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Latinos are not proportionally represented in research, nursing, and doctoral fields, even though they make up 20% of the U.S. population.
The Éxito! program aimed to fill that gap.
Éxito!, created by Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez of the Institute for Health Promotion Research (IHPR) at UT Health San Antonio, recruited 226 students and health professionals over 11 years for a culturally tailored curriculum to promote pursuit of a doctoral degree and Latino cancer research career.
With the 20th anniversary of the IHPR on Oct. 1, 2026, now is a good time to check in and see some Éxito! trainees have progressed!
About the Éxito! Program at the IHPR
Each year from 2011 to 2021, the IHPR’s Éxito! program hosted a five-day summer institute in San Antonio, Texas.
The event featured Latino researchers and program alumni to share the latest in Latino cancer, enhance career development, and provide motivation to apply for doctoral programs.
Institute participants also join group discussions to foster networking, sharing of personal cultural experiences, and learning what it means to thrive in an academic environment.
Of the 226 Éxito! trainees since 2011, over 30% have enrolled in or graduated from a doctoral program.
Also, the Éxito! summer institute significantly increased trainees’ confidence to apply to a doctoral program and academic self-efficacy, according to a study. The study also found significant increased research skills among Éxito! interns.
In 2018, Éxito! was named a winner of Excelencia in Education’s “Examples of Excelencia” awards that spotlight evidence-based programs that support Latinos in higher education.
Ileana Cepeda: 2018 Éxito! Trainee at the IHPR
How would you describe your Éxito! experience?
My Éxito! experience was incredibly inspiring and motivating. At the time, pursuing a doctorate felt like something I might want to do someday, but Éxito! helped turn that thought into a real goal. The experience gave me the tools and encouragement to believe I could take that next step and ultimately sparked my journey toward pursuing a doctoral degree.
How would you say that Éxito! helped advance your education/career?
Éxito! planted that see that ultimately led me back to school. After the program, I began seriously exploring doctoral programs, reflecting on my career goals, and thinking about how I could make graduate school fit into my life while continuing to work. It pushed me to think beyond where I was professionally at the time and consider the kind of impact I wanted to have in the future. That initial spark eventually led me to pursue a Doctor of Public Health degree, with a focus on improving health access and improving health outcomes for communities I serve.
What is your current job title and what are some of the milestones you accomplished in the past few years?
I currently serve as a Clinical Research Coordinator at Children’s Mercy, where I help bring pediatric research opportunities to children and families in the Wichita, Kansas area, including rural and Spanish-speaking communities. One of my proudest milestones has been continuing to grow professionally while pursuing my Doctor of Public Health at the University of Illinois Chicago as a member of the 2024 cohort. My work and doctoral journey have allowed me to combine my passions for research and community engagement with my commitment to making health care and research more accessible to all families, regardless of the barriers they may face.
Mayra Serrano: 2013 Éxito! Trainee at the IHPR
How would you describe your Éxito! experience?
Participating in Éxito! in 2013 was a transformative experience that helped shape both my personal and professional journey. It provided a supportive community of Latino scholars, mentors, and leaders who showed me that a career in research and academia was possible. Seeing Latino faculty and researchers in leadership roles was especially powerful because it gave me role models I had not often encountered. Éxito! increased my confidence, expanded my network, and fostered friendships that have become lifelong relationships. The experience helped me feel that I belonged in spaces where Latinos have historically been underrepresented.
How would you say that Éxito! helped advance your education/career?
Éxito! gave me the confidence, encouragement, and support system I needed to pursue a doctoral degree and focus my career on cancer prevention and health research. The relationships I built with fellow Éxito! scholars became an invaluable source of mentorship, motivation, and friendship throughout my doctoral journey. They celebrated my successes, helped me navigate challenges, and reminded me that I was not alone. Those connections continue to be meaningful today as many of us now collaborate as colleagues and leaders in our fields. Éxito! helped create a network that has supported my growth every step of the way.
What is your current job title and what are some of the milestones you accomplished in the past few years?
I lead Community Outreach & Engagement as Associate Director at City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center. Over the past several years, I have had the opportunity to serve in leadership roles focused on advancing [health and reducing health problems]. I served as [leader of health fairness] for Anthem Blue Cross California Medicaid, where I helped lead initiatives addressing [non-medical drivers of health] for underserved communities. More recently, I joined City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center as Associate Director of Community Outreach and Engagement, where I am building and leading programs that connect communities to cancer prevention, screening, research, and education. I am also committed to mentoring and supporting the next generation of Latino researchers and public health leaders.
Erica Chavez Santos: 2017 Éxito! Trainee at IHPR
How would you describe your Éxito! experience?
