We appreciate the doctors who take care of us and our familias. National Women in Medicine Day, which on Sept. 17 during Hispanic Heritage Month, aims to recognize, celebrate, and amplify the women who are making a difference across medicine and healthcare. We at Salud America! are excited to observe National Women in Medicine Day by highlighting seven of our favorite Latina physicians and health leaders!
1. Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez is an internationally recognized health researcher at UT Health San Antonio. Here, she is professor and chair of the Department of Population Health Sciences and director of the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio. She also is associate director of cancer outreach and engagement at the Mays ...
Our life experiences can shape who we are and what we strive to be in the future. This can certainly be said about Dr. Antonia Novello, the first woman and Latina to be appointed as Surgeon General in the United States. During Hispanic Heritage Month, Salud America! is celebrating Latino trailblazers, historical figures, and inspirational stories. This year we are recognizing Dr. Antonia Novello, a physician and public health administrator with a strong legacy for promoting health for all.
What Was Early Life Like for Antonia Novello?
Antonia Novello was born Antonia Coello in 1944 in Fajardo, Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As the eldest of 3 siblings, Novello experienced health challenges early in her life. “As a child, Novello ...
It’s Hispanic Heritage Month! One of the best ways to honor Hispanic Heritage Month from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 every year is by honoring yourself – including maintaining your brain health. Follow these nine ways to support brain health for Hispanic Heritage Month.
1. Familiarize Yourself with Cognitive Decline Risk Factors
Several lifestyle and health factors can impact your risk for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. It’s important to familiarize yourself with these risk factors so you can make the changes needed to improve your brain health. Here’s how you can lower your risk for cognitive decline: Maintain a healthy body weight Protect your head from traumatic brain injuries by wearing protective gear Support a more ...
Latinos are a dynamic, rising population. But who makes up this population? How big it it, where is it, and what is it like? For Hispanic Heritage Month, let's explore some important facts and figures about the population that is often referred to as Latino or Hispanic.
1. The U.S. Latino Population Is Large
Latinos rose rising to 20% of the U.S. population for the first time this past year, according to the U.S. Census. U.S. Latinos grew from 65 million in 2023 to 68 million in 2024, “The U.S. Latino population has almost doubling in size since 2000, according to Pew Research Center.
2. The U.S. Latino Population Is Mostly of Mexican Origin
Among Latino, people of Mexican origin are the largest single group represented in the U.S. at 57% (40 million) in 2024, according ...
Whether it’s in hospitals and clinics, out in the community, or online, there are many Salud Heroes who have helped improve health for all the people in their communities. During Hispanic Heritage Month, Salud America! recognizes figures both throughout history and today who serve as health role models. Let’s look at 10 Salud Heroes who have championed Latino health.
1. Dr. Jose Celso Barbosa
Dr. José Celso Barbosa Alcalá, also known as José Celso Barbosa, was the first Afro-Latino to obtain a medical degree in the United States. Born in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, Barbosa valued education. He graduated in 1880 from the University of Michigan Medical School as the valedictorian of his class, becoming the first Puerto Rican to earn a medical degree in the continental ...
With cancer still a top health threat, UT Health San Antonio leaders and national cancer experts have published an online book with innovative recommendations to reduce cancer among Latinos and all people. The book, “Advancing Cancer Research for Latinos and All Populations: 2026 Conference Proceedings,” highlights results of the same-named conference that brought 350 researchers, advocates, and survivors to San Antonio in February 2026. A follow-up conference is planned for Feb. 23-25, 2028, in San Antonio. Included in the book are promising research findings on Latino cancer and strategies for new research covering the entire cancer continuum. This includes advances in genetics, prevention, screening, detection, treatment, survivorship, and policy, said Dr. Amelie ...
Cancer is a threat to the health of Latinos and all people. That’s why Dr. Amelie Ramirez, director of Salud America! and the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio, partnered with the Mays Cancer Center to create the Advancing Cancer Research for Latinos and All Populations (ACRLP) biennial conference series. On Feb. 18-20, 2026, the newest ACRLP conference welcomed over 350 prominent researchers, physicians, healthcare professionals, patient advocates, and students from across the globe to address cancer among Latinos and all people in San Antonio, Texas. Conference sponsors included: Genentech, Bristol Myers Squibb, Gilead, Revolution Medicine, Natera, AstraZeneca (platinum); Blood Cancer United, Menarini Stemline, Eli Lilly (gold); National ...
It’s Hispanic Heritage Month and we are honoring the pioneers, activists, silver screen darlings, and songstresses who put their unique stamp on Hispanic historia and the lasting impact they’ve had on Latino community. Here are 9 icons who influenced Latino culture and inspired future generations to continue their legacy.
Rita Moreno
Rita Moreno danced and sang her way into our hearts with her role in the movie musical West Side Story. Before stepping into the spotlight, there was no one that looked or sounded like her on screen. “I had no real role model. There was nobody that I could look up to and say that’s somebody like me. There was no such person. Which is probably why I’m now known in my community as La Pionera, ‘the ...
Before stepping into the cancer advocacy and support space, the only thing José Adorno knew about cancer was that it killed people and he hated it.
It started when on a vacation.
He had met some family friends, and their daughter had given birth to a baby girl.
“Her sister had given birth to this little baby ... and she had cancer when [her baby] was not even two years old,” he recalled. “She passed away a few months after her diagnosis. [The] mom couldn't even carry [her baby] at times because she was in so much pain, so that's the picture of cancer that I had in my head ... just how ugly it can get.”
José’s perception of cancer changed when he was unexpectedly offered a position to help Spanish-speaking cancer patients find resources they needed to keep up with ...
