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To celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, the Prevent Cancer Foundation hosted an Instagram Live on prevention and cancer screening featuring Dr. Derek Rodriguez of the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio.
On behalf of the Salud America! program, Dr. Rodriguez chatted with Kyra Meister, Prevent Cancer Foundation’s Senior Communications Manager, about the importance of preventative measures like screening and cancer survivorship.
Watch on Instagram Live as the two talk about preventative health measures to better understand and detect cancer, health gaps that impact care, and cancer survivorship.
WHAT: An Instagram live video focusing on cancer screening and survivorship
WHERE: Available on the Instagram accounts of the Prevent Cancer Foundation and Salud America!
WHEN: The video is available as of Sept. 30, 2025
WHO: Derek Rodriguez, PhD, program manager for the Avanzando Caminos (Leading Pathways): Hispanic/Latino Cancer Survivorship Study at the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio; Kyra Meister, Senior Communications Manager at Prevent Cancer Foundation
Dr. Derek Rodriguez and Avanzando Caminos
Dr. Rodriguez is a childhood cancer survivor.
At UT Health San Antonio, he works up close and personal with cancer survivors like himself through his work with the Avanzando Caminos Hispanic/Latino Cancer Survivorship Study.
His position allows him to serve not only a community of survivors, but also the South Texas community he calls home.
“It’s a rewarding experience, because I get to not only be able to help a community that is [overlooked], but I get to share my experiences,” Rodriguez said in an interview with Salud America!
The study consists of a series of interviews and a few blood draws to find patterns in the experiences of Hispanic/Latino cancer survivors.
In the end, the data gathered from the study could lead to more resources and interventions that could help future generations of survivors.
Rodriguez also helps lead the Avanzando Salud Center, under the leadership of IHPR Director Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez.
The center focuses on the non-medical drivers of health and advancing cancer prevention, outcomes and survivorship through research, mentoring, and community engagement.
Share Your Cancer Journey With Avanzando Caminos
Rodriguez and the Avanzando Caminos team are recruiting 1,500 Hispanic and Latino cancer survivors in South Texas who have completed primary treatment for breast, lung, liver, stomach, colorectal, kidney, prostate, and uterine cervical cancers in the last 10 years.
In addition, cancer survivors must be 18 years old or older to participate.
The study, led by Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez, who also leads Salud America!, and the Mays Cancer Center, consists of seven study visits that take place over five years.
Each assessment is made up of interviews accompanied by a few blood draws.
Participants are also eligible to receive $50 per visit.
Visit the Avanzando Caminos website (Español) to fill out a pre-qualification form and member of Ramirez’s and Rodriguez’s team at the IHPR at UT Health San Antonio will be in touch. Or contact the team at 210-562-6514 or caminos@uthscsa.edu.
By The Numbers
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