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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

Dr. Derek Rodriguez: Using a Personal Cancer Journey to Inspire Others to Share Theirs



From a young age, Dr. Derek Rodriguez had his heart set on attending medical school.  Everything changed when he was diagnosed with a rare form of childhood cancer at the tender age of 8. “[Medical school] was the end-all, be-all thought back in the day,” Rodriguez said. “But when I was 8 years old, I was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma. This ultimately, I felt like, set the precedent for the path in which I would pursue cancer research.”  Rodriguez’s experience with cancer would eventually lead him to a research position at UT Health San Antonio’s Institute for Health Promotion Research (IHPR), which is directed by Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez, who also leads Salud America!  Now he’s putting his dream into practice as a research scientist for the IHPR’s Avanzando ...

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27,004 People Commented on OSHA Extreme Heat Protections


Worker feels heat stress

As temperatures increase to scorching new benchmarks every year, weather experts advise people to avoid prolonged exposure to extreme heat, which can have disastrous health consequences, from heat stroke to death.  But not everyone can escape the heat’s harmful effects.  Heat can create hazardous working conditions for workers in labor-heavy outdoor industries, such as construction, maritime, and agriculture, which employs many Latinos.    To protect outdoor workers from extreme heat, the Department of Labor and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) are proposing a new rule to require employers to implement a heat emergency response and planning procedure, which includes providing water, shaded areas, and rest breaks.  “Workers all over the country ...

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The State of Marijuana Use Among Latinos


Farmer inspects cannabis plants in field.

Overuse of drugs, like marijuana, can heighten one’s risk for certain diseases, especially among vulnerable populations such as Latinos.   The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently released its annual report on the state of mental health and substance use in the US.   Based on results from the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, Key Substance Use and Mental Health Indicators in the United States covers mental health and substance use, including tobacco, alcohol, illicit drugs, and more.  In part three of our series, we’re going to explore the report and find out how the use of marijuana impacts Latinos.   Marijuana Use among Latinos  Marijuana can be consumed in many forms.  These include smoking, vaping, dabbing waxes, shatter, or ...

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First-Ever Cancer Patient Advocate Training Program Saves Seat at the Table for Latinos



Ahead of the 2024 Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos Conference, 15 Latina women from across the country came together, unified by a common thread — to become a research patient leader. This gathering, on Feb. 20, 2024, marked the first in-person meeting of the Latino Cancer Patient Advocate Training Program, a new initiative to teach cancer survivors to become research patient health leaders, who help others navigate the healthcare system and raise the Latino voice in research. Patient health leaders are critical to the goal of reducing Latino cancer disparities, said Dr. Barbara Segarra-Vázquez of the University of Puerto Rico, co-leader of the new program. “You really have to have passion to become a patient advocate,” said Segarra-Vazquez. “It’s that desire to ...

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The State of Alcohol Use Among Latinos


Depressed man sits at the table, holding hand on his head. A bottle and a glass of whiskey stand in front of him.

Overuse of alcohol is among the top risk factors for chronic diseases, especially among vulnerable populations such as Latinos.  The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently released its annual report on the state of mental health and substance use in the US.   Based on results from the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, Key Substance Use and Mental Health Indicators in the United States covers mental health and substance use, including tobacco, alcohol, illicit drugs, and more.  In part two of our series, we’re going to explore the report and find out how consumption of alcohol impacts Latinos and all people.   Alcohol Use among Latinos  Alcohol consumption and overuse is still a pervasive problem with a reported 134.7 million alcohol users aged ...

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7 Stories Driving Latino Health this Month


Trusted therapist support old man patient hold hand on shoulder

Every month the Salud America! team at the Institute of Health Promotion Research (IHPR) at UT Health San Antonio showcases the latest health news, clinical trials, research study results, and stories impacting the Latino community.     Salud America! is led by Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez.    “Our mission is to inspire people to drive change for health improvement for Latino and all families,” said Ramirez, professor and director of the IHPR at UT Health San Antonio.    In August, Salud America! helped celebrate an achievement in collaboration with Genentech, shared back to school resources, covered inequities in Latino healthcare and chronic diseases, and much more!   Let’s take a deeper dive into some of the topics, news, and stories published in July that are ...

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The State of Tobacco and Vaping Use among Latinos


Doctor snapping cigarette in half.

Use of tobacco is one of the biggest modifiable risk factors for major and chronic diseases.  The prolonged use or overuse of tobacco and nicotine continues to wreak havoc on populations, especially vulnerable populations such as Latinos, putting them at higher risk for these diseases.   The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently released its annual report on the state of mental health and substance use in the US.   Based on results from the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, Key Substance Use and Mental Health Indicators in the United States covers mental health and substance use, including tobacco, alcohol, illicit drugs, and more.  In part one of our series, we’re going to explore the report and find out how using tobacco and nicotine ...

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Study: Doctors More Likely to Use Negative Language When Referring to Latinos


Patient Latin woman meeting Caucasian doctor at hospital

Mistreatment based on background and unfair treatment are among Latinos’ biggest challenges to healthcare.   Driven by years of mistreatment, Latinos and other vulnerable groups face challenges in care and mistrust of the healthcare system.  This prompts reluctance to receive life-saving care or health screenings. Putting off care can result in a delayed diagnosis and prolonged and more expensive medical treatment for chronic diseases, such as cancer, leading to worse health outcomes.   But how widespread is mistreatment in healthcare?  Doctors are more likely to use negative language when referencing Black and Latino patients in medical records, according to a new study in JMIR Medical Informatics.   Let’s unpack the study and the meaning behind the results. ...

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Get Moving Toward a Healthier You!


Family walking in the park

Physical inactivity is one of the leading risk factors for many diseases, including cancer, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).   Physical inactivity has a 25.3% prevalence in the US, where about 60% of adults say they are physically inactive as of 2020, according to the CDC.  That’s why the CDC launched a campaign to get people moving.  Active People, Healthy Nation is striving to help 27 million Americans be more physically active by 2027 and getting 10 million adults and 2 million young people to meet the minimum aerobic physical activity guideline.  Salud America! is stepping up to help by partnering with the initiative's Moving Matters campaign to get the word out.  Let’s dig into some of the short-term and long-term benefits of regular physical ...

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