Marielle Santos McLeod thought she knew a lot about cancer care. Years as a health professional had given her time to learn about cancer care and gain a closer look at the challenges Latinos face in getting treatment. That’s why, when the mother of four was diagnosed with colon cancer at age 36, she was shocked by just how little she really knew. However, it was enduring the disease as a young Latina that guided her toward her life's purpose – serving as a patient health leader to uplift the voice of Latino cancer survivors. “I love advocacy .... It's like one of the things that I'm convinced that I was put on this earth to do. I just had to get cancer to get to it first,” Santos McLeod said. Update 03/16/2026: After the initial publication of her story ...
Cancer remains a large health threat in South Texas and beyond. To improve cancer understanding and outcomes, Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez of Salud America! and UT Health San Antonio hosted the 5th biennial Advancing Cancer Research for Latinos and All Populations conference on Feb. 18-20, 2026, at the Plaza San Antonio in San Antonio, Texas. Advancing Cancer Research for Latinos and All Populations drew over 300 researchers, doctors, leaders, and students for an open dialogue on cancer. Discussion covered new studies in clinical best practices, treatments, effective community interventions, advocacy, policy, and professional training in cancer research. "We still have work to do, but I am excited and proud to charge into the future with such a passionate group of people for ...
To spur solutions that improve cancer care in South Texas and across the United States, UT Health San Antonio and its Mays Cancer Center are hosting the 5th biennial Advancing Cancer Research for Latinos and All Populations conference on Feb. 18-20, 2026, at the Plaza San Antonio in San Antonio, Texas. Advancing Cancer Research for Latinos and All Populations is expected to draw over 300 researchers, doctors, community leaders, and survivors for an open dialogue on the latest cancer research and how to improve cancer outcomes for all people. Media is invited to attend. “Advancing Cancer Research for Latinos and All Populations is where we gather to share timely research from every stage of the cancer continuum to improve genetic studies, clinical best practices, and community ...
How can we help our abuelos and other loved ones who are dealing with Alzheimer's disease? Clinical trials! These are studies with volunteers that help researchers learn more to help slow, manage, and treat Alzheimer’s for current and future family members. But without volunteers for clinical trials, the benefits may miss certain groups. That's why Salud America! is joining the San Antonio Center for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (AD/ADRD) Population Aging and Social Studies (CAPAS). CAPAS will unite researchers from UT San Antonio, the Center for Brain Health, the Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, and others. Community Impact, a local news agency across Texas, featured the effort in an article and interviewed Dr. Amelie G. ...
This content is from UT Health San Antonio’s book, “Advancing Cancer Research for Latinos and All Populations: 2026 Conference Proceedings,” which highlights results of the same-named conference in February 2026. Dr. Robert A. Winn, MD, is the former Director and Lipman Chair in Oncology at VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Science for a purpose Dr. Winn began by praising recent scientific and medical advances, but also by emphasizing that those advances need to make a difference for everyday people in everyday communities. About 1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women are diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. Much of the information about risk, and information about advances in medicine, have failed to reach more rural populations, and even some of their primary care ...
This content is from UT Health San Antonio’s book, “Advancing Cancer Research for Latinos and All Populations: 2026 Conference Proceedings,” which highlights results of the same-named conference in February 2026.
Variability of cancer outcomes based on population
Cancer rates and outcomes vary widely based on race/ethnicity, gender, country of origin, location, heritage, language spoken, socioeconomic status, age, family history, and more. For example, although Latino individuals have lower overall rates of cancer nationwide, rates of stomach and liver cancer are twice as high as non-Hispanic White individuals, and the rate of cervical cancer is 36% higher. [Winn] Because of this variability, intentional steps must be taken to ensure cancer research and initiatives target all ...
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. Read past conference proceedings from 2018, 2020, 2022, and 2024. 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); ...
Firefighters are at higher risk of cancer than the general population. That is the reason for the new San Antonio Firefighters Cancer Prevention Program. The program aims to better understand and reduce the cancer burden among local firefighters and emergency medical services personnel. It is a partnership of the San Antonio Fire Department, UT Health San Antonio, and Sylvester’s Firefighter Cancer Initiative at the University of Miami. Now the program is featured in an article in San Antonio Medicine, a publication of the Bexar County Medical Society. The article was written by Dr. Rachelle Hamblin, a family medicine physician at Health by Design, the SAFD Retiree Police and Firefighter Clinic; Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez, leader of the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT ...
