Watch: Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez on the Importance of Cancer Screening for Latinos


Chasing Cancer Screening Amelie Ramirez Washington Post

Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez, leader of Salud America! at UT Health San Antonio, joined The Washington Post's live show to share how cancer screening can help patients get diagnosed and treated earlier The show, "Chasing Cancer: The Path Forward," sponsored by AstraZeneca, took place Nov. 8, 2023. In the first part of of the show, Renee Wegrzyn, director of the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), and Eric Topol, executive vice president of Scripps Research, discussed how technological advancements and AI are changing how cancer is diagnosed and treated. In the second part of the show, Ramirez teamed with Dr. Gladys I. Rodriguez, a medical oncologist with the START Center for Cancer Care, to discuss innovative initiatives make it easier to access early screenings, ...

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Adan Reinosa: Colorectal Cancer Survivor Pays it Forward with Study Participation


Adan Reinosa Rivera NCI colorectal cancer survivor - featured

Colorectal cancer is a leading cause of cancer death among people of Hispanic and Latino descent in the United States. Adan Reinosa Rivera, a retired electrical engineer in Los Angeles, is doing his part to change that. Mr. Reinosa has been living with metastatic colorectal cancer for more than a decade. The cancer was detected in his lungs a few months after a tumor was removed from his colon. He’s been managing the disease with his doctor ever since. Now, as the first participant in a genetic study called ENLACEExit Disclaimer, Mr. Reinosa is helping to build a body of knowledge about the molecular features of colorectal cancers in Hispanic and Latino people. The study, supported by the Cancer MoonshotSM, aims to learn more about the disease in people of Hispanic and ...

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#SaludTues Tweetchat 11/7/2023: How to Help Latino Caregivers Support Loved Ones Who Have Alzheimer’s or Cancer



Nearly 7 million U.S. Latinos provide unpaid care to aging or older relatives.   Many Latinos are expected to take on the respectable, but high-stress, role and often don’t consider themselves as caregivers.   How can we ensure that caregivers along with their loved ones are receiving the help and support that they need?   Let’s use #SaludTues on Nov. 7, 2023, to explore the important roles that caregivers take on along with how we can better support them and their loved ones.  WHAT: #SaludTues: How to Help Latino Caregivers Support Loved Ones Who Have Alzheimer’s or Cancer    TIME/DATE: 1-2 p.m. EST (Noon-1 p.m. CST), Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023.   WHERE: On Twitter (X) with hashtag #SaludTues  HOST: Salud America! at UT Health San Antonio ...

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Latina Wage Gap Hurts Breast Cancer Outcomes, Survivorship


latina wage gap

Latinas make, on average, 52 cents for every $1 that white, non-Hispanic men make. This historic pay gap has worsened over time and contributes to poor health, especially in Latinas with expensive, chronic conditions, such as breast cancer. Breast cancer is one of the most expensive cancers to treat. It also happens to be the most diagnosed cancer and leading cause of cancer death among Latinas. In honor of Latina Equal Pay Day (Oct. 5, 2023) and Breast Cancer Awareness Month (October), we’re highlighting how Latina equal pay negatively impacts Latina breast cancer health outcomes and survivorship. Why Does the Latina Wage Gap Exist? Women in general earn 82% of what men earn. The reasons for this wage gap are multifaceted, according to Pew Research. Half of US ...

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Surviving Is Not Enough: New Study to Boost Mental Abilities in Cancer Survivors


yoga latina hispanic mindfulness mental abilities in cancer survivors

A big challenge for cancer survivors is a disruption in "cognitive functioning." Stress can contribute to lapses in attention, memory, and other mental abilities that can limit a survivor's daily activities and ability to work. To help, researchers from UT Health San Antonio and UT San Antonio will test a 6-month therapeutic Yoga program — along with supportive text messages and dietary guidance — to improve cognitive functioning in 35 Latina and 35 non-Latina breast cancer survivors. The pilot project, "Surviving is Not Enough: Enhancing Cognitive Function in Cancer Survivors through Movement and Introspection," is led by Dr. Daniel Carlos Hughes, a researcher at the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio, and Dr. Joseph Houpt, professor of ...

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We’re Hiring a Research Scientist!


ihpr research scientist senio job position ut health san antonio

Are you passionate about public health? The Institute for Health Promotion Research (IHPR) at UT Health San Antonio — home to the Salud America! program — is seeking a qualified senior research scientist with expertise in public health research. The position will focus on two IHPR projects: Avanzando Caminos (Leading Pathways): The Hispanic/Latino Cancer Survivorship Study Avanzando Equidad de Salud: Latino Cancer Health Equity Research Center Apply here for the senior research scientist position. “Our goal is to find a passionate research scientist who can help us plan, coordinate, analyze, and produce scientific content for clinical and regulatory documents on these two important research projects,” said Dr. Amelie Ramirez, director of the IHPR and chair of ...

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Busting Cancer Myths in 9 Different Languages


cancer myths

“Don’t stand too close to a microwave – you’ll get cancer!” “You use antiperspirants? Don’t you know that causes cancer?” We’ve all heard these claims. But are they true? Thanks to the Cancer FactFinder, an online resource examining myths and misinformation about cancer, you can determine what is fact and what is fiction. The Cancer FactFinder Led by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Zhu Family Center for Global Cancer Prevention, and the Center for Cancer Equity & Engagement, the Cancer FactFinder provides accurate and reliable information about what does and does not cause cancer. The resource is available in 9 different languages, including English and Spanish, because health misinformation affects everyone, especially Latinos. Users ...

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Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez to Help Lead $46 Million NIH Project to Move Discoveries into Practice


amelie ramirez ut health san antonio Clinical and Translational Science Awards CTSA

UT Health San Antonio, including Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez, and seven regional collaborators will leverage $46 million from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) over the next five to seven years to translate scientific discoveries into therapeutic benefits for human health and well-being. A key focus will be reducing health disparities among Latinos (particularly Mexican Americans), active military personnel, and veterans. Dr. William L. Henrich, president of UT Health San Antonio, recently announced the funding from the NIH Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) Program. Henrich thanked partners including The University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School and College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at San Antonio and the Texas Biomedical Research Institute for ...

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8 Big Reasons Liver Cancer Hurts Latinos



Latinos have the second-highest rate of dying from liver cancer among racial/ethnic groups.  Understanding the reasons why this is happening can reveal how to address this suffering and prevent liver cancer among Latinos, which can improve health for the broader population.  “Understanding the causes of Latino liver cancer rates in South Texas and across the nation is critical. We must develop interventions and identify high-risk individuals who may be screened and treated with the best available care,” said Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez, leader of Salud America! and the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio.   So, why does liver cancer hurt Latinos in particular?   1. Aflatoxin Exposure  Aflatoxins are a family of toxins produced by certain fungi ...

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