As a child in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, Dr. Eneida Nemecek learned the effort it takes to earn an education by literally going to college with her parents as they sought their degrees. “My parents are very young. I kind of went to college with both of them in the back of the classroom,” Nemecek said. “My dad ended up going to graduate school, also when I was still a little kid. We went to law school with him, too.” Nemecek followed her parents’ footsteps and eventually got her doctoral degree. Today she’s helping improve Latino health through clinical trial participation as associate director for clinical research at the Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) Knight Cancer Institute and professor of pediatrics and medical oncology at OHSU.
Developing a Passion for ...
Colon cancer screening doesn’t have to be dramatic. That’s the message that Abbott is promoting in their new Spanish-language campaign for Cologuard Plus®. Gabriela Spanic, award-winning actress, model, writer, and singer, stars in the campaign that uses telenovelas and culturally relevant storytelling to make a difficult conversation about colon cancer screening more approachable and less dramatic. “The need is urgent. When colon cancer is found early, 90% of patients survive five years or more after diagnosis,” according to the press release from Abbott.
About the Campaign on Colon Cancer Screening
While the campaign has a humorous, telenovela style, Spanic also delivers an important message: “Although life can be dramatic, getting screened doesn’t have to ...
Latinos and other overlooked populations have a high burden of cancer, fueled by struggles with non-medical drivers of health like transportation and insurance. Researchers are studying these factors to improve cancer outcomes for these groups. Yet too few Latinos and others are engaged in research. For example, as of 2023, only 6% of FDA trials reflect the U.S. population. To improve research participation and ensure innovations work for all populations, Genentech, a top pharmaceutical company and member of the Roche Group, decided to take a more hands-on approach and launched the AIR Site Alliance in 2021. Since its inception, Genentech’s AIR Site alliance oncology sites have helped enroll 63% more people from overlooked ...
Hispanic Heritage Month is here! This annual U.S. observance, from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, celebrates the histories and contributions of Americans whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. We at Salud America! invite you to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month in these 31 awesome ways.
1. Learn How Hispanic Heritage Month Began
U.S. Congressmen Edward R. Roybal of Los Angeles and Henry B. Gonzales were among those who introduced legislation on the topic in 1968. President Lyndon Johnson implemented the observance as Hispanic Heritage Week that year. Did you know which U.S. President turned it from Hispanic Heritage Week to Hispanic Heritage Month? Learn more here.
2. Find Out Why Hispanic Heritage Month Starts on Sept. 15
Sept. ...
The cost of cancer is a steep one. The impact of a cancer diagnosis goes beyond physical, mental, and emotional factors to include a hefty treatment price tag that few can afford. But with their lives at stake, cancer patients can’t afford not to pay. The reality is that many cancer patients are facing treatment costs that rival the worth of most people’s homes. A new study from the researchers at the American Cancer Society (ACS) and published in the JNCI: Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that cancer-related expenses differ greatly depending on cancer type, stage, and phases of care. Let’s go over these findings and the importance of early detection and intervention, including cancer screenings, for Latinos and ...
As the U.S. population continues to age, more Latinos and all people will face memory loss because of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Fortunately, every year, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) updates its National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease to adopt new strategies to support communities impacted by Alzheimer’s and related dementias. This year, HHS is seeking direction from clinicians, researchers, caregivers, and families on what areas to focus on to address dementia through 2035. 170 people submitted a Salud America! model comment to tell HHS to help improve Alzheimer’s health outcomes for Latinos and all populations by supporting clinical trials, programs, and investments that make a ...
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, join UT Health San Antonio’s webinar, “From Healthcare to Policy—Exploring Medicaid and Medicare Access for Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD),” at 2 p.m. Central on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. Webinar host Dr. Amelie Ramirez, leader of Salud America! and the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio, will join experts from the National Hispanic Health Foundation (NHHF), a representative from Genentech, and ...
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 ...
