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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

Report: More Latinos View Child Abuse as a Serious Public Health Problem


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Most Americans view child abuse and neglect as a public health problem, a sentiment more strongly shared among Latinos (81%) than their White (76%) and Black (74%) peers, according to a new survey. The national survey of adults, led by Research!America and the National Foundation to End Child Abuse and Neglect, also found that Latinos were more likely than their peers to list child abuse and neglect as local problems, too. More than 1 in 3 Latinos also said they know know someone who has experienced child abuse and neglect. “The survey reveals that child abuse and neglect is all too pervasive and must be addressed as a public health problem,” said Mary Woolley, president and CEO, Research!America. “Robust funding for research and public health programs is essential in order ...

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Univision’s Big New Latino Health Summer Campaign


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Salud America! is excited to serve as a partner with broadcasting company Univision's new national campaign to promote Latino health this summer. The campaign, Univision Contigo's Una Vida Mas Saludable, aims to inform, entertain and empower our Latino communities to live healthier. The campaign runs from June 18 to July 14. "Univision will cast a spotlight on various health issues impacting the Latino community," according to Univision. "[That includes] being active outdoors, addressing mental health in the Latino community, providing health and wellness tips, and discussing the importance of healthy aging." How We're Getting Involved Salud America! is partnering with Univision. We will share Univision Contigo's Una Vida Mas Saludable messages with the hashtag #MasSaludable. ...

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See Why Critics Love Our Digital Health Platforms


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We at Salud America! are dedicated to helping people drive healthy community change for Latino and all kids. That’s why we’re excited to announce our efforts have won three Digital Health Awards from the Health Information Resource Center. The Center is a national clearinghouse for professionals who work in consumer health fields. It recognizes the world’s best digital health resources: Spring 2018 Digital Health Awards, Gold, Salud America! Twitter Spring 2018 Digital Health Awards, Silver, Salud America! Website Spring 2018 Digital Health Awards, Silver, Salud America! Digital Health Curation “We’re humbled by the recognition of our communication work from groups like the Health Information Resource Center,” said Dr. Amelie Ramirez, director of Salud ...

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Study: Interactive Videos Help Drive Latinas toward Breast Cancer Clinical Trials


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Interactive videos featuring real Latina cancer survivors talking about clinical trials can help Latina breast cancer patients consider trials as a treatment option, according to a new pilot study led by Dr. Amelie Ramirez of UT Health San Antonio. The study, published in Translation Behavioral Medicine, tested the videos with 77 Latina breast cancer patients at Mays Cancer Center. Researchers randomly assigned 39 Latinas to a control group and 38 to a test group. Then test group received "Choices," a 30-minute interactive educational video program in English or Spanish about clinical trials and common barriers (delivered on a computer in the clinic). "Choices" also included a bilingual booklet and access to a patient navigator for care coordination. Control participants received ...

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Report: The Amazing Growth of Latino-Serving Universities


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The number of Latino-serving colleges and universities has risen 85% of the past 10 years, from 264 in 2007 to 492 in 2017, according to a new report by Excelencia in Education. A "Hispanic-Serving Institution" (HSI) has 25% or more undergraduate full-time equivalent Latino enrollment. In 2016-17, the U.S. had 492 HSIs. That's 15% of all colleges and universities. Here are other key data: HSIs are present in 21 states and Puerto Rico. HSIs are very concentrated geographically. 84% were located in 6 states and Puerto Rico. California has the most. Then follows Texas, Puerto Rico, New York, Florida, Illinois, and New Mexico. Most HSIs are urban (85%) HSIs enroll 65% of all Latino undergraduates in higher education. HSIs enroll 4.2M total undergraduates. HSIs ...

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#SaludTues Tweetchat 6/12: Summer Travel and Zika


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Zika virus has avoided big news headlines...but it's still here. In fact, as summer travel season arrives, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) wants you to know that Zika virus is still a concern in Latin America or the Caribbean. If a woman becomes infected with Zika during pregnancy, she can pass the virus to her fetus, which can cause birth defects. How should you prepare for safe summer travel? Let's use #SaludTues on Tuesday, June 12, 2018, to tweet about how to prepare for summer travel while staying safe and preventing Zika virus! WHAT: #SaludTues Tweetchat─Summer Travel and Zika TIME/DATE: 1-2 p.m. ET (Noon-1 p.m. CT), Tuesday, June 12, 2018 WHERE: On Twitter with hashtag #SaludTues HOST: @SaludAmerica CO-HOST: CDC Travel Health ...

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Study: Milk Can Help Obese Latino Kids Avoid Metabolic Syndrome


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Obese Latino children who consume at least two servings of any type of cow’s milk daily are more likely to have lower fasting insulin, indicating better blood sugar control, according to a new study. The study points to milk's importance for kids, despite its declining consumption. U.S. milk consumption has consistently fallen over the past few decades. Adolescent consumption dropped by nearly half – to less than a cup daily – between 1977 and 2006, according to the USDA. “Our findings indicate that obese children who consume at least the daily recommended amount of milk may have more favorable sugar handling and this could help guard against metabolic syndrome,” Dr. Michael Yafi, the study’s first author and professor of pediatrics at McGovern Medical School at ...

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Salud America! Wins International Communications Awards



We at Salud America! care about helping people drive healthy change for Latino and all families. That’s why we're excited to announce we have won four Communicator Awards for our efforts to promote awareness of and solutions to Latino child and family health issues! 2018 Communicator Award of Distinction, Websites, General Activism for Websites, Salud America! 2018 Communicator Award of Distinction, Features, Copy or Writing for Websites, Salud America! 2018 Communicator Award of Distinction, Video, Education for Online Video, Salud America! Latinos & Early Childhood Development Video 2018 Communicator Award of Distinction, Video, Education for Online Video, Salud America! Latinos & Early Childhood Development Video Communicator Awards, presented by the ...

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Study: Latino Teens Drink More Sports Drinks


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Harvard researchers found a small but significant increase in the weekly consumption of high-carbohydrate sports drinks among teens, especially Latino teens, the Chicago Tribune reports. Researchers compared data from two national surveys in 2010 and 2015. In 2015, more than 57% of the more than 22,000 high school students surveyed reported drinking at least one sports drink in the prior week. That's up from 56% in 2010, according to the Tribune. Latino and black youth drank more sports drinks than white youth, too. This is bad news, especially after historic declines in children's consumption of sugary drinks overall. "[Sports] drinks shown in advertisements being consumed by impossibly fit athletes and named for fruits like mango, kiwi, and blackberry are aggressively ...

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