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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

National Latino Physician Day: Spotlighting Healthcare, Education


National Latino Physician Day 2024

Latinos currently make up 19.5% of the US population.  Yet only 7% of physicians are Latino, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).  What’s more, only 2% of the 7% are Latina, according to the publication Latina Women in the U.S. Physician Workforce. Having Latinos in medicine is vital to achieve better health outcomes for all patients, including Latinos.  This glaring difference can increase instances of mistreatment or negative perceptions, delay preventative care, influence what kind of treatment someone receives, and cause a stronger mistrust of the healthcare system – all of which can disastrously impact Latino health.   During Hispanic Heritage Month we are honoring Latino physicians on National Latino Physician Day, Oct. 1, to ...

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11 ‘Must See’ Movies that Celebrate Latino History and Culture


Three generation family family sitting on the sofa in living room, watching TV and eating popcorn

When you look up at the movie screen, what do you see?  Do you see someone who looks like you? Do you see someone you can relate to? Do you hear someone who speaks like you do?  Everyone deserves to be the hero of the story, but for decades Latinos and Latino stories have been often left out by Hollywood.  However, some stories have come along to break the mold and rewrite what it means to be a Latino in the film industry.   Pioneers have given Latino movie creators and artists pathways to come up with stories that celebrate and honor the strength of Latino culture.  These stories offer a deeper insight into the Latino experience and the challenges many must overcome to reach their dreams.  From animated box office hits that uplift to biopics that inspire, here are ...

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State of Illicit Drug Use Among Latinos


Drug and alcohol addict sitting alone

Illicit drug use continues to be a pervasive problem in the US.   Use of illicit drugs can have disastrous health consequences, especially for vulnerable populations like Latinos, and can lead to premature death.  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, illicit drugs, and more.  So far, we have covered alcohol, tobacco and vaping, and marijuana use among Latinos.  In the next part of our series, we’re going to explore the report and find out how using illicit drugs ...

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National Hispanic/Latino Family Cancer Awareness Week


Happy Hispanic family outdoors in country

Cancer continues as a top cause of death for Latinos.   In 2021, cancer caused the deaths of 23,800 Latino men and 22,700 Latinas, according to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA).   Cases of Latino cancer are expected to rise by 142% in the coming years.  That is why FDA is raising cancer awareness and promoting Latino clinical trial participation by holding its first-ever National Hispanic/Latino Family Cancer Awareness Week during Hispanic Heritage Month.  What is National Hispanic/Latino Family Cancer Awareness Week?  The week of Sept. 20-26, 2024, will serve as the inaugural National Hispanic/Latino Family Cancer Awareness Week.  The new observance, led by the FDA’s Oncology Center of Excellence Project Community,  focuses on engaging community-based ...

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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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