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Catherine Stewart

Catherine Stewart is a digital content curator for Salud America! and its home base, the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio. She is a graduate of the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland College Park, and hopes to utilize her skills to help people find their voices and inspire change in their communities.

Articles by Catherine Stewart

Study: National HPV Vaccine Program Thwarts Cervical Cancer Deaths


Shot of a young doctor applying a band-aid after injecting her patient during a consultation in the clinic

Cervical cancer continues to harm women across the globe, including Latinas, who are twice as likely to be diagnosed than other women.   The good news is that cervical cancer is highly preventable.  Along with routine screenings, the HPV vaccine can prevent or minimize the risk of getting the virus that causes cervical cancer.  In fact, a new study out of the UK has discovered that since the introduction of a national program to promote the HPV vaccine, cervical cancer deaths have dropped dramatically.  This study highlights the effectiveness of the vaccine when given at the appropriate age.   Let’s dig into the study findings and what they mean for the future of cervical cancer.  Study Findings  In Cervical cancer mortality trends ...

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Get Free Help from a Nurse to Navigate Blood Cancer Clinical Trials


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Blood cancer, which includes lymphoma, leukemia, and multiple myeloma, is on the rise in the U.S., impacting 1.7 million Americans and accounting for 10% of all new cancer diagnoses in the U.S., according to Blood Cancer United.  With the rise of diagnoses, researchers are scrambling to find ways to tackle blood cancer, but they need help from volunteers for clinical trials.  Clinical trials are studies with volunteers that enable advances that can prevent, slow, manage, and treat diseases like blood cancer. But not everyone has access to clinical trials.  Language hurdles, complex medical jargon, unpredictable costs associated with participation, and lack of access to reliable transportation all keep clinical trials out of reach from those who would ...

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Fact Sheet: Learn How Social Isolation Impacts Brain Health in Aging Adults


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Human beings need social interaction to live a healthy life. But did you know how much you socialize can have a direct effect on your brain health? Social isolation is not only linked to negative brain health, but the impacts also can be worse depending on where you live, according to a recent study from UT San Antonio and Princeton University. Check out our new fact sheet, How Does Social Isolation Impact Brain Health in Aging Adults?, to help our abuelos and abuelas across the globe understand how maintaining an active social life can impact their brain health as they age. This fact sheet was created by Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez of Salud America! and UT Health San Antonio based on a research brief from the San Antonio Center for AD/ADRD Population Aging and Social Studies (San Antonio ...

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Report: 4 Million Latinos Projected to Lose Health Care Coverage Within 10 Years


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The US is on the verge of a complete health care overhaul.  These changes include Medicaid eligibility, cuts to funding, and changes making accessibility and renewal more difficult.   According to a new UnidosUS report, this overhaul is projected to cut the health care of nearly 14 million Americans with the mass majority being Latino over the next 10 years.  Unless action is taken to intervene and counteract these changes, millions are anticipated to lose health insurance, leading to unaffordable treatment and care costs and worse health outcomes.   Let’s break down the report and how these coverage changes impact the health of Latinos and all families.   Significant Health Care Coverage Changes  The report highlights two significant acts ...

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9 Resources for Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month


Alzheimer's Awareness Month

Alzheimer’s and dementia impact the brain, cognitive activity, and memory.  As of 2026, 7.4 million Americans 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s or dementia, according to the Alzheimer’s Association’s Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report.   These numbers are set to increase to 13.8 million by 2060, according to the report.  Not only is Alzheimer’s a very prevalent disease, it’s also the 6th leading cause of death for older adults, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.   June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month.  In honor of the month, we are raising awareness by sharing 9 resources to help prevent, navigate, and treat Alzheimer’s and so much more!  1. Make Lifestyle Changes to Decrease Your Alzheimer’s ...

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Survivors: Sharing Your Story Can Help Make an Impact


Avanzando Caminos Banner

It’s National Cancer Survivor Month and we are honoring survivors in South Texas and beyond by reminding them that their journeys matter.  In fact, they can even help future cancer survivors.   That’s the hope of the Avanzando Caminos Hispanic/Latino Cancer Survivorship Cohort Study, which is based at UT Health San Antonio and the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center based at the University of Miami.   This study gathers cancer survivors’ unique stories to explore the familial, behavioral, mental, biological, medical, and other impacts on life after cancer.  Let’s break down how each of these cancer types impacts the Hispanic/Latino population and how hearing from survivors helps make a difference for future generations of survivors.   Latina Breast ...

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San Antonio Clinical Trial Offers a New Approach to Cancer Treatment


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When you hear the words “cancer treatment,” many think of chemotherapy.  The truth is there are many cancer treatments, such as surgery, hormone therapy, immunotherapy, radiation therapy, and more.   In addition, clinical trials are a treatment option.   Clinical trials are studies with volunteers that enable advances that can slow, manage, and treat diseases such as cancer.   For example, a new clinical trial at UT Health San Antonio is testing a treatment that trains your immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells in the same way a vaccine works to protect you from disease.   Let’s explore the new trial.   join the clinical trial How the Clinical Trial’s Cancer Treatment Works  Cancer treatments are designed to kill cancer ...

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Texans With Disabilities: Share Your Story Now!


Portrait of boy sitting in wheelchair at library

Of the 31.7 million people who live in Texas, 3.5 million (or 12%) have either a physical or mental disability, according to the 2021 American Community Survey (ACS).   Each person, family, and disability type has its own unique set of challenges and needs.   But as an overlooked population, Texans with disabilities and their families continue to slip through healthcare cracks across the state.   To better serve this population, Baylor University researchers have launched the Raising Texas Voices study to collect the stories of more than 4,000 Texans with disabilities, their families, and the professionals and providers who serve them.  Learn about the study, what it entails, and how it will help individuals, families, caregivers, and providers better serve Texans with ...

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Tell EPA: Protect Our Drinking Water from PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’!


Girl holding a glass of water

In 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ruled in favor of legally enforceable standards that limit toxic “forever chemicals,” also known as perfluorinated and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), in drinking water.   Human exposure to PFAS is linked to adverse health effects, such as increased cancer risk.  However, the current federal administration is revisiting the EPA’s ruling, claiming that the former administration didn’t follow proper channels to lawfully regulate the use of four key chemicals in the PFAS family, CNN reports.   The EPA’s regulatory process is underway to repeal some PFAS limitations and delay implementation of others.   Submit a model comment created by Salud America! to tell EPA to maintain protections for safe ...

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