This content is from UT Health San Antonio’s book, “Advancing Cancer Research for Latinos and All Populations: 2026 Conference Proceedings,” which highlights results of the same-named conference in February 2026.
Bridging International and National Latino Research to Serve its Populations
Dr. Mariana Chávez Mac Gregor is Chair ad interim and Professor in the Health Services Research Department and in the Breast Medical Oncology Department at University of Texas MD Anderson, as well as Executive Officer for International Affairs at the SWOG Research Network. Latin American and US Latino populations Dr. Chávez Mac Gregor began the presentation by describing the need to bridge cancer research in the United States and Latin America. According to Global Cancer Statistics, ...
Less than half of the 2.25 million adults in the US who live with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) were part of government programs that helped people receive assistance, such as Medicaid and Medicare. To ensure healthcare providers can connect people to much-needed services, UT Health San Antonio’s live webinar, “From Healthcare to Policy—Exploring Medicaid and Medicare Access for Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD),” on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, focused on ways to connect healthcare providers with much-needed resources to keep adults with disabilities on their insurance. Webinar host Dr. Amelie Ramirez, leader of Salud America! and the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio, was joined by experts ...
There are 1.5 million people in the U.S. living with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Nearly 200,000 of the people living with type 1 diabetes in the US are under the age of 20. What’s more,13% of Latinos in the U.S. have T1D. “The prevalence of type 1 diabetes is increasing across all populations, most significantly among Hispanic youth,” according to Breakthrough T1D. This shows the importance of access to educational tools and resources to help Latinos and families navigate type 1 diabetes and that’s where Breakthrough T1D can help. Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF) is the leading global type 1 diabetes (T1D) research and advocacy organization. With a mission to accelerate life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent, and treat T1D and its complications, no organization ...
This past year saw significant strides in cancer prevention and care, resulting in better health outcomes for all populations.
However, gaps in access to care, including language hurdles, citizenship status challenges, and insurance affordability remain consistent among cancer outcomes for overlooked populations.
These persistent burdens continue to negatively impact Latino survivorship.
The state of non-medical drivers of health on cancer outcomes is examined in the yearly report from the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR).
Let’s dig into the 2026 progress report and look at the 9 key takeaways impacting Latinos. 1. Cervical Cancer Deaths Drop Amid Strides in Preventative Care
Recently, researchers have seen a dramatic drop in cervical cancer deaths worldwide.
A ...
The blare of firetruck sirens, the glow of buildings ablaze, and the thick smell of smoke are all too familiar for Neil Meade. As a seasoned firefighter in San Antonio, he’s faced many dangers and helped others through life-threatening situations. But nothing could prepare him for a cancer diagnosis. Meade, a devoted family man and veteran of countless emergency calls, suddenly found himself battling a personal, silent, unpredictable opponent — thyroid cancer.
A Passion for Serving People
Meade, a native of Chicago, moved to San Antonio with his parents, returned to Chicago, but eventually returned to San Antonio and lives here now. He started his service career in the Air Force. “I spent eight years on active duty in the Air Force, and when I got out ... I tested ...
Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez, a cancer researcher at the Institute for Health Promotion Research and the Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio, is receiving a 2-year, $400,000 leadership grant to study cancer survivorship from Susan G. Komen, the world’s leading breast cancer organization. Ramirez aims to enhance recovery for cancer survivors. In a group of Latina breast cancer survivors in South Texas, Ramirez will compare two rehabilitation approaches — standard physical therapy and therapeutic yoga — to see how they impact health-related quality of life, fatigue, and physical function over 16 weeks. Therapeutic yoga involves controlled movement, breath regulation, and meditative practices. "By focusing on the whole person and listening to survivor experiences, we hope ...
Alzheimer’s and dementia impact the brain, cognitive activity, and memory. As of 2026, 7.4 million Americans 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s or dementia, according to the Alzheimer’s Association’s Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report. These numbers are set to increase to 13.8 million by 2060, according to the report. Not only is Alzheimer’s a very prevalent disease, it’s also the 6th leading cause of death for older adults, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month. In honor of the month, we are raising awareness by sharing 9 resources to help prevent, navigate, and treat Alzheimer’s and so much more!
1. Make Lifestyle Changes to Decrease Your Alzheimer’s ...
It’s National Cancer Survivor Month and we are honoring survivors in South Texas and beyond by reminding them that their journeys matter. In fact, they can even help future cancer survivors. That’s the hope of the Avanzando Caminos Hispanic/Latino Cancer Survivorship Cohort Study, which is based at UT Health San Antonio and the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center based at the University of Miami. This study gathers cancer survivors’ unique stories to explore the familial, behavioral, mental, biological, medical, and other impacts on life after cancer. Let’s break down how each of these cancer types impacts the Hispanic/Latino population and how hearing from survivors helps make a difference for future generations of survivors.
Latina Breast ...
May is National Cancer Survivor Month, a time to celebrate and support those who have gone through a cancer journey! Let’s look at five ways to celebrate, honor, and support cancer survivors.
1. Read about Real Latino Cancer Survivors
At Salud America!, we’re inspired by personal stories of cancer survivorship. That is why we showcase amazing Salud Heroes like Marielle Santos McLeod, who survived colon cancer and now champions the patient voice through advocacy work. “It allows me the opportunity not only to be a [patient leader], but to also share the importance of why our [involvement in research] matters,” Santos McLeod said. Read more about these Salud Heroes: Read more about these Salud Heroes: Brittney Millard: Helping Patients and Persevering Through ...
