiento sobre los estudios clínicos. "Para lograr la participación equitativa de los latinos y ...

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More Cities Are Banning Smoking in Apartment Units


no smoking in apartments in riverside and vallejo california multifamily secondhand smoke

Two more cities have prohibited smoking inside apartment units. On April 26, 2022, Riverside, Calif., city leaders preliminarily approved a ban on smoking in multifamily-housing rental complexes, including individual apartment homes and attached balconies and patios. Latino tenants helped drive the measure. On May 10, 2022, Vallejo, Calif., city leaders banned smoking in multi-unit residences. Bans like these—to reduce exposure to harmful secondhand smoke among apartment and condo tenants—are on the rise. "Upon adoption, Riverside would join at least 167 California cities and counties that have enacted ordinances to restrict smoking in multifamily housing complexes, said Karina Funez, advocacy policy manager for the American Lung Association in California, which has been ...

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Men, Why Should You Get Screened for Cancer? Join This Webinar 6/9/22!



Unfortunately, Latino men have lower cancer screening rates than their White peers. Only 30% of Latino men received a PSA test for prostate cancer in the past year, compared to 37% of White men. Colorectal cancer screening was lower in Latinos (49%) than Whites (58%), too. To address this issue, you’re invited to join our webinar — Men, Why Should You Get Screened for Cancer? — at 2 p.m. CT on June 9, 2022. This Zoom webinar will feature guest speakers and patient advocates to help health care professionals and the Latino public understand the cultural and other barriers to screening, demystify screening tests, and share stories of Latino men's screening and cancer survival. This is the fourth webinar of a new series, “Let’s Address Health Equity Together.” The ...

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#SaludTues Tweetchat 6/7: How to Address Alzheimer’s in the Latino Community


latina older man grandgfather abuelo guitar playing music

June is Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month! This is a good time to reflect on the many challenges and inequities facing people of color in the United States when it comes to Alzheimer’s Disease, dementia, and brain health. Sadly, U.S. Latinos are 1.5 times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease than whites. Latino caregivers experience high levels of stress when supporting their family members with the disease. Let’s use #SaludTues on Tuesday, June 7, 2022, to tweet about the latest data, strategies, and programs to prevent and reduce Alzheimer’s disease and promote better brain health among Latinos and all people! WHAT: #SaludTues: How to Address Alzheimer’s in the Latino Community TIME/DATE: 1-2 p.m. EST (Noon-1 p.m. CST), Tuesday, June 7, 2022 ...

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Tatiana Holanda: Cáncer No Es un Oponente, Sino un Maestro


Tatiana Holanda breast cancer survivor brazil san antonio

Por Tatiana Holanda Sobreviviente de cáncer brasileña en San Antonio No veo al cáncer como un oponente "Lo veo como un maestro". Esa es la frase que resume mi historia. A la edad de 33 años, luego de los exámenes, se detectó un bulto en la mama izquierda de 2 cm, en el examen de ultrasonido se clasificó como Birads 4 con indicación de biopsia. En junio de 2019, con el resultado en la mano, se confirmó que tenía cáncer de mama triple negativo. Al principio, desesperación, luego angustia y ansiedad. Hubo 40 días de espera entre el diagnóstico y el inicio del tratamiento. Tuve que sacar fuerzas de algún lado, en ese momento mi hijo Rafael tenía 1 año. Cuando descubrí la enfermedad, pensé: tanto le pedí a Dios un hijo y ¿qué voy a hacer ahora frente al ...

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Join the Take Down Tobacco National Day of Action!


Take Down Tobacco National Day of Action from Campaign for Tobacco free kids no smoking

How can you stand up to the tobacco industry? On March 31, you can participate in Take Down Tobacco National Day of Action! Take Down Tobacco, a fresh take on Kick Butts Day, is the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids’ signature platform for empowering people to speak out against the tobacco industry. You can: Join the movement Host an event Play games in the Take Down Tobacco Arcade Plan events or share on ocial media with #TakeDownTobacco The team behind Salud America! is working to help young adults quit smoking with Quitxt, our free English or Spanish text-message service that turns your phone into a personal “quit smoking” coach from UT Health San Antonio. To get help, text “iquit” (for English) or “lodejo” (for Spanish) to 844-332-2058. “On ...

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More Latino Men Are Dying by Suicide, Even as the National Rate Declines


Latino men suicide rates public health watch mask covid-19 sad mental health

By Jim Morris Public Health Watch While still jarringly high, U.S. suicide rates fell in 2019 and again in 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported last month. The year-over-year rate declined by 3 percent overall, falling by 8 percent among women and 2 percent among men. But there were some stark outliers. Notably, suicides among Latino men increased by nearly 6 percent. What’s Going On? Plenty, it turns out. Problems that existed before COVID-19 got even worse during the pandemic, health advocates and providers say, including substance abuse, job loss, poor access to care and the stigma of mental illness in the Latino community. “[Latino men] weren’t getting much help to begin with,” said Fredrick Sandoval, executive director of the New ...

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Virtual Patient Education En Español: Clinical Trial Myths & Realities


latina patient doctor clinical trial patient

You are invited to join the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) for a free virtual education program for patients and their families in Spanish. The event, "Los Estudios Clínicos: Los Mitos y Realidades / Clinical Trials: Myths and Realities," is set for 6 p.m. CST on March 15, 2022, via Zoom. Clinical trials are studies that help researchers learn more to help slow, manage, and treat cancer for current and future family members. But without Latino volunteers for clinical trials, the benefits may miss this group. Dr. Patricia Chalela, an associate professor at the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio, will help participants will learn about: ¿Qué es un estudio clínico? (What is a clinical trial?) ¿Cuál es la importancia de los estudios ...

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