The Institute for Integration of Medicine & Science (IIMS) and the UTSA College of Health, Community and Policy announced the winners of the 2026 IIMS Community Engagement Small Project Grants program. Seven community-academic partnerships from South Texas, focused on topics from men’s health to caregiving, each have been awarded a $5,000 grant. The aim is to translate research into public health benefits. Grants are available to newly developed or current partnerships with projects focused on research/assessment, education/training, and/or dissemination/communication of research results, program features, or policy implications.
Dr. Erika Brigmon, Gabrielle Capesius, and Lacy Lichtenhan
“Arts for Justice: The Story of Firearm-related Violence from a Youth ...
by Arnoldo Rodriguez Para la mayoría de las personas, septiembre es simplemente la frontera entre el verano y el otoño. Pero para quienes hemos sido tocados por el cáncer, es un mes de gran peso. Para mí, ese peso se duplica. Septiembre es a la vez el Mes de Concientización sobre el Cáncer de Próstata y el Mes de Concientización sobre el Cáncer de la Sangre. Como sobreviviente tanto de cáncer de próstata como de linfoma folicular, este mes siempre llega con una compleja mezcla de emociones. Actúa como un doble espejo, obligándome a mirar atrás hacia las luchas distintas y agotadoras de dos diagnósticos completamente diferentes. Reaviva los fantasmas de ansiedades pasadas, el frío clínico de las salas de tratamiento y la profunda vulnerabilidad de ser paciente. Ese ...
by Arnoldo Rodriguez For most people, September is simply the boundary between summer and autumn. But for those of us whose lives have been touched by cancer, it is a month of heavy significance. For me, that weight is doubled. September is both Prostate Cancer Awareness Month and Blood Cancer Awareness Month. As a survivor of both prostate cancer and follicular lymphoma, this month always arrives with a complex rush of emotions. It acts as a double mirror, forcing me to look back at the distinct, grueling struggles of two entirely different diagnoses. It reawakens the ghosts of past anxieties, the clinical chill of treatment rooms, and the profound vulnerability of being a patient. That is the bitter side of September—the visceral reminder of what was endured. If you are ...
Heart disease is the top cause of death among U.S. Latinos. In addition, data shows widening gaps in hypertension control, obesity, and diabetes among Hispanic populations, heightening their risk of heart disease and stroke, according to a new scientific statement by the American Heart Association (AHA). "Advancing cardiovascular and [fair] health will require developing a deeper understanding of the unique drivers of cardiovascular disease within ... Hispanic communities, addressing barriers such as language and insurance access, and implementing culturally tailored interventions and policies," according to AHA's scientific statement. Let's explore AHA's statement and some ways to take action during Hispanic Heritage Month.
Heart Issues among Latinos
AHA's scientific statement ...
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 make sure caregivers and families can connect to much-needed services, join UT Health San Antonio’s webinar, “How to Support Caregivers and Families of Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD),” at 6 p.m. Central on Thursday, Nov. 5, 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 organizations working to improve quality of life for ...
For Claudia Perez-Favela, cancer has always been the elephant in the room. Claudia has seen her Latino family members endure cancer and even perish from the disease over the years. Yet they never openly shared their experiences. “In my family, cancer is like the flu,” she said. Because cancer is such a taboo subject in her family, when Claudia got cervical cancer from the HPV virus, she couldn’t turn to her family for support. “They are gonna say ... I got cancer because I did something wrong ... we don’t talk about cancer,” she said. Instead of staying silent, Claudia shook off the stigma behind her diagnosis and started to share her story and challenge the harmful falsehoods behind HPV so women like her can stay informed against ...
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 ...
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 ...
