CDC Project Firstline Micro-Learn: Measles



Infection control training and action is crucial for healthcare workers. With this in mind, check out the Infection Control Micro-Learns from the Project Firstline program of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Micro-learns are a series of guided infection control discussions that can be easily incorporated into team meetings or huddles led by an experienced team member with infection control expertise. Each micro-learn focuses on a single infection control topic and connects these concepts to immediate, practical value. Measles is one of the most contagious infectious diseases and can lead to severe illness and even death. Let’s explore the Infection Control Micro-Learns on Measles. check out the micro-learn! What Does Measles Look Like? Measles ...

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Drug Overdose and Alcohol Deaths Down Nationally


People at group therapy session indoors, closeup

Deaths due to drug overdose and alcohol misuse were down in the United States in 2023 and 2024, according to a report from Trust for America’s Health (TFAH). The data predict an unprecedented 27% one-year drop in overdose deaths, according to a TFAH press release. “The improvements are encouraging and are likely related to a number of factors including investments in primary prevention, mental health, harm reduction, and overdose prevention programs,” the report states. Let’s dig deeper into the 2025 Pain in the Nation: The Epidemics of Alcohol, Drug, and Suicide Deaths report and how it impacts others. The Decline of Drug and Alcohol Death Rates While there was an increase in drug overdoses from 2020-2022, there was an overall 4% decrease in mortality rates as of ...

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Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez Helps Study of Quality of Life During Immunotherapy Treatment


immunotherapy

Immune checkpoint inhibitors have been a game-changer in oncology. Tumors often have proteins on them that tell your immune system not to attack. Checkpoint inhibitors, which work by blocking these proteins so your immune system continues to fight the tumor, have provided new options for many people with advanced or metastatic cancer who were left with limited options. Patricia Moreno, Ph.D., lead of Evidence-Based Survivorship Supportive Care at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, points out that these new drugs come with unique side effects that experts still need to understand better. The National Cancer Institute has awarded Dr. Moreno, a member of Sylvester’s Cancer Control Program, and co-investigators Jose ...

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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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Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez Named to Susan G. Komen Scientific Advisory Board


Amelie-Ramirez-of-UT-Health-San-Antonio Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez Susan G. Komen Scientific Advisory Board

Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez, leader of Salud America! and the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio, was named to Susan G. Komen's Scientific Advisory Board. Komen's 10-member Scientific Advisory Board provides strategic guidance and direction for its research and scientific programs. It also plays a key role in guiding and prioritizing Komen’s global research investment and serves as the executive committee of the Komen Scholars. Dr. Ramirez's appointment is effective April 1, 2025. “I am honored to serve on Susan G. Komen's Scientific Advisory Board. I look forward to being a part of Komen’s extensive activities to address breast cancer and the non-medical drivers of health among people of all backgrounds," Ramirez said. Dr. Ramirez & Her Health ...

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Seniors, Are You Following the New COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations?


Senior women getting a vaccine

As we continue to deal with COVID-19, the seniors in many of our familias are still at high risk for the virus’ serious health impacts. Between 2020 and 2025, seniors ages 65 and older were among those with the highest rates of death due to COVID-19, accounting for 936,523, or 76%, of all COVID-19 deaths in the US, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). While the introduction of the COVID-19 vaccine has significantly slowed and reduced cases, many seniors remain burdened by complications from the virus for several reasons. These include vaccine hesitancy, challenges to vaccine access, and the spread of incorrect information about the vaccine. That’s why our friends at CVEEP are reminding seniors and other immunocompromised individuals ...

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Big Drop in Routine Cancer Screenings, Survey Shows


Cancer Screening

Getting routine screenings and medical appointments can help prevent cancer, or catch it at earlier, more treatable stages. However, only 51% of U.S. adults age 21 and older say they have had a routine medical appointment or routine cancer screening in the last year, according to the 2025 Early Detection Survey from the Prevent Cancer Foundation. This number is a 10%-point drop compared to the 2024 Early Detection Survey. “While the precise reason for the change remains unclear, top reasons survey participants cited for falling behind on their routine cancer screenings center on [incorrect information or confusion],” according to the Prevent Cancer Foundation. Let’s look into the survey and learn more about how this impacts families and communities. Reasons for a Lack ...

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