In 1998, the U.S. Surgeon General released a landmark report calling for tobacco control interventions for Hispanic and Latino and other populations. Has this goal been met? To find out, Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez of UT Health San Antonio analyzed public health efforts since 1998 and identified a mix of replicable successes and remaining challenges in tobacco control, according to her recent article in JNCI Monographs. "Although progress has been made in the years since the report's release, [Latino and other] tobacco users continue to have limited access to cessation medication and support services," Ramirez wrote. "Cultural barriers and tobacco industry marketing have also complicated cessation efforts." "Despite these challenges, some outreach and cessation efforts have shown ...
The Institute for Integration of Medicine & Science (IIMS) at UT Health San Antonio is announcing its 16th Annual Frontiers of Translational Science Research Day on Monday April 27, 2026. In celebration, the institute is calling for abstracts for posters from researchers that demonstrate the power of translational science, which is the process of using research to develop interventions. Translational science aims to improve health and improve disease outcomes. Abstracts can highlight translational research projects that are complete or ongoing. Selected projects will join a poster session on the day of the event. submit an abstract HERE!
Participant Guidelines for Translational Science Research
The deadline for abstract submissions is Monday, April 6, 2026. If ...
More than 59 million Americans provide care for an adult with a complex medical condition or disability. When it comes to Latinos, 17% of caregivers in the U.S. are Latino. A recently published report from the Pew Research Center found that lower-income adults with an aging parent, spouse, or partner are more likely to be caregivers than those in higher income tiers. “What we found is that the caregiving burden increases as aging family members get to be 75 and older. And, among Americans with an aging parent, spouse or partner, those with lower incomes are much more likely to be caregivers than those with middle and upper incomes,” according to the Pew Research Center. Let’s dig deeper into this study’s key takeaways that can impact families.
10% of All U.S. Adults ...
March is recognized as Colon Cancer Awareness Month. In Bexar County, more than half (57%) of colorectal cancers are diagnosed at a late stage, higher than many other Texas counties. Additionally, we see colorectal cancer mortality rates also surpassing Texas averages, along with significant issues in late-stage diagnosis among Latino populations. With this in mind, Salud America! and Precinct 1 Bexar County Commissioner Rebeca Clay-Flores joined forces to spread awareness when it comes to colon cancer and inform the South Texas community about importance of early detection and prevention. The episode is hosted by Rebecca Jones, PhD, an assistant Professor at the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio. Dr. Jones is a researcher who focuses on colon ...
About 80,450 new cases of kidney cancer will be diagnosed in U.S. men and women in 2026, according to the American Cancer Society. The month of March is recognized as Kidney Cancer Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness, educate, and promote helpful tools to help people learn more about kidney cancer. With this in mind, let’s look at four free, easy-to-use resources to use and share during Kidney Cancer Awareness Month.
What is Kidney Cancer?
Kidney cancer is a disease where cells in the kidney grow out of control, according to the CDC. The main types of kidney cancer include renal cell cancer (RCC), transitional cell cancer (TCC), and Wilms tumor. “RCC is the most common type of kidney cancer in adults. It forms in the lining of the tiny tubes in the kidney that ...
The USDA’s newest Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030 focus on eating more real foods and less highly processed ones. The guidelines, released on Jan. 7, 2026, also contain a refreshed food pyramid. Let’s look at 10 recommendations in the new guidelines and how it can impact everything from and how it can impact everything from how to shop at the grocery store to how you cook at home.
1. Eat Real Food
The new dietary guidelines have a simple foundation: eat real food. That means more diets built on whole, nutrient-dense foods like protein, dairy, vegetables, fruits, healthy fats, and whole grains. Pair that with a “dramatic reduction” in highly processed foods laden with refined carbohydrates, added sugars, excess sodium, unhealthy fats, and chemical ...
Alzheimer’s and related dementias continue to hurt an aging population, including many older Latinos. One way to address this is to gather the brightest minds to collaborate on important brain health issues affecting older adults. That’s one of the primary goals of the National Institute on Aging (NIA) Research Centers Collaborative Network (RCCN). The RCCN is looking to bring researchers together from the 7 NIA center programs to work on these issues through a series of workshops. The next workshop in the series, “Multidisciplinary Research in Aging/Team Science,” is set for May 20-21, 2026, in Bethesda, Maryland. Travel awards are available for 10 early-career investigators with applications due Feb. 27, 2026. “These workshops will feature the ...
Health Confianza is following up on its successful health literacy virtual series with a new one focused on a wide range of topics. Last year the series covered information on how health workers and professionals can address stigma and use plain language with patients. This time around the organization is helping health workers navigate incorrect health information, support individuals with physical and mental hardships, and discuss how to speak up for health literacy. The upcoming series, Communicating with Confianza — A Health Literacy ECHO, is a six-part online learning experience focused on “empowering health professionals with health literacy education, resources and knowledge-sharing tools,” according to the nonprofit funded by Bexar County and ...
Commuting is a part of everyday life for many. In fact, almost 140 million people in the United States routinely commuted to work in 2022, according to the United States Census Bureau. Many Latino parents with low incomes who commute to work are commuting a long way, with 1 in 10 traveling 60 minutes or more to work, according to a new report by the National Research Center on Hispanic Children and Families (NRCHCF). Let’s look deeper into data on commutes and how it impacts families and communities.
Commuting by the Numbers
According to the NRCHCF research, people who commute to work outside of the home take an average of 27.8 minutes to travel to work. For Latino parents with low incomes, the distance increases. “One in 10 (10%) Hispanic parents with low ...
