by 
Share On Social!
Since coming to the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio, research scientist Dr. Derek Rodriguez has gotten to live his dream.
From a young age, Derek had dreams of becoming a doctor and attending medical school.
That dream took a turn when his health did.
At 8 years old, he was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare form of childhood cancer.
Derek’s experience inspired him to pursue cancer research and ultimately led him to a position with the university, where he serves as program manager for the Avanzando Caminos study, which aims to improve the Latino cancer survivorship journey.
“I am now serving my community as well as those that are cancer survivors, so it’s pretty much a full circle moment,” he told Salud America!
Now he’s sharing his story with a larger audience.
Derek was recently featured in The University of Texas at San Antonio’s publication, Sombrilla Magazine.
Sombrilla Magazine Feature
Sombrilla Magazine chatted with Rodriguez about his childhood cancer, education, passion for research, and his career trajectory in the article titled Purpose Reimagined, which was published online in August 2025.
Rodriguez started on his path to research after being diagnosed with cancer at a young age — an experience that would inspire him to help other survivors.
“When you go through that as a child, you learn to think, ‘Oh, what if I grow up to be a superhero in this field? Imagine the impact I could have helping other individuals navigate and enhance their survivorship journey,” Rodriguez told the magazine.
While he had his mind set on medical school, Rodriguez caught the research bug after completing his undergraduate degree in biology at Texas State University and moved onto graduate school at UTSA.
“I like to joke that I drank too much of the research Kool-Aid. I chose graduate school over medical school because I was inspired by the opportunity to drive change at the population level—advancing research and shaping policies that improve health outcomes for entire communities, not just individual patients,” he told the magazine.
His experience in research during that time would solidify his trajectory working in cancer research at UT Health San Antonio, which recently merged with his graduate school alma mater.
Dr. Derek Rodriguez and Avanzando Caminos
At UT Health San Antonio, Derek gets to work up close and personal with cancer survivors like himself through his work with the Avanzando Caminos Hispanic/Latino Cancer Survivorship Study.
His position allows him to serve not only a community of survivors, but also the South Texas community he calls home.
“It’s a rewarding experience, because I get to not only be able to help a community that is [overlooked], but I get to share my experiences,” Rodriguez said in an interview with Salud America!
The study consists of a series of interviews and a few blood draws to find patterns in the experiences of Hispanic/Latino cancer survivors.
In the end, the data gathered from the study could lead to more resources and interventions that could help future generations of survivors.
“This is going to help us understand and ultimately help individuals in our community have prolonged lives and less conflicts and consequences because no one should ever have to go through a hardship because they had cancer,” Rodriguez told Salud America!
Rodriguez also helps lead the https://ihpr.uthscsa.edu/avanzando-center/, under the director of IHPR, Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez.
The center focuses on the non-medical drivers of health and advancing cancer prevention, outcomes and survivorship through research, mentoring and community engagement.
Share Your Cancer Journey With Avanzando Caminos
Rodriguez and the Avanzando Caminos team is recruiting 1,500 Hispanic and Latino cancer survivors in South Texas who have completed primary treatment for breast, lung, liver, stomach, colorectal, kidney, prostate, and uterine cervical cancers in the last 10 years.
In addition, cancer survivors must be 18 years old or older to participate.
The study, led by Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez, who also leads Salud America!, and the Mays Cancer Center, consists of seven study visits that take place over five years.
Each assessment is made up of interviews accompanied by a few blood draws.
Participants are also eligible to receive $50 per visit.
Visit the Avanzando Caminos website (Español) to fill out a pre-qualification form and member of Ramirez’s and Rodriguez’s team at the IHPR at UT Health San Antonio will be in touch. Or contact the team at 210-562-6514 or caminos@uthscsa.edu.
Explore More:
Latino CancerBy The Numbers
1
out of 10
Pedestrians survive when hit by a car at 40 MPH
