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Alyssa Escalante

Articles by Alyssa Escalante

Jason Massiatte: Working to Bring Support for Families in Need



No family wants to hear news that their child has been diagnosed with cancer. Unfortunately, an estimated 15,780 U.S. children between birth and age 19 are diagnosed with cancer every year, disrupting family life to the very core. However, Jason Massiatte is doing the work to make sure San Antonio and Bexar County families are getting the help they need through the Hope at Heart Foundation. Massiatte leads the foundation, which provides counseling, financial assistance, and other support as families navigate the complex hardships of childhood cancer. Jason Massiate: The Inspiration to Help Others A San Antonio native, Massiatte was inspired to help others through his own experiences growing up in a family that faced poverty and life challenges. “I know what it's like to ...

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5 Resources to Share for Leukemia and Lymphoma Awareness Month


Leukemia and Lymphoma Awareness Month

September is Leukemia and Lymphoma Awareness Month. During this time, take action by understanding blood cancers, supporting those experiencing blood cancer, and encouraging survivors to share their stories. Every three minutes, someone in the U.S. is diagnosed with leukemia, lymphoma, or myeloma, the three main types of blood cancer, according to Blood Cancer United. Blood cancer affects the production and function of blood cells, and it usually starts in the bone marrow where blood is made. Here are four amazing organizations working to address blood cancer. 1. Blood Cancer United An estimated 192,070 people in the U.S. were expected to be diagnosed with leukemia, lymphoma, or myeloma in 2025. Blood Cancer United aims to help “people affected by all 100+ types of blood ...

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Take the Drama Out of Colon Cancer Screening with a Telenovela



Colon cancer screening doesn’t have to be dramatic. That’s the message that Abbott is promoting in their new Spanish-language campaign for Cologuard Plus®. Gabriela Spanic, award-winning actress, model, writer, and singer, stars in the campaign that uses telenovelas and culturally relevant storytelling to make a difficult conversation about colon cancer screening more approachable and less dramatic. “The need is urgent. When colon cancer is found early, 90% of patients survive five years or more after diagnosis,” according to the press release from Abbott. About the Campaign on Colon Cancer Screening While the campaign has a humorous, telenovela style, Spanic also delivers an important message: “Although life can be dramatic, getting screened doesn’t have to ...

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Webinar: How Does Prostate Cancer Impact South Texas Communities?


Prostate Cancer Presentation

People in South Texas experience many challenges with prostate cancer. To address these challenges and help the community, join a new virtual presentation, “Prostate Cancer Awareness,” at 11 a.m. Central on Sept. 17, 2026. The event will feature Dr. Patricia Chalela, a cancer researcher at UT Health San Antonio, and Sandra Sivak, a community cancer research coordinator at UT Health San Antonio. Both are part of the community outreach and engagement team at the Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio. The virtual presentation is part of the “Every Cancer, Every Story: A Series of Conversations” webinar series, a collaboration of the Mid Rio Grande Border Area Health Education Center (AHEC) and Mays Cancer Center Office of Community Outreach and Engagement (COE) at UT ...

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What Role Does AI Play in Nursing?


AI in nursing.

The role of artificial intelligence (AI) has become quite common in everyday life. Whether it’s scrolling though a phone, working on a computer at school or work, a thermostat in a home, and even when you visit the doctor. Nurse.org has introduced Nurse AI Watch, ongoing tracker of how artificial intelligence is actually being used in nursing. “We follow the tools, the systems deploying them, the safety questions, the union contracts, and the oversight gap, and we update it as the picture changes,” according to the Nurse.org website. Let’s dive deeper into what this means and what AI and nursing can look like in the future. What Does AI in Nursing Look Like Today? Artificial intelligence in nursing can mean many things. “With the ability to analyze vast amounts ...

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4 Health Tips for the New School Year


Parents helping children before school.

As summer come to an end, children and families are gearing up for another school year. Between the school supplies, new clothes, and getting back into the routine of things, it’s important to ensure students and families are healthy and safe! With this in mind, let’s look at helpful reminders for back to school. 1. Keep a Sleep Schedule Having a consistent sleep schedule can impact one’s health and wellbeing. For example, studies show an association between insufficient sleep and obesity. “Poor sleep is also linked with the likelihood of developing diabetes and, over a longer term, with heart problems,” according to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Consistent sleep schedules also support emotional regulation and mood stability, cognitive ability, immune ...

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Strengthen Your Mobile Healthcare Program with the RHI Hub Toolkit


RHIhub

The Rural Health Information Hub (RHI Hub) and the NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis have created the Rural Mobile Healthcare Toolkit to help organizations start mobile healthcare programs in rural areas. The toolkit highlights model programs and contains resources for program development, implementation, evaluation, and more. Let’s take a closer look at the toolkit and why support for rural healthcare is important. Get the toolkit! RHI Hub’s Rural Mobile Healthcare Toolkit The Rural Mobile Healthcare Toolkit includes considerations and challenges that organizations may face when developing, implementing, evaluating, and sustaining mobile healthcare programs in rural communities. Additionally, the toolkit shares benefits and barriers of mobile healthcare, ...

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3 Resources for Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month


Children's Eye Health and Safety Month

August is Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month, a time that highlights the importance of protecting children’s vision. With this in mind, Salud America! has put together a list of helpful tools and resources for parents and families to learn more about children’s eye health and vision. 1. Prevent Blindness Through Prevent Blindness, the National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health is a place where parents and caregivers can find a multitude of support. Health education resources, including vision and eye health presentations and webinars and children’s vision fact sheets, posters, reports, and publications. There are also plenty of resources for parents and caregivers with children who have vision problems or impairment. In collaboration with the National ...

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