About the Author

Author Picture

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.

Connect with Cliff:
Twitter Link

Articles by Cliff Despres

How to Boost Your Mental Health Over the Holidays


Happy volunteer looking at donation box

Stressed-out and down this holiday season? You might have the "holiday blues." These are temporary feelings of depression associated with the extra stress, financial constraints, and unrealistic expectations of the season. These can harm long-term mental health. You might have "seasonal affective disorder." This is a seasonal depression that happens at the same time every year as the season change, such as the bleak wintertime months. These conditions are especially worrisome for people who suffer high rates of mental health issues. Latinos, for example, already face higher rates of depressive symptoms than many of their peers. Fewer Latinos than whites say their child had ever used mental health care services, according to a Salud America! research review. So what can you ...

Read More

#SaludTues Tweetchat 12/18: Fortify Mental Health for the Holidays!


christmas holiday mental health depresssion

The holidays can be a season for family, friends, and festivities. But this time also can bring stress, anxiety, and depression. Financial and gift-giving burdens rise. The calendar gets jammed with travel, social gatherings, or loneliness for those who can’t meet with friends and family. This is bad news especially for Latino and other minority groups who already suffer higher rates of mental health issues than their peers. On Twitter, let's use #SaludTues on Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2018, to share tips, stories, and resources to help Latino and all people manage and fortify their mental health and self-care this holiday season: WHAT: #SaludTues Tweetchat: “Fortify Mental Health for the Holidays” TIME / DATE: 1-2 p.m. ET (Noon-1 p.m. CT), Tuesday, 12/18/18 WHERE: On ...

Read More

Sally Diaz: Breast Cancer Survivorship Symbolizes Strength, Bravery


Sallie Diaz with Stanlie Murray

By Sally Diaz San Antonio Cancer Survivor On May 5, 2014, just 6 days before Mother’s Day, my world came crashing down. I was diagnosed with Stage 3 Triple Negative Invasive Ductal Carcinoma. I noticed my lump on accident while waking up from bed and stretching. I was 42, married, and a mother of a 10-year-old girl and a 12-year-old boy. I tested negative for genetic testing and I had no history of breast cancer in my family. Within two weeks of my diagnosis my roller coaster ride had begun and I was admitted into the hospital so that a medi-port could be implanted in my chest for chemotherapy. My life has never been the same. As a mother diagnosed with cancer, the first thought that comes to your mind is your children and the fear that you will not be there for ...

Read More

4 Easy Actions to Promote Health Equity for Thanksgiving


smiling latina women with megaphone raise voice speak up

Thanksgiving is a time for giving back. It's a perfect opportunity to raise your voice and take action to create health equity for Latino and all families this holiday season! 1. Make a Comment on Public Charge! Every family deserves a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible. But the Trump administration's proposed change to the Public Charge rule could penalize legal immigrants if they use public benefits, such as food assistance or housing, according to the National Immigration Law Center. The government wants your input on this by Dec. 10, 2018! COPY the below model comment. HIT "Comment Now" button. PASTE the comment with YOUR EDIT. Immigrant families deserve a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible, just like all people in (ADD ...

Read More

Ramirez Named to National Committee on Science Communication


amelie ramirez health equity in 2014

Congratulations to Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez, director of Salud America! at UT Health San Antonio! Ramirez was named to the National Academies of Medicine's Standing Committee on Advancing Science Communication Research and Practice on Nov. 7, 2018. The committee's mission is to engage partners to advance the field of science communication. That means building a more coherent knowledge base about approaches to communicating science, making it easier for science communication practitioners to access and use research to inform their practice, and supporting individuals and groups in communicating science outside the scientific enterprise. On the committee, Ramirez joins other practitioners and researchers from groups like Pew Charitable Trusts, America Public Health Association, and ...

Read More

Honoring Latino Military Heroes on Veteran’s Day


Veterna's Day and Memorial Day Latino

Veteran's Day is on Nov. 11, 2019. We at Salud America! are excited to honor all U.S. military personnel, including the Latinos, who have served our country. Latinos in the Military: History Latinos have a “proud and indeed enviable” record of military service that dates back all the way to the Civil War, according to a U.S. Army historical website. About 20,000 Latino serviceman and women participated in Operation Desert Shield/Storm in 1990-1991, 80,000 in the Vietnam War in 1959-1973, and more than 400,000 in World War II in 1939-1945. More than 40 Medals of Honor have been awarded to Latinos, according to the Department of Defense. “Whether their heritage can be traced to Spain, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Mexico, or one of dozens of other Spanish-speaking countries or ...

Read More

Apply Now: Latino Cancer Research Training and Internships



Apply now for the 2019 Éxito! Latino Cancer Research Leadership Training program and optional $3,250 internships at the Institute for Health Promotion Research (IHPR) at UT Health San Antonio, the organization that also runs Salud America!. Each year, the Éxito! program recruits 25 U.S. master’s level students and professionals to participate in a five-day, culturally tailored Éxito! summer institute to promote pursuit of a doctoral degree and cancer research. At this next Éxito! summer institute, set for June 10-14, 2019 in San Antonio, participants will interact with Latino researchers, mentors, and doctoral experts to learn about Latino cancer, succeeding in a doctoral program, and the diversity of careers in cancer research. Ten optional internships also are available ...

Read More