Articles by Josh McCormack

Salud Talks Podcast Episode Two: “Breaking Tradition”

September 11, 2019

Has your doctor ever asked about faith or family? Dr. Daniel Carlos Hughes and his colleagues are doing just that in a case study revolved around how medical professionals heal their patients. Their end goal? Treating people, especially those with chronic conditions, holistically. Check out Dr. Hughes and his team on the #SaludTalks Podcast, Episode Two, "Breaking Tradition"! WHAT: A #SaludTalks discussion on holistic health among Latino and all patients and providers GUESTS: Dr. Daniel Carlos Hughes, Assistant Professor at the Institute for Health Promotion Research (IHPR) at UT Health San Antonio; Dr. Alexis Ortiz, Chair of the Department of Physical Therapy UT Health San Antonio; Corina Zamora, Project Coordinator at IHPR at UT Health San Antonio; and Angelika Aguilar, ...

Salud Talks Podcast Episode One: “On Fire”

September 4, 2019

In its first episode, the Salud Talks podcast covers one of the critical issues of our time: the Climate Crisis. We sat down with experts in this field to discuss the history behind climate change, how we got where we are today, and what has to be done to save the planet. The episode went live on Sept. 4, 2019, at 6 a.m. WHAT: A discussion on the climate crisis and how it is and will continue to impact Latinos and all Americans GUESTS: Dolores "DeeDee" Belmares, the Texas Field Consultant for Moms Clean Air Force, and Dr. Juan Declet-Barreto, a climate scientist with the Union of Concerned Scientists WHERE: Available wherever fine podcasts are downloaded, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, Tune In, and others. WHEN: Live Wed., Sept. 4, 2019, at 6 ...

Building for Holistic Health: Connecting to Nature

August 29, 2019

Feeling the sun’s rays, breathing in cool air, lying amongst the trees, standing in the rain — all ways of how nature can ground people and bring about feelings of joy. While it’s true that most Latinos and Americans might spend up to 90% of their time indoors, building design can give inhabitants a sense of connectivity to our environment, or biophilia. Construction workers and architects should make the most of nature to create health-centric structures, according to the American Institute of Architects (AIA). “Simply put, nature is good for us because we are part of nature,” writes Dr. Miles Richardson, director of core psychology programs at the University of Derby. “We are human animals evolved to make sense of the natural world, and this embeddedness in the ...

#SaludTues Tweetchat 9/3/19: Podcasts & Health Equity

August 27, 2019

Podcasts are huge — there are over 750,000 shows on the market — but few focus on health equity. That's why Salud America! is lanching the Salud Talks podcast. The project will feature discussions on Latino health equity with guests who are working in the issues, both at the national and grassroots levels. To further that discussion, let’s use #SaludTues on Twitter on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019, to discuss podcasts and how they can be one of the best tools to disseminate public health information! WHAT: #SaludTues Tweetchat: “Podcasts and Health Equity” TIME/DATE: 1-2 p.m. ET (Noon-1 p.m. CT), Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019 WHERE: On Twitter with hashtag #SaludTues HOST: @SaludAmerica CO-HOSTS: @DrCHHuntley, @DoctoraEdith, @latinxtherapy, Dr. Erlanger "Earl" ...

Environmental Racism Causes People of Color to Face Compound Exposures

August 22, 2019

Climate change is not and will not impact all people equally — Latinos and other minority groups shoulder the most significant threats. Worse, cities in the U.S. are illustrating that fact today, according to a recent study from the University of Michigan. Their research shows that climate change subjects minority communities to high risks of chemical and environmental exposures. “A key finding of this report is that environmental injustice exists across Michigan, with residents of low-income and minority communities disproportionately burdened by environmental contamination and health risks—just as we saw in Flint,” Paul Mohai, a professor at the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability, told Michigan News. Latinos, who already experience harm at ...

Salud America! Launches Salud Talks Podcast

August 21, 2019

Continuing its work to promote action for Latino health equity, Salud America! is launching a new project: The Salud Talks podcast. This production, which will go live on Wed., Sept. 4, expands on previously covered topic areas of Latino health and life — approaching each discussion with a holistic mindset. Episodes will be available every Wednesday morning on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and SoundCloud. "The Salud Talks podcast is yet another extension of Salud America!'s wide and impactful reach," said Dr. Amelie Ramirez, director of Salud America! "The podcast will give listeners insight into many of the health disparities impacting Latinos and all Americans. Furthermore, it will raise awareness of emerging solutions to those disparities." What to Expect The podcast's first ...

Building for Holistic Health: Mental Wellness

August 19, 2019

Architecture can influence many aspects of health, including body temperature and allergies — even our mental health. From window placement to floor design, how buildings are laid out will influence the way a person feels. More importantly, this influence can impact the day-to-day lives of people, according to Ben Channon, a U.K. architect and author of "Happy by Design." "We spend 80% of time indoors, but we give little thought to how bricks and mortar impact us physiologically," Channon told Planning, BIM & Construction Today. "Most building design prioritizes cost efficiencies and overheads, rather than paying attention to the nuances of human experience." Design, Characterless and Inexpensive Whether a room is small and cozy or large and grandiose, it can shift aspects ...

Experts Say Climate Crisis Heat Will Make Many Urban Areas Unlivable

August 15, 2019

From New England to the Southwest, Americans are sweating through their shirts as cities across the country experience record-high temperatures. More importantly, the gauge of how hot a place feels, the heat index, has also been on the rise. The National Weather Service has sent numerous warnings to many areas, cautioning of "prolonged period of dangerously hot temperatures and high humidity." Meteorologists attribute this latest heatwave to atmospheric shifts. Worse, experts and researchers say the heatwave is only one part of the broader climate crisis problem — one that could lead to nearly 300 cities becoming uninhabitable. "Think about the most extreme summer heat you've ever experienced in your lifetime. That will become a typical summer day by the middle of this ...

#SaludTues Tweetchat 8/20/19: Vaccination Access and Awareness

August 13, 2019

Vaccinations are safe and protect the public from illness outbreaks. Worse, vaccination hesitancy has been on the rise in America — as have the illnesses which those treatments prevent. Measles, for example, is on the rise. This issue stems from anti-vaccination misinformation, which has spread through the internet like wildfire. This kind of information has led parents to question and, in many cases, not use this life-saving medicine. Let’s use #SaludTues on Twitter on Tuesday, August 20, 2019, to discuss vaccinations and why they are so important for public health: WHAT: #SaludTues Tweetchat: “Vaccination Access and Awareness” TIME/DATE: 1-2 p.m. ET (Noon-1 p.m. CT), Tuesday, August 20, 2019 WHERE: On Twitter with hashtag #SaludTues ...

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Josh McCormack

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