About the Author

Author Picture

Josh McCormack

Digital Content Curator, Salud America! Josh McCormack joined Salud America! and its home base, the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health​ San Antonio, in February 2019. Graduating from Texas A&M University with a BA in English Literature, he has previously worked in journalism and publishing. Josh enjoys reading; some of his favorite authors include Stephen King, Omar El Akkad and J.R.R. Tolkien.​

Connect with Josh:
Twitter Link

Articles by Josh McCormack

Cancer Survivor Strives to Change Men’s Health Culture with Cross-Country Road Trip


canales cancer road trip

Nine-thousand miles. That's nearly the number Gabe Canales, founder of Blue Cure—a prostate cancer support and awareness group—traveled earlier this year. He took this journey to advocate for something he believes is too essential to overlook: Promoting men's health. Before beginning this advocacy road trip, Canales struggled with his own life-changing, adverse health experience — in 2010, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. "I really wasn't concerned at all with my health or other men's health before then," Canales said. "Sadly, it sometimes takes a person getting sick for them to look at their own health. There were some other factors after that led me to be very driven to do something for men's health issues overall." A Cancer Diagnosis Too Soon At 35 years old, ...

Read More

Salud Talks Podcast Episode Eight: “Healing Generational Wounds”


STE8 post pic

Too many American families struggle with cancer. That’s why the American Cancer Society is fighting for less cancer incidence and greater awareness. Kyle Deleon, Texas Grassroots Manager with the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Action Network, joins Salud Talks to share his personal journey and what his organization is doing to reach that goal. Check out this discussion on the #SaludTalks Podcast, Episode Eight, "Healing Generational Wounds"! WHAT: A #SaludTalks discussion on cancer incidence and awareness GUESTS: Kyle DeLeon, Texas Grassroots Manager with the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Action Network WHERE: Available wherever fine podcasts are downloaded, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, Tune In, and others WHEN: The episode went live at ...

Read More

San Antonio to Combat ‘Climate Emergency’ with New Action Plan


Climate Action Plan San Antonio

One of America’s highest Latino-populated cities now has a strategy to address the climate crisis. Earlier this month, the San Antonio (64% Latino) City Council passed Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP) by a 10-1 vote. It outlines objectives that will aim to reduce the city’s greenhouse emissions by 2050 and achieve climate equity for all populations. This plan follows in suit with many cities across the U.S. that are taking personal responsibility for its role in the climate crisis. “We declare that we will not be bystanders,” San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg said, according to the Rivard Report. “In no simpler terms, here and around the world, we are in a climate emergency.” What Does the Climate Action Plan Say? The main goal is to make the city and its ...

Read More

Too Many Baby Food Brands Contain Heavy Metals


baby food heavy metals featured image

The vast majority of major baby foods brands contain toxic heavy metals, recent data show. Of the 168 popular brands tested, 95% contained lead, 73% contained arsenic, 75% contained cadmium, and 32% contained mercury, finds Healthy Babies Bright Futures' newly published report. These numbers should be troubling, as even low levels of these kinds of toxins can cause harm as they build up, according to Dr. Philip Landrigan, pediatrician and Director of the Program in Global Public Health and the Common Good in the Schiller Institute for Integrated Science and Society at Boston College. "Arsenic, lead, and other heavy metals are known causes of neurodevelopmental harm," Landrigan said. "Low-level exposures add up, and exposures in early life are especially dangerous. The cumulative ...

Read More

Salud Talks Podcast Episode Seven: “Public Health’s Wonder Woman”


Amelie Ramirez komen scholar cancer research global cancer prevention

Who is your hero? Well, Salud Talks’ is Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez, the director of Salud America! and it's home, the Institute for Health Promotion Research in the Department of Population Health Sciences at UT Health San Antonio. Despite being one of the busiest people in this field, Dr. Ramirez joins us for a discussion on public health, the Latino community, and why both topics influence everyone. Check out this discussion on the #SaludTalks Podcast, Episode Seven, "Public Health's Wonder Woman"! WHAT: A #SaludTalks discussion on public health and the Latino community GUESTS: Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez, director of Salud America! and it's home, the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio WHERE: Available wherever fine podcasts are downloaded, ...

Read More

Salud Talks Podcast Episode Six: “Equity in Kindness”



Kindness, empathy, and compassion are all things most can agree are good for the world. Yet, how are people practicing these virtues in everyday life? Dante Jones, the founder of San Antonio’s Roll Models SATX program, joins Salud Talks to discuss how we all can treat each other better. Check out this discussion on the #SaludTalks Podcast, Episode Six, "Equity in Kindness"! WHAT: A #SaludTalks discussion on how we treat each other GUESTS: Dante Jones, the founder of San Antonio’s Roll Models SATX youth-mentorship program WHERE: Available wherever fine podcasts are downloaded, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, Tune In, and others WHEN: The episode went live at 6 a.m., Oct. 9, 2019 In this episode, we explored questions such as: Why is ...

Read More

Climate Strike: Millions of Voices Call for Environmental Action


Climate Strike Crisis Global

Last week, people across the world marched through city streets in hopes of prompting world leaders to act on the climate crisis. Over 7.6 million people participated in this strike from cities in over 185 countries, according to the Global Climate Strike website. These protestors demanded immediate action in the climate crisis from their respective elected officials. This event was inspired by the words and actions of Swedish 16-year-old, Greta Thunberg, who has made significant influences in the current climate crisis conversation — some say she's the spark that lit the Climate Strike fire. "We have gathered today because we have chosen which path we want to take, and now we are waiting for the others to follow our example," Thunberg said at an earlier climate protest in ...

Read More