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. ...
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 ...
Among all the people in Texas, 12.1% have a disability, according to data from the 2024 American Community Survey (ACS) via the Texas Workforce Investment Council. But who makes up the disabled population? Which disabilities are the most prevalent and in which communities? What resources are available to these individuals, their families, and caregivers? Let’s explore the answers to reveal the state of Texans with disabilities.
Demographic Data: State of Texans with Disabilities
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines disability as a condition that impairs either the body or the mind, making it more difficult to perform day-to-day activities or tasks. There are many different classifications of disability, including vision, ...
In November 2024, Texas Governor Greg Abbott executed a new policy via executive order directing state hospitals to ask patients about their citizenship status and report responses to Texas Health and Human Services. The policy was a response to the increasing number of undocumented individuals getting health care at hospitals, claiming that it created a financial burden on Texas taxpayers. As a result of this policy, Texas hospitals are seeing fewer undocumented individuals, according to a recent analysis by The Texas Tribune. Let’s review the data and what it means for Latino health care across Texas.
Undocumented Immigrant Hospital Visits in Texas
Prior to the executive order, Texas hospitals received 30,000 visits from undocumented immigrants, according to the ...
There are now 631 colleges and universities registered as Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) across 29 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. This is an increase over the 602 reported last year, according to a new report from ¡Excelencia in Education!. HSIs are defined as “accredited, degree-granting public or private not-for-profit institutions of higher education with 25% or more total undergraduate Hispanic full-time equivalent student (FTE) enrollment.” Let’s explore what this means and how it impacts students.
By the Numbers: Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs)
HSIs represent 21% of all colleges and universities but enroll 65% of Latino and 32% of all undergraduates, according to ¡Excelencia in Education!. The graduation rate for HSIs include 67% of ...
April is National Parkinson’s Awareness Month, a great time to share helpful resources that can spread awareness about Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s affects more than 1.1 million people in the U.S. and is the second-most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer's disease. With this in mind, let’s learn more about Parkinson’s, how it impacts patients and families, and resources to share during Parkinson’s Awareness Month.
What Is Parkinson’s Disease?
Parkinson’s disease is defined as a “type of neurologic movement disorder, affecting the brain and causing difficulty with movements, or motor symptoms.” While Parkinson’s can be characterized by its most common motor symptoms like tremors, stiffness or rigidity of the muscles, and slowness of ...
The Institute for Integration of Medicine & Science (IIMS) and the College for Health, Community, and Policy (HCaP) at UT San Antonio wants to fund a new batch of one-year Community Engagement Small Project Grants. The grants aim to help promote, develop, and expand community- academic research partnerships for the translation of science from basic discovery to clinical practice, to that benefit public health, according to the 2026 funding announcement. Last year’s grants enabled seven teams of researchers to translate scientific findings to benefit public health in San Antonio. These projects covered topics such as gun violence prevention, neurofeedback and childhood creativity, environmental lead hazards, and more. Now your team could be the next ones to ...
Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez, leader of Salud America! and cancer health researcher at the Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio, has been selected for the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Hispanic Council on Aging (NHCOA). The award honors individuals who have "demonstrated a significant and lasting impact on improving the lives of older adults, particularly Hispanic older adults," by promoting health and building healthy communities. Ramirez received the award at the 2025 NHCOA Awards Ceremony on Dec. 18, 2025, in Washington, D.C. Watch the livestream of the award ceremony. "I am truly humbled to be selected," Ramirez said. "NHCOA’s work is deeply meaningful, and to be recognized by an organization so dedicated to advancing the well-being and dignity of our ...
The Salud America! program, led by Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez of UT Health San Antonio, has received the National Health Award from the National Association of Medical Spanish (NAMS) and the Medical Organization for Latino Advancement (MOLA). The award was given during the MOLA-NAMS Annual Conference in November 2025 in San Antonio. "I am truly humbled and honored to accept this recognition on behalf of our Salud America! program, and the countless storytellers, community leaders, and cancer survivors who walk with us on this journey toward better health for all people," Ramirez said. Ramirez launched Salud America! in 2007 to create data-driven news report, role model stories, and action opportunities for better health for all. "Thanks to our passionate team and network, we’ve ...
