The blare of firetruck sirens, the glow of buildings ablaze, and the thick smell of smoke are all too familiar for Neil Meade. As a seasoned firefighter in San Antonio, he’s faced many dangers and helped others through life-threatening situations. But nothing could prepare him for a cancer diagnosis. Meade, a devoted family man and veteran of countless emergency calls, suddenly found himself battling a personal, silent, unpredictable opponent — thyroid cancer.
A Passion for Serving People
Meade, a native of Chicago, moved to San Antonio with his parents, returned to Chicago, but eventually returned to San Antonio and lives here now. He started his service career in the Air Force. “I spent eight years on active duty in the Air Force, and when I got out ... I tested ...
Human beings need social interaction to live a healthy life.
But did you know how much you socialize can have a direct effect on your brain health?
Social isolation is not only linked to negative brain health, but the impacts also can be worse depending on where you live, according to a recent study from UT San Antonio and Princeton University.
Check out our new fact sheet, How Does Social Isolation Impact Brain Health in Aging Adults?, to help our abuelos and abuelas across the globe understand how maintaining an active social life can impact their brain health as they age.
This fact sheet was created by Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez of Salud America! and UT Health San Antonio based on a research brief from the San Antonio Center for AD/ADRD Population Aging and Social Studies (San Antonio ...
Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez, a cancer researcher at the Institute for Health Promotion Research and the Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio, is receiving a 2-year, $400,000 leadership grant to study cancer survivorship from Susan G. Komen, the world’s leading breast cancer organization. Ramirez aims to enhance recovery for cancer survivors. In a group of 40 Latina breast cancer survivors in South Texas, Ramirez will compare two rehabilitation approaches — standard physical therapy and therapeutic yoga — to see how they impact health-related quality of life, fatigue, and physical function over 16 weeks. Therapeutic yoga involves controlled movement, breath regulation, and meditative practices. "By focusing on the whole person and listening to survivor experiences, we ...
The month of June is recognized as Men’s Health Month. It’s a time to educate, start conversations, and share resources on men’s health. This year’s theme is “Partners in Care: Advancing Men’s Health Through Connection, Education, & Advocacy Across the Lifespan — for Better Lifespans,” according to the Men’s Health Network. “Health behaviors, access to care, and long-term outcomes are shaped by relationships with partners, families, caregivers, friends, and communities,” Men’s Health Network states. “When men are supported through shared advocacy, education, empathy, and connection, outcomes improve not only for men, but for everyone connected to them.” Let’s look into resources you can find and share with others during Men’s Health ...
The US is on the verge of a complete health care overhaul. These changes include Medicaid eligibility, cuts to funding, and changes making accessibility and renewal more difficult. According to a new UnidosUS report, this overhaul is projected to cut the health care of nearly 14 million Americans with the mass majority being Latino over the next 10 years. Unless action is taken to intervene and counteract these changes, millions are anticipated to lose health insurance, leading to unaffordable treatment and care costs and worse health outcomes. Let’s break down the report and how these coverage changes impact the health of Latinos and all families.
Significant Health Care Coverage Changes
The report highlights two significant acts ...
Alzheimer’s and dementia impact the brain, cognitive activity, and memory. As of 2026, 7.4 million Americans 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s or dementia, according to the Alzheimer’s Association’s Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report. These numbers are set to increase to 13.8 million by 2060, according to the report. Not only is Alzheimer’s a very prevalent disease, it’s also the 6th leading cause of death for older adults, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month. In honor of the month, we are raising awareness by sharing 9 resources to help prevent, navigate, and treat Alzheimer’s and so much more!
1. Make Lifestyle Changes to Decrease Your Alzheimer’s ...
Of the 31.7 million people who live in Texas, 3.5 million (or 12%) have either a physical or mental disability, according to the 2021 American Community Survey (ACS). Each person, family, and disability type has its own unique set of challenges and needs. But as an overlooked population, Texans with disabilities and their families continue to slip through healthcare cracks across the state. To better serve this population, Baylor University researchers have launched the Raising Texas Voices study to collect the stories of more than 4,000 Texans with disabilities, their families, and the professionals and providers who serve them. Learn about the study, what it entails, and how it will help individuals, families, caregivers, and providers better serve Texans with ...
May is National Cancer Survivor Month, a time to celebrate and support those who have gone through a cancer journey! Let’s look at five ways to celebrate, honor, and support cancer survivors.
1. Read about Real Latino Cancer Survivors
At Salud America!, we’re inspired by personal stories of cancer survivorship. That is why we showcase amazing Salud Heroes like Marielle Santos McLeod, who survived colon cancer and now champions the patient voice through advocacy work. “It allows me the opportunity not only to be a [patient leader], but to also share the importance of why our [involvement in research] matters,” Santos McLeod said. Read more about these Salud Heroes: Read more about these Salud Heroes: Brittney Millard: Helping Patients and Persevering Through ...
Arnoldo Rodriguez prides himself in keeping a professional appearance. Whether it be in his position as an educator, school administrator, executive, or in educational sales, the McAllen, Texas, resident always dressed to impress. That’s why Arnoldo knew when he put on a crisp suit and the once-clinging fabric hung loosely at his arms, he knew something wasn’t quite right. Around this time, he would also get excessively tired despite his penchant for exercise. Everything pointed in one direction, and his swollen lymph nodes confirmed the worst ¾ he had cancer. Months of unsuccessful lymphoma treatment led him to participate in a clinical trial and it was that decision that led him on the path to patient leadership. “The clinical trial was my ...
