Editor's Note: This is the story of a graduate of the 2012 Èxito! Latino Cancer Research Leadership Training program. Apply by April 1, 2013, for the 2013 Èxito! program. Aditi Wahi
Artesia, Calif. Aditi Wahi practices “empathy”—that is, she tries to put herself into other people’s shoes, whether it’s helping her younger sister cope with a rare disease or recruiting pediatric patients and their parents pre-surgery and observing the children after. Being in tune with and passionate for the people you are trying to help is a hallmark of being a strong cancer health disparities researcher, in addition to having strong methodological and other research skills. Wahi has both. She earned a bachelor’s of psychology and social behavior degree from the University of ...
Editor's Note: This is the story of a graduate of the 2012 Èxito! Latino Cancer Research Leadership Training program. Apply by April 1, 2013, for the 2013 Èxito! program. Ramon Torres
Kansas City, Kan. Ramon Conception Torres, who experienced disparities and discrimination in his home town in Puerto Rico and the U.S., can sympathize with minorities’ struggles. Growing up in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, as a vivacious child without much adult supervision, Torres often found himself in mischief. Finding grace in the eyes of a security guard, his new mentor helped him restructure his life and focusing on what was important—his life and success. Torres took his mentor’s help to heart, especially remembering his advice: “No one is going to do something for you, unless you do ...
A new video highlights Latino students and their views on not smoking. The videos, available in English and Spanish, were done by a Latino group, Manantial de Salud, a federally funded grassroots health network sponsored by the Latino Healthcare Forum in the Dove Springs neighborhood of Austin, ...
You are invited to join a webinar to learn more about how certain behaviors impact Latino cancer incidence, causes, and effects. The webinar, at 11 a.m. CST (9 a.m. PST) on Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2013, will explore the interaction of race/ethnicity, social class, acculturation, and English language fluency, and how these social constructs may interact with genetic variation and the social definition of race and ethnicity in determining cancer rates. Behavioral factors, such as tobacco use, physical activity, alcohol use and screening behavior will be discussed. The webinar is hosted by researchers of Redes En Acción, a national Latino cancer research network funded by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and directed by the Institute for Health Promotion Research (IHPR) at The UT Health ...
While the USDA works with state agencies to provide food assistance and nutrition education to low-income, members of No Mas Hambre say that Latino families continue to struggle with accessing such services. Children in the Latino community suffer the paradox of malnutrition and obesity. While 26.2% of Latino households have been identified as facing food insecurity, nearly 40% of Latino children are overweight or obese. At a recent No Mas Hambre summit in Washington D.C., government officials, non-profit, organizations, and members of the community, gathered address the issue of hunger in the Latino community. Topics discussed at the summit included: challenges to reducing food insecurity; childhood nutrition and food insecurity; the role of faith-based organization; and solutions ...
Editor's Note: This is the story of a graduate of the 2012 Èxito! Latino Cancer Research Leadership Training program. Apply by April 1, 2013, for the 2013 Èxito! program. Edgar Rodriguez
Seattle, Wash. Edgar Rodriguez, uncertain where his education would take him, was encouraged by his family to leave his native Mexico City and pursue the type of higher education that would provide him with the skills to develop a successful career. Buoyed by his family’s support and his never-give-up attitude, he successfully became a U.S. citizen and then dedicated himself to his educational career. Rodriguez earned a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from the University of New Mexico’s School of Medicine and master’s degrees in Latino American studies and public health, both from San ...
Gabriel, a part-time student with no insurance, is an acute myeloid leukemia survivor. But he hadn't had any checkups for nearly three years. Then he found LIVESTRONG cancer services, which help the uninsured with accessing medical treatments and medical devices, finding assistance with insurance denials/appeals, handling debt and financial management issues related to a cancer diagnosis, learning about resources for financial assistance, and applying for federal/state programs, such as Medicaid, Social Security, etc. "I never knew LIVESTRONG had services for young adults. It’s not like other places I’ve gone. The process was easy, and the navigator helped me find insurance that wasn’t too expensive," Gabriel said. "He connected me to an organization that could help me with ...
Check out this touching video "heart story" from a Latina, Lidia Morales. The video is from Go Red Por Tu Corazón, which celebrates the energy, passion and power Hispanic women have to band together to wipe out heart disease, one of the leading causes of Latina death. Learn more about the group in or ...
Editor's Note: This is the story of a graduate of the 2012 Èxito! Latino Cancer Research Leadership Training program. Apply by April 1, 2013, for the 2013 Èxito! program. Jeanette Mendez
Scottsdale, Ariz. Jeanette Mendez isn’t only a new mother. Mendez, who has 1-year-old daughter, is making contributions to clinical research at her job and proving that a Latina can enter motherhood and still pursue career goals. “When she was born it reminded me of my grandmother, who did pass away from cancer. It reminded me of the values she instilled in us, of always being strong,” Mendez said. “And when I had my little girl I was determined to continue my education because that was very valuable in my family. I was also determined to provide for her in such a way that my father ...