I would describe [Éxito!] as a space to celebrate, uplift underrepresented student voices, and learn tangible skills that will help us pursue a career that we’re passionate about in addressing health [issues] and cancer prevention research. It was a week of developing lasting relationships, building our networks, and helping us feel prepared about our next steps in graduate school.
How would you say that Éxito! helped advance your education/career?
Éxito! helped expand my network of Latino researchers and mentors. At the time of participating in Éxito!, I was debating whether to pursue a PhD program or not. I think having a network of people cheering me on and to provide support changed my perception. I felt like I didn’t need to pursue this endeavor on my own and I had examples of Latinos with similar passions pursuing their PhDs.
What is your current job title and what are some of the milestones you accomplished in the past few years?
I’m currently an occupational health equity researcher and epidemiologist for Washington State Labor & Industries. Some milestones I’ve accomplished is graduated from my PhD program in 2024! I also recently finished publishing my dissertation papers! I think that was a big deal for me because I always envisioned occupational health research coming from individuals from those same communities, having our ideas and experiences being represented.
Crystal Costa: 2019 Éxito! Trainee at the IHPR
How would you describe your Éxito! experience?
In one word, my Éxito! experience was impactful. During the in-person Summer Institute, our cohort was introduced to [many] leaders in cancer research, including Latina/o/e leaders who fostered a culturally responsive environment. Their lived experiences and perspectives were relatable and reflected both our Latino culture and the underrepresented communities we served/sought to serve, as well as the barriers many of us face in pursuing higher education. This safe space allowed us to learn from and support one another, resource share, build lifelong mentorships and peer relationships, and develop a lasting sense of community.
How would you say that Éxito! helped advance your education/career?
Éxito! advanced my education and career in several meaningful ways. Through the training, I deepened my understanding of the importance of cancer control research and the critical need to address health [issues]. Éxito! also helped me build meaningful connections within the cancer research community and provided opportunities to learn from and be mentored by renowned researchers, including Dr. Amelie Ramirez. Additionally, it offered valuable resources and guidance as I prepared my doctoral school applications. Overall, Éxito! shaped my commitment to improving cancer-related outcomes among Latinos and other underserved populations, a commitment I have continued to pursue throughout my doctoral training.
What is your current job title and what are some of the milestones you accomplished in the past few years?
I am currently a doctoral research assistant and have had the opportunity to collaborate on several cancer control and [health] projects. Some milestones include being selected for oral presentations at national conferences, including the American Society of Preventive Oncology and the Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Global Congress. I have also co-authored publications that address important gaps in the literature. I am also developing an implementation plan to support the national scale-up of an evidence-based program for childhood cancer survivors while also wrapping up my dissertation work!
Looking Back at the Éxito! Program at the IHPR
Many Éxito! trainees say the program motivated and supported their pursuit of a doctorate.
Salud America!, the IHPR’s digital health communication program, interviewed several Éxito! trainees about their experience earning their doctoral degrees:
- Dr. Benjamín Aceves: What Éxito! Means to Me
- Dr. Donají Stelzig: How Éxito! Helped Me Build My Network
- Dr. Melawhy Garcia: Éxito! Connected Me to Other Latino Professionals
- Dr. Natalicio Serrano: What Éxito! Taught Me About Latino Representation in Academia
For Angela Gutierrez, a 2014 Éxito! trainee, the program proved invaluable.
After the program, Gutiérrez earned her doctoral degree in public health from UCLA Fielding School of Public Health and became an assistant professor in the Department of Social Medicine at The Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Today, Gutiérrez is an associate professor at Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, Calif.
Her research draws on the life course framework and social stress theory to quantitatively investigate psychosocial and behavioral risks and resources and their implications for health among Latinos and other overlooked groups. A second domain of her research uses qualitative research methods to assess working conditions for community health workers.
Her time in Éxito! provided her with help navigating the doctoral process and making connections that shaped her academic journey.
“The Éxito! program really helped clarify the different components of applying to doctoral programs, and they even reviewed the statement of purpose that we were going to submit. It was a draft, but still, it was so helpful to get that one-on-one feedback. When it came to applying and it was my first round of applying to doctoral programs, I knew what to expect because of Éxito!, because they had prepared us so well,” Gutiérrez said.
“Being part of the Éxito! [Summer Institute] was a really great experience. It helped me navigate the unknown.”
Read the IHPR’s 20th anniversary booklet!
Editor’s note: This story is part of a series of stories and videos celebrating the 20th anniversary of the launch of the Institute for Health Promotion Research (IHPR) at UT Health San Antonio on Oct. 1, 2006.
By The Numbers
142
Percent
Expected rise in Latino cancer cases in coming years
