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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

Changing the Conversation on Latino Obesity for Obesity Care Week 2020


Obesity Care Week 2020 photo from the World Obesity Federation

Obesity Care Week 2020 (#OCW2020) is here! From March 1-7, 2020, Salud America!, our Latino health equity program at UT Health San Antonio, is happy to be an OCW2020 Champion to support this awareness week. Obesity Care Week has a global vision for a society that understands, respects, and accepts the complexities of obesity and values science and clinically-based care. Salud America! research shows that U.S. Latinos face inequities in many areas—from poverty and social support to access to affordable housing and transportation—that contribute to higher rates of obesity. Latino adults and children have higher obesity rates (47% and 25.8%, respectively) than whites (37.9% adults and 14% children). Addressing the root causes can help address obesity. #OCW2020 has different ...

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#SaludTues Tweetchat 3/3: What You Should Know about Colorectal Cancer


colorectal-cancer-risk-outcomes-tweetchat

Colorectal cancer, which starts in the colon or rectum, is the third-most commonly diagnosed cancer. It also is the second-leading cause of cancer death in U.S. men and women. Fortunately, if discovered early, it is highly treatable. And you can take steps to lower your risk. Let’s use #SaludTues on Tuesday, March 3, 2020, to discuss colorectal cancer risk, screening, treatment, and survivorship in honor of National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in March. Altogether, we can show how everyone can get involved to prevent colorectal cancer! WHAT: #SaludTues Tweetchat: What You Should Know about Colorectal Cancer TIME/DATE: 1-2 p.m. ET (Noon-1 p.m. CT), Tuesday, March 3, 2020 WHERE: On Twitter with hashtag #SaludTues HOST: @SaludAmerica CO-HOSTS: Fight Colorectal ...

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Implicit Bias Against Latinos Creates an Unfair Criminal Justice System, Says Report


implicit bias in the courtroom criminal justice system latino hispanic attorney jury

Implicit bias against Latinos is jeopardizing the fairness of the U.S. criminal justice system, says a recent report. Latinos already comprise 53% of those charged with federal crimes. Now the fate of those defendants is increasingly complicated by the "behavior of defense attorneys, prosecutors, judges, jurors, and probation and pre-trial service officers through implicit racial bias and racial stereotyping," according to Walter Gonçalves, a federal public defender in Arizona. Implicit bias can affect juries, bail, and sentencing. "Given this reality, defense attorneys should carefully study and become familiar with racial stereotyping and implicit bias. Only in this way will they be able to educate others in the system," Gonçalves writes in a report published in Seattle ...

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Dr. Amelie Ramirez to Host Conference to Tackle 142% Rise of Latino Cancer


Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos Amelie Ramirez UT Health San Antonio

Latinos are expected to see a 142% rise in cancer cases in coming years. To address this pressing health concern, Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez of UT Health San Antonio is leading the 2nd Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos conference Feb. 26-28 at the Marriott Plaza San Antonio hotel. The conference will unite researchers, oncologists, physicians, community leaders, policymakers and students to tackle Latino cancer on many fronts. The conference will build on progress made at the inaugural conference, founded by UT Health San Antonio in 2018, which featured 225 cancer experts from 23 states. The proceedings from this conference were released in fall 2019 in Springer Open Books. “We are looking forward to gathering the brightest scientists, clinicians, advocates and students ...

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How Can a Soda Tax Really Improve Health in Your Town?



A soda tax can stir up controversy. Health experts say they curb consumption of unhealthy sugary drinks. Detractors say they're bad for local businesses. Many don't like taxes in any instance. But most people miss what happens after soda tax revenue comes in. That's why we are excited to share a new video series, Health Investments for Berkeley, which celebrates the community-led public health work paid for, in part, by the nation's first-ever soda tax enacted in Berkeley, Calif., in 2014. The series, created by the Praxis Project, an Oakland health justice group, has four parts: Berkeley Unified School District Healthy Black Families Multicultural Institute Ecology Center "This series is intended to flip the national narrative around soda taxes that ...

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CDC Expands Resources to Engage Spanish-Speaking Parents in Creating Healthier Schools


mom_daughter_teacher-hispanic-healthy-school-meeting

By CDC Healthy Schools Guest Blogger for Salud America! Research shows that parent engagement in schools is closely linked to healthier student behavior, higher academic achievement, and enhanced social skills. Everyone—school administrators and teachers, parents, and students—benefits from parents being involved in their children’s school. This can be a challenge, though, for some parents who do not speak English well. In fact, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Minority Health (OMH) reports that 29.8% of Hispanics state they are not fluent in English. To reach this population of parents, CDC Healthy Schools has translated many of its Parents for Healthy Schools resources into Spanish. Schools, school groups, and school health ...

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#SaludTues Tweetchat 2/11: Why Oral Health Matters for All Kids


oral health dental health hispanic girl visiting dentist

The mouth is where good health begins. Proper oral health in childhood can set the stage for lifelong health. Conversely, poor oral health in childhood can contribute to diabetes, heart disease, and other conditions as an adult. This dynamic is even more critical for Latino kids, who face barriers in access to oral health care. Let’s use #SaludTues on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020, to discuss oral health issues and share solutions and resources in honor of National Children’s Dental Health Month in February, and show how everyone can get involved for good oral health! WHAT: #SaludTues Tweetchat: Why Oral Health Matters for All Kids TIME/DATE: 1-2 p.m. ET (Noon-1 p.m. CT), Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020 WHERE: On Twitter with hashtag #SaludTues HOST: @SaludAmerica CO-HOSTS: ...

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Salud America! Website Wins Award for Digital Health Excellence


salud america website wins awards w3

Have you really explored our Salud America! website? We’re excited to announce our website—with daily news, stories, actions, and weekly podcasts and tweetchats to improve health equity for Latino and all families—has won a "Websites, Health Category, Silver Award” from the 2019 W³ Awards! The W³ Awards celebrate digital excellence by creators of all sizes and their websites, web marketing, video, and social content. They are sanctioned and judged by the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts. Salud America! is led by Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez, professor and director of the Institute for Health Promotion Research (IHPR) at UT Health San Antonio. “We’re excited by the ongoing stamp of approval for our health equity communication work from groups like the Academy of ...

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In Danger: Latino Health and the Affordable Care Act


Latino hispanic man coughing sick health care ACA

As the fate of the Affordable Care Act currently hangs in the balance and won't be decided until at least 2021, the amount of people with no health insurance coverage continues to rise. Latinos especially lack health coverage, which jeopardizes their health. "Going without coverage can have serious health consequences for the uninsured because they receive less preventive care; and delayed care often results in serious illness or other health problems," according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. "The financial consequences of not having insurance [can also lead] to difficulties paying medical bills and higher rates of medical debt among the uninsured." What's the Fate of the Affordable Care Act? The Affordable Care Act (ACA), or Obamacare, took effect in 2010. The U.S. Supreme ...

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