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Check Out Washington State Department of Health’s Project Firstline Podcast!



Healthcare workers, looking for your next informative – and entertaining – infection control resource?! Look no further, the Washington State Department of Health’s Project Firstline Podcast covers a variety of infection control topics, from healthcare-associated infections to multi-drug-resistant organisms. The podcast is part of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s Project Firstline, which provides all healthcare workers the infection control training and resources they need to protect themselves, their patients, and their coworkers from infectious diseases. With 17 episodes to choose from, you’ll be sure to learn something new. Let’s dive in! A Glimpse at the Episodes Dating back to the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the opening episodes ...

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Mental Health Resources for Latino Family Caregivers



November is National Family Caregivers Month (NFCM)!   NFCM is an opportunity to recognize family caregivers across the country and “raise awareness of caregiving issues, educate communities, and increase support for caregivers,” according to the Administration for Community Living.   This year, Mental Health America has shared new resources for both caregivers and employers.   “We know caregivers need support in balancing their personal and professional obligations, and employers need resources to better support their caregivers on staff,” according to Mental Health America.   Let’s dive deeper into these educational tools and find out how they can benefit Latino caregivers.   Latinos and Caregiving  41.8 million Americans provided unpaid care to an adult ...

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#SaludTues Tweetchat 12/5: Why Should You Try a Clinical Trial?


latino doctor patient clinical trial 2

Clinical trials have led to the development of better treatments, life-saving medicines, and new prevention strategies for cancer and other diseases. Still, clinical trials have lacked volunteers who are Latino. We need diverse representation in clinical trials to ensure health and medical discoveries are equitable for diverse populations. To promote clinical trials, let’s use #SaludTues on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023, to discuss reasons why Latinos and all people should consider joining a clinical trial! WHAT: #SaludTues Tweetchat: Why Should You Try a Clinical Trial? TIME/DATE: 1-2 p.m. ET (Noon-1 p.m. CT), Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023 WHERE: On Twitter with hashtag #SaludTues HOST: @SaludAmerica CO-HOSTS: Latinx Voces LLC (@latinxvocesllc); LatinaStrong Foundation ...

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“I Couldn’t Feel More Blessed”: How Amber Lopez Found Hope Through Her Cancer Journey



News of a cancer diagnosis is the last thing anyone wants to hear.   It can be especially devastating for a teenager with no family history of cancer.   That was reality for Amber Lopez.  Lopez, a San Antonio resident who began experiencing symptoms around age 14, was eventually diagnosed with cervical cancer a few years later at 18.   “When you hear that word cancer, you’re kind of like, 'Oh, my God. OK. So, does that mean like, I’m going to pass away? How does this work?'” Lopez said.  Since her diagnosis, Lopez has overcome many challenges in her cancer journey.   Now she’s sharing her story through the Avanzando Caminos study at UT Health San Antonio to give hope to other Latino cancer survivors.   Navigating Her Cancer Diagnosis   Latinas ...

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Why are Other Nations Outperforming America on Health Outcomes?


Why are Other Nations Outperforming America on Health Outcomes

Spending on health is rising in America. Yet, ironically, health outcomes are getting worse. In fact, people here experience the worst health outcomes overall of any high-income nation. U.S. residents are more likely to die younger, and from avoidable causes, than residents of peer countries, according to a 2023 report from The Commonwealth Fund. Let’s compare health outcomes with peer countries to provide an important baseline for where we are in health outcomes and set a target for where we could be. The U.S. and 5 Important Domains of Healthcare Systems A 2021 study by The Commonwealth Fund compared five performance domains of health care systems across 11 high-income countries. Researchers found the U.S. ranks last on four of five domains: access to care (last) ...

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Watch: Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez on the Importance of Cancer Screening for Latinos


Chasing Cancer Screening Amelie Ramirez Washington Post

Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez, leader of Salud America! at UT Health San Antonio, joined The Washington Post's live show to share how cancer screening can help patients get diagnosed and treated earlier The show, "Chasing Cancer: The Path Forward," sponsored by AstraZeneca, took place Nov. 8, 2023. In the first part of of the show, Renee Wegrzyn, director of the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), and Eric Topol, executive vice president of Scripps Research, discussed how technological advancements and AI are changing how cancer is diagnosed and treated. In the second part of the show, Ramirez teamed with Dr. Gladys I. Rodriguez, a medical oncologist with the START Center for Cancer Care, to discuss innovative initiatives make it easier to access early screenings, ...

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Adan Reinosa: Colorectal Cancer Survivor Pays it Forward with Study Participation


Adan Reinosa Rivera NCI colorectal cancer survivor - featured

Colorectal cancer is a leading cause of cancer death among people of Hispanic and Latino descent in the United States. Adan Reinosa Rivera, a retired electrical engineer in Los Angeles, is doing his part to change that. Mr. Reinosa has been living with metastatic colorectal cancer for more than a decade. The cancer was detected in his lungs a few months after a tumor was removed from his colon. He’s been managing the disease with his doctor ever since. Now, as the first participant in a genetic study called ENLACEExit Disclaimer, Mr. Reinosa is helping to build a body of knowledge about the molecular features of colorectal cancers in Hispanic and Latino people. The study, supported by the Cancer MoonshotSM, aims to learn more about the disease in people of Hispanic and ...

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Find Dementia, Parkinson’s, and Caregiver Support Groups at UT Health San Antonio!



We know that Latinos are disproportionally impacted by Alzheimer’s, dementia, and other health conditions like Parkinson’s disease.  That is why it’s important to have support and resources for those who are impacted, as well as their families and caregivers.   Let’s explore various support groups from the Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases at UT Health San Antonio!  Support for Those with Lewy Body Dementia  The Biggs Institute hosts an in-person support group, Living Together with Lewy:  Support group for Individuals Living with Lewy Body Dementia and their Care Partners.  Lewy Body Dementia is the second-most common form of dementia, behind Alzheimer’s. It results in irreversible cognitive decline and movement problems ...

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#SaludTues Tweetchat 11/7/2023: How to Help Latino Caregivers Support Loved Ones Who Have Alzheimer’s or Cancer



Nearly 7 million U.S. Latinos provide unpaid care to aging or older relatives.   Many Latinos are expected to take on the respectable, but high-stress, role and often don’t consider themselves as caregivers.   How can we ensure that caregivers along with their loved ones are receiving the help and support that they need?   Let’s use #SaludTues on Nov. 7, 2023, to explore the important roles that caregivers take on along with how we can better support them and their loved ones.  WHAT: #SaludTues: How to Help Latino Caregivers Support Loved Ones Who Have Alzheimer’s or Cancer    TIME/DATE: 1-2 p.m. EST (Noon-1 p.m. CST), Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023.   WHERE: On Twitter (X) with hashtag #SaludTues  HOST: Salud America! at UT Health San Antonio ...

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