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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

UT Health San Antonio Approved for a $250,000 Engagement Award for Cancer Research in South Texas


UT Health San Antonio PCORI Engagement Award for Cancer Research in South Texas

Dr. Rebecca Jones of UT Health San Antonio has been approved for a 2-year, $250,000 funding award through the Eugene Washington PCORI Engagement Awards (Engagement Awards) program, an initiative of the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI). The funds will support the creation of the Creando Conexiones: Cancer Health Equity Research Agenda, which will outline research priorities identified by South Texas cancer survivors, caregivers, and community members. Join the Creando Conexiones coalition! "We know that research has the most impact when guided by voices of cancer survivors and community members," said Jones, assistant director of the Institute for Health Promotion Research and part of the Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio. "With their input, we ...

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Watch Webinar: All of Us in the Alamo City Matter



We know you care about the health of people in San Antonio. Watch our webinar, “All of Us in Alamo City Matter: Where You Live Impacts Your Health,” at 10-11 a.m. CT, Wednesday, March 20, 2024! The webinar explored the state of social determinants of health (SDOH) in San Antonio and how we can leverage the All of Us Research Program to promote health equity in health research. Some studies suggest that SDOH plays a role in about 30% to 55% of our health outcomes. This means that nearly half of our health issues are a result of our environment and life circumstances. Hear more from our expert panelists, including representatives from South Texas Blood & Tissue, Mexican American Unity Council, and Salud America! at the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health ...

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Update: Coronavirus Case Rates and Death Rates for Latinos in the United States


hispanic latino child girl student home coloring work wearing face mask amid COVID-19 coronavirus

The coronavirus, COVID-19, can affect anyone. But reports show Latinos and other people of color are disproportionately affected, amid worsening historical inequities. What are the data really showing? UPDATE 3/5/24: CDC releases new COVID-19 death rates by race/ethnicity. COVID-19 Case Rates for Latinos The U.S. population recently rose to 19.1% Latino. At the outset of the pandemic, COVID-19 disproportionately sickened Latinos. Variants like Delta and Omicron sparked case surges, too. Latinos comprised 24.3% of COVID-19 cases in the United States, second only to Whites (53.8%), according to CDC data on health equity and cases on April 19, 2023. As of March 5, 2024, CDC is no longer maintaining incidence rates by race/ethnicity on this web page. Several states ...

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What Are the 5 Principles of Obesity Care?


obesity care week 2024 latino hispanic man food

Obesity Care Week 2024 (#ObesityCareWeek) is here! From March 4-8, 2024, Obesity Care Week is an annual public awareness effort to end weight bias, as well as raise awareness, educate and advocate for a better world for people living with obesity. Also, World Obesity Day is March 4, 2024. Our Salud America! Latino health equity team at UT Health San Antonio is happy to serve as an Obesity Care Week Champion to support this awareness week. "Unlike most other diseases, obesity is one that continues to be stigmatized. Those impacted struggle to receive any care in many cases, let alone adequate care," said Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez, director of Salud America! at UT Health San Antonio and a leading health disparities researcher. Salud America! research has found that U.S. Latinos face ...

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Recap: The 2024 Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos Conference



Why is cancer the top cause of death for Latinos? To unpack this question, Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez of Salud America! at UT Health San Antonio hosted the 4th biennial Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos conference on Feb. 21-23, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos drew 280 researchers, doctors, leaders, patient advocates, and students for an open dialogue on Latino cancer. Discussion covered new research advances on clinical best practices, effective community interventions, system-change advocacy, and professional training to eliminate cancer disparities in Latinos. “Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos is where we can come together and find equitable solutions for cancer prevention, treatment, and survivorship among Latinos,” ...

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Salud America! Team Member Wins Hackathon on Cancer Data!


Edgar Munoz of IHPR Salud America UT Health San Antonio Hackathon cancer data

Edgar Muñoz, a statistician at Salud America! at the Institute for Health Promotion Research (IHPR) at UT Health San Antonio, has won the Hackathon at VCU Massey Cancer Center's first-ever Catchment Area Data Conference on Dec. 7-9, 2023! The conference brought together data experts from U.S. cancer centers. Attendees shared best practices in data collection, handling, dissemination, and utilization, while exploring policies and methodologies to advance cancer center catchment area analytics and community engagement. For the Hackathon, Muñoz showcased the CancerClarity app (try it here) with his teammates, Alex VanHelene of Rhode Island Hospital and Nuen Tsang Yang of UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center. The CancerClarity app offers users an interactive exploration of ...

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#SaludTues Tweetchat 3/5/24─Four Years Later: How COVID-19 Is Impacting Latinos


covid-19-four-years-later-latino-dad-children-father-playground

COVID-19 is not over. For the past four years, the virus has disrupted life and health. Data continue to show that the pandemic worsened historical health and social inequities, especially for Latinos. How can we address this? Let’s use #SaludTues on March 5, 2024, to explore health inequities facing the Latino population over the past four years (and long before that), and share solutions and strategies to promote health equity in the face of COVID-19! WHERE: Twitter WHAT: #SaludTues Tweetchat “4 Years Later: How COVID-19 Is Impacting Latinos” WHEN: 1-2 p.m. ET (12-1 p.m. CT), Tuesday, March 5, 2024 HOST: Salud America! at UT Health San Antonio (@SaludAmerica) CO-HOSTS: Latinx Voces (@latinxvocesllc); Moms Rising (@MomsRising); MamasConPoder ...

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San Antonio: Learn How Cancer Impacts Latinos (En Español)!


san antonio latino cancer event LLS

You are invited to join the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) for a free Spanish-language event in San Antonio to help Latinos learn and respond to their cancer risks! The event, "Aprendiendo Sobre Los Cánceres Que Afectan a Los Latinos y Cómo Enfrentarlos," is set for 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024, at Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen, 76 NE Interstate Loop 410, San Antonio. Dinner is free! Registration is required. "This is a unique opportunity for patients, caregivers, and the community to learn from experts on topics, including learning what cancers that most affect our Latino community," according to LLS. REGISTER FOR THE EVENT! About the Event on Latino Cancer Latinos are a dynamic, diverse, rising population. But cancer threatens the future health of the U.S. Latino ...

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Webinar Series: Let’s Improve Health in South Texas and Beyond


lets improve health together webinar series graphic 2025

We want Latinos and all people to be as healthy as possible. How can we reach this ideal, especially as we face high rates of cancer and chronic disease and many people struggle with access to clinical trials, income, health care, food, housing, and other issues? You're invited to a webinar series, "Let’s Improve Health in South Texas and Beyond," a collaboration of the Salud America! program at the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio, the Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio, and Genentech. We are planning three webinars in 2025: 3/4/25: The Thing that Could Save Your Life 4/23/25: Tipping the Scales toward Health 10/8/25: What You Should Know about Your Amazing Liver Here are the three webinars from 2024: 4/25/24: How to ...

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