When Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez founded the Institute for Health Promotion Research (IHPR) at UT Health San Antonio in 2006, she envisioned it as a place to cultivate innovative health research and the next generation of population health leaders. 20 years later, past members of the IHPR’s team have gone on to achieve ground-breaking research, training, and other big accomplishments. Here are just a few folks we are so proud of!
Dr. Deborah Parra-Medina: From Cancer Researcher to Research Leader
Dr. Deborah Parra-Medina served as a professor at the IHPR at UT Health San Antonio from 2008 to 2016. At the IHPR, Parra-Medina led several theory-based, culturally competent research projects to increase uptake of the HPV vaccine to prevent cervical cancer and encourage healthy habits in ...
Become a politician? Work in a health ministry? As a young girl growing up in Colombia, Dr. Marcela Mazo Canola wasn’t sure exactly what she wanted to be — but she dreamed of making a difference for people. Today, Mazo Canola is helping others as a breast medical oncologist at Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio and contributing to research to improve cancer and health outcomes for Latinos and all populations. “Although I’m in a different career that I love very much, I guess I still ended up doing something similar to what I was dreaming of when I was a little girl,” she said. During Hispanic Heritage Month, Salud America! is highlighting heroes in healthcare and throughout the community who strive to make a difference. Let’s take closer look into Dr. ...
On Oct. 1, 2006, the Institute for Health Promotion Research (IHPR) was launched. This week, on Oct. 1, 2026, the IHPR will celebrate its 20th anniversary as part of the Department of Population Health Sciences in the School of Medicine at UT Health San Antonio, under the leadership of Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez. In the past two decades, the IHPR team has worked tirelessly to achieve its mission to improve the health of Latinos and all people through research, outreach, and action in South Texas and across the United States. But how did it start? Who started it? Why was it needed? Let’s answer those questions and more!
The Need for the Institute for Health Promotion Research (IHPR)
On April 17, 2006, the Task Force on Access to Health Care in Texas released a report, Code ...
“Para bailar La Bamba se necesita una poca de gracia.” There’s a strong chance you’ve heard this song, “La Bamba,” on the radio, on TV, walking through the grocery store, or somewhere else at least once in your life. While there are several different versions of this song, one of the most well-known was recorded by Ritchie Valens, a rock ‘n’ roll icon who had a short but impactful career. During Hispanic Heritage Month, Salud America! is celebrating Latino trailblazers, historical figures, and inspirational stories. This year we are highlighting the career and contributions of Ritchie Valens, a Mexican American singer and songwriter who blazed a trail for rock musicians for decades to come.
Ritchie Valens: Early Life Before Fame
Richard Steven Valenzuela ...
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 ...
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 ...
1 in 5 Latinos say that they have achieved the American dream and 33% say they are on their way to achieving it. However, 18% say the American dream is out of reach for them and 27% say it doesn’t exist at all, according to a recent analysis by Pew Research Center that focuses on U.S. Latinos’ views of the American dream and their outlook on economic mobility. Let’s look deeper into how attainable the American dream is for Latinos in the U.S.
What is the American Dream?
The American dream can be defined by many factors, including economic mobility, homeownership, and political freedoms. “About six-in-ten Hispanics tie the American dream to financial or economic factors,” according to previous surveys from the Pew Research ...
