Share On Social!
Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez, director of Salud America! at UT Health San Antonio and a leading health disparities researcher, has been named to the Women in Cancer Research Council of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR).
The council organizes the activities of the members of the Women in Cancer Research group, including fostering career development and recognizing scientific achievements. They also advise AACR leadership on issues of concern to women investigators.
Ramirez will serve on the council for a three-year term starting December 2019.
“I’m very excited to serve the AACR in this role. I hope to advance the role of women—including those who are racially/ethnically diverse—in cancer research across the continuum from the lab to survivorship,” Ramirez said. 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.
Dr. Ramirez & Her Healthy Equity Research
For more than 30 years, Ramirez gained experience developing research and communication models to improve Latino health locally and nationally.
Her studies have increased cancer screening and survivorship. Specifically, her patient navigation programs reduced time to treatment and diagnosis for Latina breast cancer patients. This helped save their lives.
Ramirez currently directs the Salud America! national multimedia program. The program fuels its network of 200,000 community and school leaders to drive healthy policy and system changes. These initiatives promote health equity and support for Latino families.
Ramirez also directs Quitxt, a smartphone quit smoking service for young adults in South Texas.
She has trained/mentored 300+ Latinos in health fields.
She also leads Éxito! training. The education and leadership program helps master’s-level students and professionals pursue a doctoral degree and cancer research career. The 2020 Éxito! cohort is currently recruiting participants.
Dr. Ramirez & Her Service, Recognitions
Ramirez is a Susan G. Komen Scholar and is on the scientific advisory board for LIVESTRONG.
In Texas, she is on the San Antonio Mayor’s Fitness Council and is Board President of the The Academy of Medicine, Engineering and Science of Texas (TAMEST).
Recognition includes:
- 2007: Election to the National Academy of Medicine
- 2011: White House Champion of Change
- 2014: APHA Everett M. Rogers Public Health Communication Award
- 2018: Icons in Healthcare Award from CentroMed
- 2019: Lifetime Achievement Award in Health Equity from the Society of Behavioral Medicine
- 2019: Bluebonnet Award of the Texas Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Ramirez is a native of Laredo, Texas. She earned M.P.H. and Dr.P.H. degrees from UT Health Science Center at the Houston School of Public Health.
Learn more about the AACR’s Women in Cancer Research group:
Explore More:
Healthcare AccessBy The Numbers
142
Percent
Expected rise in Latino cancer cases in coming years