Who is Èxito!: Steven Lopez



Editor's Note: This is the story of a graduate of the 2012 Èxito! Latino Cancer Research Leadership Training program. Apply by April 1, 2013, for the 2013 Èxito! program. Steven Lopez San Mateo, Calif. Steven Lopez’s migrant parents beamed with pride as they dropped him off for his first year at Stanford University—in the same region of California which they had picked fruit from years before to make a living. Appreciating the sacrifices and hard work of his parents to give him a better life and opportunities, Lopez dedicated himself to his studies and earned a bachelor’s degree in urban studies from Stanford University. In addition, Lopez obtained a master’s degree in public health and public policy from the University of California, Berkeley. With this level of ...

Read More

Who is Èxito!: Rossy Belle Perales



Editor's Note: This is the story of a graduate of the 2012 Èxito! Latino Cancer Research Leadership Training program. Apply by April 1, 2013, for the 2013 Èxito! program. Rossy Belle Perales Houston, Texas Rossy Belle Perales pursues opportunities with great confidence and inspiration from the quote, “Shoot for the moon. Even If you miss you will land among the stars.” Identifying herself with the people of Puerto Rico, her native land, and with the Hispanic community of Houston, Ms. Perales has embraced the culture and traditions of both ethnic groups, which have made her the person she is today. Perales earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in public health (epidemiology and biostatistics) from the University of South Florida, and she spent time coordinating research ...

Read More

Who is Èxito!: Delana Gonzales



Editor's Note: This is the story of a graduate of the 2012 Èxito! Latino Cancer Research Leadership Training program. Apply by April 1, 2013, for the 2013 Èxito! program. Delana Gonzales San Antonio, Texas Delana Gonzales, born and raised in New Mexico’s Land of Enchantment, did not leave her education to chance. Through the guidance of her mentor and strong Latino family support, she applied herself diligently and advanced as a scholar in the field of psychology at the University of New Mexico (UNM). During her time at UNM, Gonzales assisted on various research projects examining breast and cervical cancer screening behaviors among Latinas on campus. She also investigated breast and cervical cancer screening practices among Latino women along the U.S./Mexico border. Wanting ...

Read More

New Success in Increasing the Field of Latino Cancer Researchers



Cancer just surpassed heart disease as the No. 1 killer of Latinos. Yet, as the Latino population surges, there aren't enough Latino researchers who are working to uncover new ways to treat cancer or pave way for novel studies of cultural, linguistic and socioeconomic issues to prevent Latinos from suffering worse cancer outcomes. But there is good news. The number of Latino cancer researchers is starting to grow, thanks to Éxito! Latino Cancer Research Leadership Training, a program that encourages master's-level students and professionals to pursue a doctoral degree and careers studying how cancer affects Latinos differently. Éxito! participants attend a five-day summer institute that enhances understanding of cancer and research, encourages networking among peers and leaders in ...

Read More

The Latest Progress in Improving Latino Health



Find the latest advances in Latino health—such as a new strategy for helping Latinas after an abnormal breast mammogram—in the IHPR Noticias E-newsletter from Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez’ Institute for Health Promotion Research (IHPR) at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. IHPR Noticias has these stories and more: Story and Audio: For Latinas, Patient Navigation Can Speed Breast Cancer Diagnosis (Pg 1) Profile: Guadalupe Campos is Teaching Latinos about Cancer Prevention (Pg 2) Study: Successfully Preventing Obesity in Latino Pre-Schoolers in San Antonio (Pg 3) Videos: 5-Part Video Series on Cultural Aspects of Latino Cancer (Pg 4) Story: Local Program Mentors Disadvantaged Nursing Students (Pg 6) Story: Latinos, a Colonoscopy Can Save Your ...

Read More

Who is Èxito!: Aditi Wahi



Editor's Note: This is the story of a graduate of the 2012 Èxito! Latino Cancer Research Leadership Training program. Apply by April 1, 2013, for the 2013 Èxito! program. Aditi Wahi Artesia, Calif. Aditi Wahi practices “empathy”—that is, she tries to put herself into other people’s shoes, whether it’s helping her younger sister cope with a rare disease or recruiting pediatric patients and their parents pre-surgery and observing the children after. Being in tune with and passionate for the people you are trying to help is a hallmark of being a strong cancer health disparities researcher, in addition to having strong methodological and other research skills. Wahi has both. She earned a bachelor’s of psychology and social behavior degree from the University of ...

Read More

Who is Èxito!: Ramon Torres



Editor's Note: This is the story of a graduate of the 2012 Èxito! Latino Cancer Research Leadership Training program. Apply by April 1, 2013, for the 2013 Èxito! program. Ramon Torres Kansas City, Kan. Ramon Conception Torres, who experienced disparities and discrimination in his home town in Puerto Rico and the U.S., can sympathize with minorities’ struggles. Growing up in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, as a vivacious child without much adult supervision, Torres often found himself in mischief. Finding grace in the eyes of a security guard, his new mentor helped him restructure his life and focusing on what was important—his life and success. Torres took his mentor’s help to heart, especially remembering his advice: “No one is going to do something for you, unless you do ...

Read More

Video: What Do Latino Students Think about Smoking?



A new video highlights Latino students and their views on not smoking. The videos, available in English and Spanish, were done by a Latino group, Manantial de Salud, a federally funded grassroots health network sponsored by the Latino Healthcare Forum in the Dove Springs neighborhood of Austin, ...

Read More

Webinar: How Do Certain Behaviors Impact Cancer among Latinos?



You are invited to join a webinar to learn more about how certain behaviors impact Latino cancer incidence, causes, and effects. The webinar, at 11 a.m. CST (9 a.m. PST) on Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2013, will explore the interaction of race/ethnicity, social class, acculturation, and English language fluency, and how these social constructs may interact with genetic variation and the social definition of race and ethnicity in determining cancer rates. Behavioral factors, such as tobacco use, physical activity, alcohol use and screening behavior will be discussed. The webinar is hosted by researchers of Redes En Acción, a national Latino cancer research network funded by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and directed by the Institute for Health Promotion Research (IHPR) at The UT Health ...

Read More