Cancer just surpassed heart disease as the No. 1 killer of Latinos. Yet, as the Latino population surges, there aren't enough Latino researchers who are working to uncover new ways to treat cancer or pave way for novel studies of cultural, linguistic and socioeconomic issues to prevent Latinos from suffering worse cancer outcomes. But there is good news. The number of Latino cancer researchers is starting to grow, thanks to Éxito! Latino Cancer Research Leadership Training, a program that encourages master's-level students and professionals to pursue a doctoral degree and careers studying how cancer affects Latinos differently. Éxito! participants attend a five-day summer institute that enhances understanding of cancer and research, encourages networking among peers and leaders in ...
Find the latest advances in Latino health—such as a new strategy for helping Latinas after an abnormal breast mammogram—in the IHPR Noticias E-newsletter from Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez’ Institute for Health Promotion Research (IHPR) at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. IHPR Noticias has these stories and more: Story and Audio: For Latinas, Patient Navigation Can Speed Breast Cancer Diagnosis (Pg 1)
Profile: Guadalupe Campos is Teaching Latinos about Cancer Prevention (Pg 2)
Study: Successfully Preventing Obesity in Latino Pre-Schoolers in San Antonio (Pg 3)
Videos: 5-Part Video Series on Cultural Aspects of Latino Cancer (Pg 4)
Story: Local Program Mentors Disadvantaged Nursing Students (Pg 6)
Story: Latinos, a Colonoscopy Can Save Your ...
Editor's Note: This is the story of a graduate of the 2012 Èxito! Latino Cancer Research Leadership Training program. Apply by April 1, 2013, for the 2013 Èxito! program. Aditi Wahi
Artesia, Calif. Aditi Wahi practices “empathy”—that is, she tries to put herself into other people’s shoes, whether it’s helping her younger sister cope with a rare disease or recruiting pediatric patients and their parents pre-surgery and observing the children after. Being in tune with and passionate for the people you are trying to help is a hallmark of being a strong cancer health disparities researcher, in addition to having strong methodological and other research skills. Wahi has both. She earned a bachelor’s of psychology and social behavior degree from the University of ...
Editor's Note: This is the story of a graduate of the 2012 Èxito! Latino Cancer Research Leadership Training program. Apply by April 1, 2013, for the 2013 Èxito! program. Ramon Torres
Kansas City, Kan. Ramon Conception Torres, who experienced disparities and discrimination in his home town in Puerto Rico and the U.S., can sympathize with minorities’ struggles. Growing up in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, as a vivacious child without much adult supervision, Torres often found himself in mischief. Finding grace in the eyes of a security guard, his new mentor helped him restructure his life and focusing on what was important—his life and success. Torres took his mentor’s help to heart, especially remembering his advice: “No one is going to do something for you, unless you do ...
A new video highlights Latino students and their views on not smoking. The videos, available in English and Spanish, were done by a Latino group, Manantial de Salud, a federally funded grassroots health network sponsored by the Latino Healthcare Forum in the Dove Springs neighborhood of Austin, ...
You are invited to join a webinar to learn more about how certain behaviors impact Latino cancer incidence, causes, and effects. The webinar, at 11 a.m. CST (9 a.m. PST) on Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2013, will explore the interaction of race/ethnicity, social class, acculturation, and English language fluency, and how these social constructs may interact with genetic variation and the social definition of race and ethnicity in determining cancer rates. Behavioral factors, such as tobacco use, physical activity, alcohol use and screening behavior will be discussed. The webinar is hosted by researchers of Redes En Acción, a national Latino cancer research network funded by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and directed by the Institute for Health Promotion Research (IHPR) at The UT Health ...
While the USDA works with state agencies to provide food assistance and nutrition education to low-income, members of No Mas Hambre say that Latino families continue to struggle with accessing such services. Children in the Latino community suffer the paradox of malnutrition and obesity. While 26.2% of Latino households have been identified as facing food insecurity, nearly 40% of Latino children are overweight or obese. At a recent No Mas Hambre summit in Washington D.C., government officials, non-profit, organizations, and members of the community, gathered address the issue of hunger in the Latino community. Topics discussed at the summit included: challenges to reducing food insecurity; childhood nutrition and food insecurity; the role of faith-based organization; and solutions ...
Editor's Note: This is the story of a graduate of the 2012 Èxito! Latino Cancer Research Leadership Training program. Apply by April 1, 2013, for the 2013 Èxito! program. Edgar Rodriguez
Seattle, Wash. Edgar Rodriguez, uncertain where his education would take him, was encouraged by his family to leave his native Mexico City and pursue the type of higher education that would provide him with the skills to develop a successful career. Buoyed by his family’s support and his never-give-up attitude, he successfully became a U.S. citizen and then dedicated himself to his educational career. Rodriguez earned a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from the University of New Mexico’s School of Medicine and master’s degrees in Latino American studies and public health, both from San ...
Gabriel, a part-time student with no insurance, is an acute myeloid leukemia survivor. But he hadn't had any checkups for nearly three years. Then he found LIVESTRONG cancer services, which help the uninsured with accessing medical treatments and medical devices, finding assistance with insurance denials/appeals, handling debt and financial management issues related to a cancer diagnosis, learning about resources for financial assistance, and applying for federal/state programs, such as Medicaid, Social Security, etc. "I never knew LIVESTRONG had services for young adults. It’s not like other places I’ve gone. The process was easy, and the navigator helped me find insurance that wasn’t too expensive," Gabriel said. "He connected me to an organization that could help me with ...
