Hispanic Heritage Month is here! This annual U.S. observance, from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, celebrates the histories and contributions of Americans whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. We at Salud America! invite you to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month in these 31 awesome ways.
1. Learn How Hispanic Heritage Month Began
U.S. Congressmen Edward R. Roybal of Los Angeles and Henry B. Gonzales were among those who introduced legislation on the topic in 1968. President Lyndon Johnson implemented the observance as Hispanic Heritage Week that year. Did you know which U.S. President turned it from Hispanic Heritage Week to Hispanic Heritage Month? Learn more here.
2. Find Out Why Hispanic Heritage Month Starts on Sept. 15
Sept. ...
At Salud America!, we're excited to discuss health during Hispanic Heritage Month! This annual U.S. observance, from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, celebrates the histories, backgrounds and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America and Latin America.
How Did Hispanic Heritage Month Start?
U.S. Congressmen George E. Brown and Edward R. Roybal of Los Angeles, and Henry B. Gonzales, were among those who introduced legislation on the topic in 1968. President Lyndon Johnson implemented the observance as Hispanic Heritage Week that year. U.S. Rep. Esteban E. Torres of Pico Rivera proposed the observance be expanded to cover a 31-day period. President Ronald Reagan implemented the expansion to Hispanic Heritage ...
Only 30% of Latino adults have earned an associate degree or higher, compared to about 50% of all adults, according to a new data from Excelencia in Education. “Enrollment gains have not translated into closing gaps in degree attainment — a persistent gap documented,” according to Excelencia in Education. Let’s dive deeper into degree attainment and why it matters for Latinos and all people.
Latino Degree Attainment by the Numbers
There’s some good news in Latino degree attainment. Latino attainment of an associate degree or higher increased by 8 percentage points and bachelor’s degree attainment increased by 6 percentage points, according to the new data. Despite this progress, Latinos have the lowest levels of ...
Less than half of the 2.25 million adults in the US who live with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) were part of government programs that helped people receive assistance, such as Medicaid and Medicare. To ensure healthcare providers can connect people to much-needed services, join UT Health San Antonio’s webinar, “From Healthcare to Policy—Exploring Medicaid and Medicare Access for Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD),” at 2 p.m. Central on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. Webinar host Dr. Amelie Ramirez, leader of Salud America! and the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio, will join experts from the National Hispanic Health Foundation (NHHF), a representative from Genentech, and ...
Latinos account for 1 in 5 people in the United States. Among this group, most Latinos say their heritage is an important part of their identity, according to a recent report from the Pew Research Center. In fact, 61% of Latinos said that “being Hispanic is an extremely or very important part of how they think about themselves,” according to a survey of 4,923 U.S. Latino adults in English and Spanish from October 2025. Even with this identity, Latinos are divided over whether it helps or hurts them. So, let’s dive deeper into the new survey and what it means for Latinos in the United States.
Latino Identity: Labels and Names
Among U.S. Latinos, 18% most often describe themselves as “American.” The remaining Latinos more often use a label that reflects their ...
While screen time can have some benefits, evidence is mounting of high risks to children’s mental and physical health, according to a new advisory from the U.S. Surgeon General. That is why the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is proposing to refine two objectives to further limit screen time as part of Healthy People 2030. The refinements are to increase the proportion of children ages 2-5 who get no more than 1 hour of screen time a day and increase the proportion of parents who follow American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations on limiting screen time for children ages 6-17. They’re also proposing to add three new objectives. You can comment on the changes by emailing HP2030Comment@hhs.gov. Or you can endorse a comment from Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez, ...
South Texas populations face many challenges when it comes to bone cancer. A new presentation, “Bone Cancer Awareness,” is seeking to shed light on this issue. The presentation at 11 a.m. central time Friday, July 17, 2026, features Dr. Jospeh Alderete, an orthopedic oncologist at UT Health San Antonio. The presentation is part of the “Every Cancer, Every Story: A Series of Conversations” webinar series, a collaboration of the Mid Rio Grande Border Area Health Education Center (AHEC) and Mays Cancer Center Office of Community Outreach and Engagement (COE) at UT Health San Antonio. register for the presentation!
About Dr. Joseph Alderete
COL (Ret.) Joseph F. Alderete Jr., MD, FAOA, is a limb restoration expert at UT Health San Antonio. Dr. Alderete serves as ...
Just north of the Mexico-California border, the San Ysidro community is where nearly 1 in 5 people enter the U.S. by land to work, shop, learn, and see family. The result is a dynamic cultural exchange and a vibrant binational economic hub. Yet amid the hustle and bustle, environmental change has crept into this predominantly Latino community, adding pollution from heavy traffic, sewage contamination, and more. That is why community members came together to protect and educate their neighbors, leading to accomplishments in environmental justice that are chronicled in English and Spanish “story maps” by Community Voices for Action, a storytelling project from the AAMC Center for Health Justice. Let’s explore how community power led to a big change.
What Is Environmental ...
South Texas faces many challenges when it comes to brain cancer, such as struggles with non-medical drivers of health like housing, food, and transportation. To help your family and community deal with this issue, join a new presentation, “Brain Cancer Awareness,” at 11 a.m. Central on June 18, 2026. The presentation will feature Dr. Andrew Brenner, a brain health expert and professor of medicine at UT Health San Antonio. He will discuss what brain cancer is, risks and myths, recognizing symptoms, and the importance of early intervention. The presentation is part of the “Every Cancer, Every Story: A Series of Conversations” webinar series, a collaboration of the Mid Rio Grande Border Area Health Education Center (AHEC) and Mays Cancer Center Office of Community Outreach ...
92 People Endorsed Dr. Amelie Ramirez’s Comment to Limit Children’s Screen Time in Healthy People 2030
While screen time can have some benefits, evidence is mounting of high risks to children’s mental and physical health, according to a new advisory from the U.S. Surgeon General. That is why the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is proposing to refine two objectives to further limit screen time as part of Healthy People 2030. The refinements are to increase the proportion of children ages 2-5 who get no more than 1 hour of screen time a day and increase the proportion of parents who follow American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations on limiting screen time for children ages 6-17. They’re also proposing to add three new objectives. You can comment on the changes by emailing HP2030Comment@hhs.gov. Or you can endorse a comment from Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez, ...
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