About the Author

Author Picture

Amelie Ramirez

I am director of Salud America! at UT Health San Antonio. I have spent 30 years directing research on human and organizational communication to reduce chronic disease, cancer, and obesity health disparities affecting Latinos.

Connect with Amelie:
Twitter Link

Articles by Amelie Ramirez

ASCL 2024: Rapid Fire Session on Latino Cancer


Laura Fejerman asking questions at the 2024 Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos conference

This content is from the "Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos: 2024 Conference Proceedings." Residence in a Latino Enclave and Clinical Outcomes in Texas Children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Dr. Jeremy Schraw is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, at Baylor College of Medicine. Dr. Schraw began by pointing out the higher incidence of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) among Latino children, and the poorer overall survival (OS) following diagnosis. Non-medical drivers of health (NMDoH) likely contribute to these inconsistencies. In fact, children living in Latino enclaves, defined as neighborhoods with a high proportion of Latino residents, recent immigrants, and linguistically isolated households, have poorer OS after ...

Read More

COVID 19: Implications on Cancer Prevention, Treatment, and Care for Latinos


advancing the science of cancer in latinos proceedings covid-19 vaccine latino

This content is from the "Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos: 2024 Conference Proceedings." Cancer Deaths Among Latinos in the COVID-19 Era: National and State Trends Dr. Rogelio Sáenz is Professor of Sociology and Demography, Dean of the College of Public Policy, and holds the Mark G. Yudof Endowed Chair at the University of Texas at San Antonio. COVID-19 vulnerability Dr. Sáenz’s presentation began by discussing the vulnerability of people with cancer in the COVID-19 era. Over the last four years, a significant amount of research has observed the negative impact of COVID-19 on the survivability of people with cancer, along with rising numbers of cancer incidence and death due to disrupted health care. The growing Latino population is particularly vulnerable, ...

Read More

ASCL 2024: Additional Panels on Latino Cancer


Cryotherapy Breast Cancer

This content is from the "Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos: 2024 Conference Proceedings." Task Force: Latino Researchers Against Cancer This session occurred at 11:15 a.m., Friday, Feb. 23, 2024, at the 4th biennial Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos conference. Dr. Amelie Ramirez is Professor at the University of Texas (UT) San Antonio, Director of the Institute for Health Promotion Research, Chair of the Department of Population Health Sciences at UT Health San Antonio, and Associate Director of Cancer Outreach and Engagement at Mays Cancer Center. Dr. Ramirez’s presentation focused on communicating the mission and first year results of the Task Force: Latino Researchers Against Cancer (TFLRAC). The Task Force’s mission is to meet quarterly for 2 ...

Read More

Advancements in Data Science and Precision Medicine: Implications for Cancer Prevention, Treatment and Survivorship in Latinos


advancing the science of cancer in latinos proceedings doctor latino screening breast

This content is from the "Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos: 2024 Conference Proceedings." Integrating Clinical and Genomic Data for Tumor Molecular Profiling in Latino Patients with Cancer Dr. Enrique I. Velazquez-Villarreal is Assistant Professor in the Department of Integrative Translational Sciences at Beckman Research Institute and the City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center. Multi-omics and colorectal cancer in Latinos Dr. Velazquez-Villarreal’s presentation discussed how multi-omics can be used to understand colorectal cancer gaps in Latino individuals and how global and local ancestry impacts these disparities. He also described clinical and genomic data integration in colorectal cancer gaps and recent technologies used to understand the tumor microenvironment. ...

Read More

Making the Case: Cancer in Latinos is a Public Health Crisis


advancing the science of cancer in latinos proceedings healthy family latino

This content is from the "Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos: 2024 Conference Proceedings." Non-Medical Drivers of Health Impacting Latino Cancer Health Gaps: Genetic Cancer Risk Assessment Dr. Alejandra Hurtado de Mendoza is an Assistant Professor at the Cancer Prevention and Control Program at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center. Gaps across the continuum Dr. Hurtado de Mendoza’s presentation focused on gaps in genetic cancer risk assessment, multi-level hurdles that Latinos face across the genetic cancer risk assessment continuum, and an example of a multilevel intervention to decrease gaps. The presentation began by discussing how gaps in the genetic cancer risk assessment continuum begin with awareness. Only 23% of Latino individuals were aware of ...

Read More

Coordinated and Comprehensive Survivorship Care for Latinos


advancing the science of cancer in latinos proceedings doc patient 3

This content is from the "Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos: 2024 Conference Proceedings." Latino Cancer Survivors’ Quality of Life and Survivorship Care Dr. Kristi D. Graves is a tenured Professor of Oncology, Cancer Prevention and Control Program leader at the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Associate Dean for Faculty Development at Georgetown University Medical Center. Latino cancer survivorship Dr. Graves’s presentation began by discussing cancer survivorship across the cancer continuum. The National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) Office of Cancer Survivorship states that “an individual is considered a cancer survivor from the time of diagnosis through the balance of life. There are many types of survivors, including those living with cancer and those ...

Read More

ASCL 2024: National Cancer Institute (NCI) Panels


advancing the science of cancer in latinos proceedings doctors office

This content is from the "Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos: 2024 Conference Proceedings." Adapting NCI’s Clinical Trials System to a Changed Clinical Research Environment Dr. James H. Doroshow is Deputy Director for Clinical and Translational Research at the National Cancer Institute (NCI). This plenary session occurred at 8:30 am., Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024, at the 4th biennial Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos conference. COVID’s impact on cancer clinical trials Dr. Doroshow’s presentation began by discussing the initial and continuing effects of the pandemic environment on cancer clinical trials. From the start of the pandemic, several aspects of clinical trials were altered, including informed consent and in-person study activities. One major ...

Read More

Leveraging Technology to Enhance Research, Cancer Control and Prevention


advancing the science of cancer in latinos proceedings doctor patient 1

This content is from the "Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos: 2024 Conference Proceedings." Advances in Evidence-based Digital Solutions for Supporting Latino Cancer Patients Dr. John Piette is Professor in the School of Public Health, and Director of the Center for Managing Chronic Disease (CMCD) at the University of Michigan. Cognitive behavioral therapy Dr. Piette’s presentation began by discussing how cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can be used for Latino cancer patients. CBT is the most common evidence-based intervention for cancer patients struggling with mental health, symptoms, stress, and sleep. In cancer patients, CBT has been shown to help manage distress and pain, alleviate insomnia, manage fear of cancer recurrence, and reduce emotional distress and ...

Read More

Strategies for Engagement of Latinos in Cancer Clinical Trials


advancing the science of cancer in latinos proceedings doctor patient 2 clinical trials

This content is from the "Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos: 2024 Conference Proceedings." The NCI Community Oncology Research Program: Opportunities to Increase Latino Participation in Clinical Trials Dr. Brenda Adjei is Associate Director of the HDRP at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Center for Cancer Research. The NCI Community Oncology Research Program Dr. Adjei’s presentation began with a discussion of Latino participation in cancer clinical trials. Variety in clinical trials is critically important because it generates biomedical knowledge relevant to all, builds trust and trustworthiness, and contributes to reductions in health gaps and fair research participation. Current limits in clinical research is due to multilevel hurdles and requires tailored, ...

Read More