About the Author

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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

Help Researchers Learn About the Latina Breast Cancer Experience


Female patient listening to doctor in medical office.

Despite cancer deaths declining, cancer continues to be a top cause of death among Latinos and all people in the US.   One of the most prevalent forms of cancer is breast cancer.  Every year, 240,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer in the US, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  Many of these women are Latina.  What’s more, breast cancer is the top cause of death among Latinas.   That’s one of the reasons that a researcher at Liberty University is looking for Latina breast cancer survivors to participate in a research study.  Let’s explore the research study and discover ways to contribute to research to ensure better breast cancer outcomes for Latinas and all women.  Research Study on Breast Cancer  The study aims ...

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Navigate Alzheimer’s with These Resources for Kids!


Child and grandma hug and bond in living room together

Navigating a family member’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis is difficult.  But what about some of our younger and more vulnerable family members who may lack the resources needed to open up and talk about the disease?  Otskuka, a pharmaceutical company focused on advancing patient care, is following up ion the narrative of its original video with an interactive video series geared toward helping children adjust and recognize the changes in their loved ones.   Let’s dig into the interactive video and how families can use it to engage their youngest family members.   Interactive Alzheimer’s Video  The interactive video experience Time With Josh introduces viewers to Josh, a boy who has a special relationship with his grandma, who is showing signs of memory loss.  The ...

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Report: Cancer Deaths on the Decline


Happy, sweet and sick mature female person embracing her adult daughter with a smile in outdoor garden.

While cancer continues to be a leading cause of death among those living in the US, 2001 to 2022 saw a steady drop in cancer cases, according to a the Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer.   The decline can be attributed to the decrease in incidence and deaths due to lung cancer and other cancers related to smoking, according to researchers.   Alternatively, cancers related to obesity, which is linked to an increased risk of cancer, have risen over the past 20 years. This has led to higher rates of female breast, uterus, colon and rectal, pancreatic, kidney, and liver cancers, according to the report.  Let’s break down the report and discuss what the data means for Latinos and all people.  Cancer by the Numbers  The new report, supported by the National ...

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Health Professionals: Get Up to Speed on Health Literacy with Virtual Series


Doctor explaining from digital tablet to senior couple about medical report at home - concept of technology, health care support and home consultation.

Health Confianza wants to help health professionals to address stigma, use plain language with patients, and more in its upcoming virtual health literacy series.   The series, Communicating with Confianza — A Health Literacy ECHO, is a six-part online learning experience focused on “empowering health professionals with health literacy education, resources and knowledge-sharing tools,” according to the nonprofit funded by Bexar County and located at UT Health San Antonio. The free course is open to all health professionals, including physicians, nurses, community health workers, social workers and pharmacists.  Confianza — A Health Literacy ECHO covers the following topics: Acknowledging perspectives, stigma, creating a shame-free environment, plain language, shared ...

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5 Facts You Should Know About Myopia


Checking little girl's eyesight with binocular slit lamp in ophthalmology clinic, close-up. Vision correction in children

Your eye health is important.  In fact, when left unchecked, poor eye health can lead to serious complications for your overall health and quality of life. This is especially true for children.  One of the biggest threats to eye health is myopia, or nearsightedness, which is a very common eye condition, affecting many children.  Here are five facts about Myopia you should be aware of and how to tackle them to make sure your child kicks the school year off on the right foot.  You can also donate to help families afford eye exams for their children!  1. Myopia Affects Many Children Myopia, or nearsightedness, affects 40% of people in the US, according to Cleveland Clinic.   However, the condition is rising in school-aged children. Experts anticipate that this will ...

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Share Your Cancer Story with the Avanzando Caminos Team


Avanzando Caminos team

Just like fingerprints are tailored to the individual they belong to, no two cancer survivor stories are the same. Yet, every single one is important. “Every story is unique, and every story is worth understanding and learning from,” said Dr. Derek Rodriguez. Dr. Rodriguez is the research scientist helping lead the Avanzando Caminos Hispanic/Latino Cancer Survivorship study team at the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio. Everyone’s cancer journey is different and paved with unique challenges and obstacles that define treatment, quality of life, and long-lasting health impacts, he explained. And that’s exactly what the dedicated Avanzando Caminos team is trying to get to the bottom of by collecting the stories of survivors. Let’s ...

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Celebrate National Cancer Survivors Day


National Cancer Survivors Day

Cancer survivors are more than their diagnosis. They are an example of resilience, courage, and unwavering determination brought on by a fight — well fought and won. Throughout the month of June, for National Cancer Survivors Month, we at Salud America! are honoring survivors by sharing their stories of sacrifice and triumph and focusing on ways to improve cancer outcomes for those battling the disease. To kick off the month we are celebrating National Cancer Survivors Day. Let’s explore what National Cancer Survivors Day is all about and learn about ways to participate! What is National Cancer Survivors Day? Every year National Cancer Survivors Day is celebrated on the first Sunday of June. This year it will take place on Sunday, June 1, 2025. Led by the National ...

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Let’s Talk Cancer Survivorship with Avanzando Caminos


BioMedSA Avanzando Caminos Podcast

South Texas is home to one of the largest populations of Hispanic/Latinos in the nation.   Many people in this region face challenges that jeopardize their health and make them more susceptible to risk factors and diseases, such as cancer.   These challenges can also hinder cancer care, resulting in worse cancer outcomes.  That’s why one the Avanzando Caminos Hispanic/Latino Cancer Survivorship study at UT Health San Antonio aims to address some of these issues and find ways to intervene so that survivors can have an improved quality of life.  The Avanzando Caminos study was recently highlighted in a podcast produced by Salud America! for BioMedSA, a non-profit that advances health in San Antonio.  For the podcast, Avanzando Caminos program manager and research ...

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Celebrate Mother’s Day with These Maternal Health Resources


Celebrate Mother’s Day with These Maternal Health Resources

Mother’s Day is a time to celebrate the women who raised us, cared for us, and put our needs above their own.  Now, it’s time to take care of her.  Whether you're a first-time mom or have a few kiddos under your belt, here are four health and wellness resources for mothers.   1. National Maternal Mental Health Hotline Launched on Mother’s Day 2022, the National Maternal Health Hotline is a free, 24/7, confidential hotline that supports women, before, during, and after pregnancy via phone call or text.   The hotline was designed to help combat maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity crisis in the US by connecting women to counselors, including licensed health care professionals, certified educators, and specialists.    These counselors listen to the ...

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