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How You Can Promote Healthy Vision for Glaucoma Awareness Month


Female ophthalmic doctor diagnosing elderly patient`s sight using ophthalmic equipment

Glaucoma is defined as a group of eye diseases that can cause vision loss and blindness by damaging a nerve in the back of your eye, called the optic nerve.  At first, glaucoma doesn’t usually have any symptoms.   “Over time, you may slowly lose vision, usually starting with your side (peripheral) vision — especially the part of your vision that’s closest to your nose. Because it happens so slowly, many people can’t tell that their vision is changing at first,” according to the National Eye Institute (NEI).   With the month of January recognized as Glaucoma Awareness Month, let’s explore helpful glaucoma-related resources that can help people protect their vision!    Types of Glaucoma   There are several types of glaucoma, with some being caused by ...

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Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez on the Importance of Participating in Alzheimer’s Clinical Trials


Amelie Ramirez - UT Health San Antonio 1

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. ...

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Gregory Aune: The Gear Up Against Kids Cancer Bike Ride


greg aune Gear Up Against Kids Cancer Bike Ride bike ride event

Gregory Aune was 16 when he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Aune spent a year enduring grueling treatment, losing over 70 pounds. But he survived. His experience motivated him to pursue a clinical career and help children with cancer. Today, Dr. Aune is an associate professor of pediatric hematology and oncology at the Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI) of UT Health San Antonio, on a mission to find new ways to help and heal patients. That's why he helped found the Gear Up Against Kids Cancer Bike Ride — to raise awareness of childhood cancer and support the mission of the GCCRI. The inaugural Gear Up Against Kids Cancer Bike Ride took place on April 2, 2022, in Floresville, Texas. The 5th annual bike ride is set for 8 a.m. on Saturday, May ...

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Webinar: Difference in Density: Why it Matters for Your Breast Health



Do you have dense breasts?  Half of US women have dense breasts, but many don’t even know it or know how it impacts their breast health.  Watch UT Health San Antonio’s webinar on breast density, mammography, “Difference in Density: Why it Matters for Your Breast Health,” at 12 p.m. Central on Wednesday, January 28, 2026.  This webinar featured experts from the Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio, a breast cancer survivor with firsthand experience with dense breasts, and a representative from the Susan G. Komen foundation.   Together, they discussed how to talk to your doctor about dense breasts and the steps you should take to monitor your breast health following a dense breast diagnosis.  With this knowledge, patients can feel empowered to talk to ...

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How to Support Latina Patients in Dealing with Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC)


MEDLIVE presenting on triple-negative breast cancer TNBC at SABCS 2025

Researchers are working hard to find new ways to treat triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), an aggressive disease. However, many Latina and Hispanic women face challenges in TNBC diagnosis, treatment access, and supportive care. Patients and caregivers from these communities often navigate complex health systems and deal with non-medical drivers of health. To address these issues and apply findings to all populations, Medlive, a digital health education platform, with the support of Gilead Sciences, Inc., partnered with Salud America! and Surviving Breast Cancer.org to design an educational initiative to align TNBC learning experiences for clinicians, patients, and caregivers. Medlive published their results in an abstract for the 2025 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium ...

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Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez: We Must Protect Our Firefighters from Cancer


SAFD San Antonio Firefighters Cancer Prevention Program

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 ...

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March of Dimes Report Card: US Scores Low on Preterm Birth Rates for Fourth Year


New mother in hospital gown breastfeeding newborn baby while holding closely. Both mother and baby are sharing a tender bonding moment

Last year, the US earned a D+ for preterm birth on the March of Dimes Report Card.   The March of Dimes Report Card is an annual report that signifies where states and the rest of the country are in terms of infant and maternal mortality and morbidity.   This year, the US is following up its last poor rating with another D+, making it the fourth consecutive year the country has earned the substandard score.   Of the births that occurred in the US in 2024, nearly 380,000 babies were born preterm, accounting for every 1 in 10 births, according to the report.   Let’s take a closer look at the March of Dimes Report Card and what it means for infant and maternal health in the US.   Preterm Births in the US  March of Dimes, which pushes for better maternal and infant ...

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Spanish-Language Lactation Resource Aims to Help Mothers Breastfeed Their Babies


A smiling woman doctor pediatrician cuddles a cute baby girl on her cheek while her mother holding her.

Breastfeeding has many health benefits for both mothers and babies.   For mothers, breastfeeding can help speed up the recovery process after birth, reduce long-term health risks, including breast and ovarian cancers, and help with postpartum weight loss due to the extra calories being burned.   For infants, breastfeeding contains optimal nutrition for immune protection from illnesses helps with brain development, and reduces risks of chronic health conditions like obesity.   Unfortunately, without access to Spanish-language lactation resources, too many Latinas give up breastfeeding too soon.  That’s where the Mama Sana Program comes into play.  The program offers mothers Spanish-language support to help them navigate the difficult journey that is ...

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Latinos, Protect Yourself and Others During Flu Season



The winter holidays are nearing, which means a drop in temperatures and a rise in flu! From October 1, 2024, through April 30, 2025, officials recorded 38,960 flu-associated hospitalizations, according to the University of Minnesota. The first week of December is recognized as National Influenza Vaccination Week, a time to promote and remind others of the importance of getting vaccinated. How does flu season impact Latinos and all people? What preventive steps can you and your family take? Find a Flu Vaccine Near You! Latinos and Flu Rates Flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and sometimes the lungs, according to the It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. A 2021 study found that ...

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