Our History

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Salud America! is led by health promotion researcher Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez. Dr. Ramirez is supported by a passionate team of communicators at the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio.

The program was supported in the past the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (2007 to 2021) and now has support from the National Hispanic Medical Association, Genentech, and more.

The program’s handle on social media is @SaludAmerica (prior to 2017 it was @SaludToday).

Funding History

Organizational Milestones

Our communications have earned awards and greater awareness of Latino health.

Here are a few recent examples:

E-Communications

Today we send monthly E-alerts to our e-mail followers with tools, stories, and research to drive healthy change.

From 2008-2015, we also sent quarterly E-newsletters.

Here’s an archive:

Scientific Summits

We also conducted several scientific summits on Latino childhood obesity:

Inaugural Salud America! Scientific Summit
September 9-11, 2009, San Antonio, Texas

Dr. Richard H. Carmona, 17th Surgeon General of the United States, speaks during the first-ever Salud America! Scientific Summit in 2009.

About 200 researchers and leaders attended the Summit for a series of discussions on policy, built environment, nutrition, physical activity, and marketing related to childhood obesity among Latinos and all children.

Special guest speakers were Dr. Richard H. Carmona, 17th Surgeon General of the United States, Ex-NBA player Sean Elliott, San Antonio health columnist Claudia Zapata; and Texas Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr.

View Summit Report (PDF)

2nd Annual Salud America! Scientific Summit
September 22-24, 2010, San Antonio, Texas

About 75 Salud America! and RWJF leaders and grantees discussed innovations in childhood obesity among Latinos and all children.

View the Summit Report (PDF)

3rd Annual Salud America! Scientific Summit
September 14-16, 2011, San Antonio, Texas

About 75 Salud America! and RWJF leaders and grantees discussed innovations in childhood obesity among Latinos and all children. Presenters included Dr. Chris Fulcher, University of Missouri, Dr. Sonya Grier, American University, and others.

View the Summit Report (PDF)

4th Annual Salud America! Scientific Summit
May 15-17, 2013, San Antonio, Texas

About 200 local leaders and national stakeholders gathered for this Summit to discuss ways to transform communities into healthier places, and to reduce childhood obesity among Latinos and all children.

View the Summit Report (PDF)