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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

San Antonio: Free Event on 6/13/15 to Explore Women’s Cancer, Healing Foods, and More



Cancer survivors and healthcare providers are invited to explore diet, spirituality, and more at the inaugural Women’s Survivorship Summit from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, June 13, 2015, at the Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio, with support from the San Antonio Breast Cancer Collaborative, a coalition that includes the Institute for Health Promotion Research at the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio. Register here for the summit, which will feature free food, speakers, and cancer resources. Dr. Virginia G. Kaklamani, leader of the breast cancer program at the Cancer Therapy and Research Center at the UT Health Science Center, will talk about the clinical and psychological challenges of being a cancer survivor and how to move ahead. Other experts will cover healing foods ...

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Bilingual App Provides Information and Comfort to Breast Cancer Patients



Breast cancer is the most common cancer among Latinas. But now, thanks to “My Cancer Journey Apps,” available in English and Spanish for iPhone and Android, women who had been diagnosed with breast cancer will have a 24/7 companion providing them with answers and information about their illness. “It has always been our objective that everything we do reaches the highest audience possible. Making our apps available also in Spanish is a step forward in achieving that objective,” John Papandrea, CEO and President of Willowglade Technologies said. Patients can personalize the app according to their treatment, their stage and emotional state. The app based on algorithms provides the patient with new content and relevant information during the treatment process. Users can also ...

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Latino Doctor Lauded for Work with Community, Patients



Dr. J. Emilio Carrillo has spent his career breaking down healthcare barriers for New York residents. Carrillo, a researcher and clinician at New York-Presbyterian Hospital and Weill Cornell Medical College, infuses a cultural competency approach in the care of individual patients. Now his approach is being honored. Carrillo will be given the American Medical Association Foundation's 2015 Excellence in Medicine Award-Pride in the Profession on June 5, 2015, in Chicago. The award recognizes physicians who exemplify the medical profession's highest values: commitment to service, community involvement, altruism, leadership and dedication to patient care. Carrillo does just that. His strategy uses a patient-based, cross-cultural approach that helps bridge cultural barriers in the care ...

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Researchers: Apply for Career Development Awards



Are you a post-doctoral fellow or a new investigator interested in research funding opportunities? The National Cancer Institute’s (NCI’s) Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities (CRCHD) and GMaP Region 4 invites you to participate in career mentored and non-mentored research opportunities. The deadlines to apply to the following programs are: June 12 and October 12. NCI Mentored Research Scientist Development Award to Promote Diversity (K01)             BASIC/POPULATION SCIENCE Individuals with Research or Health Professional Doctoral Degree 100K Salary/30K R&D; • 3 - 5 years support NCI Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award to Promote Diversity (K08)              TRANSLATION Individuals with Health Professional ...

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Report: Cancer Genetic Test Gets More Affordable



The price tag of genetic tests for breast and ovarian cancer can reach thousands of dollars. What if genetic testing was cheaper? California-based Color Genomics has launched a $249 genetic test that can be done at home and analyzes a saliva sample for mutations in the breast cancer gene BRCA1 and BRCA2, which identify a woman's risk for cancer, according to U.S. News & World Report. "Color's goal is to democratize access to genetic testing, starting with breast and ovarian cancer risk testing," Elad Gil, one of the company's co-founders, told NPR Health. This could mean greater accessibility for genetic testing among Latinas. Latinas are 20% more likely to die from breast cancer than white non-Hispanic women at the same age and stage. Yet genetic testing isn't as common among ...

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Webinar 5/12/15: ‘Carlos Santana of Health’ Uses the Internet to Tackle Health Disparities



Can you reduce global health disparities using the Internet? You’re invited to a Redes En Acción webinar at 11 a.m. CST Tuesday (5/12/15) to explore how researchers are using online, scientifically tested interventions to encourage people to quit smoking and more. The webinar will feature Dr. Ricardo Muñoz, a Redes investigator who NPR Latino called the "Carlos Santana of Health" by likening his innovation in psychology to Santana's innovation in music (plus they grew up in the same San Francisco region). Muñoz will describe "massive open online interventions" (MOOIs), mental health and substance abuse interventions that are scientifically validated and available online to unlimited numbers of consumers. "Most of these consumers can be expected to drop out, but some will stay ...

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Latinos at-risk of Skin Cancer



According to the Skin Cancer Foundation Latinos are more prone to be diagnosed with skin cancer at a much later stage than others in the United States. The deadliest form of skin cancer is melanoma affecting primarily women ages 25-29. According to the doctors most people have the misperception that skin cancer only affects adults, but recent studies show the incidence among children has been growing over the last couple of years. “This misperception that if you're a kid, there's no way you can have skin cancer, whether it be non-melanoma or melanoma skin cancer, is very misleading,” Dr. Adam Friedman told Fox Health. While skin cancer mostly affects fair-skinned individuals everyone is at-risk. "Anyone can get skin cancer. Skin cancer does not care what color your skin is, what ...

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Latino Investigator to Oversee National Minority Health Research



Dr. Eliseo J. Pérez-Stable, a long-time Latino health researcher, will become the new director of the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). NIHMD is the NIH's leading organization for planning, reviewing, coordinating and evaluating its minority health and disparities research activities. In his new role, Dr. Pérez-Stable will oversee a $270 million budget to conduct and support research, training, research capacity and infrastructure development, public education and information dissemination programs to improve minority health. Dr. Pérez-Stable leads the northwest region of Redes En Acción, a national Latino cancer research network funded by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and led by Dr. Amelie G. ...

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#SaludTues Tweetchat 4/28/15: What Latinos Need to Know about Skin Cancer



Summer is almost here, which means we’re planning as many outdoor activities as we can to take advantage of warm weather and sunshine! But nothing ruins a great hike or beach day like a sunburn. More importantly, too much sun exposure can severely increase skin cancer risks—even in Latinos. In fact, new research shows that in the past two decades, melanoma incidence among Latinos has risen almost 20 percent. What’s the deal? Poor sun safety habits and lack of awareness are just a few factors, studies find. Join us and our co-hosts as we tweet the facts about Latinos and skin cancer, the best preventative measures and how to spot something doctor-visit-worthy at the next #SaludTues Tweetchat. WHAT: #SaludTues Tweetchat: “What Latinos Need to Know about Skin Cancer” DATE: ...

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