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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

More Screen Time Linked to Higher Risk for Heart Disease in Children


Child in bed at night with a book and a smartphone in the dark. Concept of problems with mobile addiction at young ages. Child with sleeping problems and insomnia due to the use of electronic devices

There’s a lot of good that’s come out of the digital age, including telehealth, which allows physicians to meet with their patients from a distance.  However, the digital age can also pose health risks, especially for young children.   Excessive screen time in children is linked to a higher risk for heart-related complications, including heart disease, according to a new study by the American Heart Association.  Let’s go over the study’s key findings and find ways to determine what’s a healthy amount of screen time for your loved ones.   Key Study Findings: Screen Time and Heart Disease Risk  The study examined excessive screen use using data from a group of 10-year-olds in 2010 and a group of 18-year-olds in 2000, according to the study news release.  To ...

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National Latino Physician Day: Let’s Improve Health for All!


National Latino Physician Day

Latinos continue to be a growing population in the US.   However, at 19.5% of the population, Latinos only comprise 6% of all physicians, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).  Fewer Latino physicians to meet the growing population can lead to worse health outcomes for Latinos, who rely on physicians that look and sound like them to build trusting patient-doctor relationships.   To shine a light on this issue, National Latino Physician Day occurs every Oct. 1 during Hispanic Heritage Month to honor Latino physicians and share the need for more.  Let’s go over how National Latino Physician Day came to be and why Latino physicians are integral for closing the gap on health differences for Latinos and all people.   How Did National Latino ...

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7 Key Trends Shaping the Future of Cancer Research


Female Doctors Talking In Medical Research Center And Using Desktop Computer To Analyze MRI Scans Of Brain. Surgeon And Neuroscientist Discussing Solutions For Treating Cancer.

Cancer death rates have dropped 34% over the past three decades, saving the lives of more than 4.5 million people.  And it’s all thanks to cancer research.   Research is the foundation of critical public health efforts, including prevention, screenings, and advancements in cancer treatment, according to the latest progress report on cancer from the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR).   Every year the AACR puts out its progress report to discuss the latest achievements in research while keeping a watchful eye on the future, including the need for ongoing scientific research to one day eradicate cancer.   Here are 7 key takeaways from the report and how it will impact the future of cancer research.  1. The Number of Survivors is Projected to Rise Between ...

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San Antonio: Learn How to Navigate the Intricacies of Cancer Treatment (En Español)!


A young woman is warmly embracing an older woman who wears stylish glasses, showcasing a heartwarming moment filled with affection

Blood Cancer United, formerly known as the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), is hosting a free Spanish-language event in San Antonio to educate and empower those in the community to learn about cancer types that affect Latinos.   The event, “Aprendiendo Sobre Los Cánceres Que Afectan a Los Latinos y Cómo Enfrentarlos,” is set for 5-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025, at Paesanos Lincoln Heights, located at 555 E. Basse Road, San Antonio, TX 78209.  Dinner is free! Registration is required.  REGISTER FOR THE EVENT! About the Event on Latino Cancer  Latinos are a dynamic, rising population.   But cancer threatens the future health of Latinos and the entire U.S. population.  The Spanish-language cancer event in San Antonio will cover topics about:  ...

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Joaquin Castro: How His Cancer Battle Fuels His Fight for Health Investment


Joaquin Castro Hispanic Heritage Month

Cancer is not a disease that happens overnight.   It often creeps up slowly, silently, and without warning — revealing itself in some of the most unlikely ways.  That’s exactly what happened to U.S. Congress Rep. Joaquin Castro.  Amid a car accident involving a Spanish boar in Spain, Castro received some devastating news — he had neuroendocrine cancer.  While a treatable form of cancer, Castro won’t get to ring the bell signaling the end of his treatment.   For Castro, treatment continues at UT Health San Antonio.  "Unless something changes, I’ll have cancer for the rest of my life, but thankfully, and hopefully, cancer won’t take my life,” he said during an address to the 2024 Advancing Cancer Research for Latinos And All Populations ...

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Rita Moreno: First Latina EGOT Winner and Acting Trailblazer


Rita Moreno

For over 70 years, Rita Moreno has dazzled audiences with charm, wit, and humor on the stage and big and small screens.  But Rita is so much more than the characters she portrays.  The only thing film gets right is that Rita is as larger-than-life as her characters.  But before she was Rita Moreno, the actress sashaying on the set of the movie musical West Side Story, she was Rosa Dolores Alverío, a young Puerto Rican girl with dreams of making it into movies.  “Nobody said I was going to be a star someday. Especially not in this country. I was just a Puerto Rican child. But I knew I was going to be very active in show business. I loved it,” she told TIME.  From Puerto Rico to New York City  Born in 1931, Rita had an upbringing that many immigrants could relate ...

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Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by Sharing Your Cancer Survivorship Story


Avanzando Caminos Banner

Hispanic Heritage Month is a month when we celebrate the milestones and achievements of Hispanic and Latinos.  Some of those individuals overcame countless hurdles, such as health issues, societal unfairness, and mistreatment to carve out a better path for future generations.  One of the ways we honor the past is to preserve the future.   Hispanic/Latino cancer survivors can honor those who came before them by paving the way for future survivors by joining the Avanzando Caminos Hispanic/Latino Cancer Survivorship Study at UT Health San Antonio.  JOIN AVANZANDO CAMINOS! What Is the Avanzando Caminos Study?  The Avanzando Caminos Hispanic/Latino Cancer Survivorship Study takes a deeper look at some of the factors that survivors experience that may influence long-term ...

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4 Guidelines You Should Follow to Protect Outdoor Workers from the Heat


Tired Sweating Construction Worker On Building Site Under Sunlight

Year after year, scorching temperatures rock countries across the globe.  With the last few summers some of the hottest on record, weather and health experts alike are warning people about the dangers of prolonged exposure to heat.  The World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) are advising individuals, organizations, and companies on how to navigate the heat waves.  The latest guidance and report issued by the organizations focuses on the health and safety of manual laborers, particularly outdoor workers, who are exposed to heat conditions.  “Heat stress is already harming the health and livelihoods of billions of workers,” said Dr Jeremy Farrar, WHO Assistant Director-General, Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Care. ...

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Dr. Derek Rodriguez Shares Passion for Research Following Childhood Cancer Diagnosis


Derek Rodriguez

Since coming to the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio, research scientist Dr. Derek Rodriguez has gotten to live his dream.   From a young age, Derek had dreams of becoming a doctor and attending medical school.  That dream took a turn when his health did.   At 8 years old, he was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare form of childhood cancer.  Derek’s experience inspired him to pursue cancer research and ultimately led him to a position with the university, where he serves as program manager for the Avanzando Caminos study, which aims to improve the Latino cancer survivorship journey.  “I am now serving my community as well as those that are cancer survivors, so it’s pretty much a full circle moment,” he told Salud ...

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