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People in South Texas experience many challenges with prostate cancer.
To address these challenges and help the community, join a new virtual presentation, “Prostate Cancer Awareness,” at 11 a.m. Central on Sept. 17, 2026.
The event will feature Dr. Patricia Chalela, a cancer researcher at UT Health San Antonio, and Sandra Sivak, a community cancer research coordinator at UT Health San Antonio. Both are part of the community outreach and engagement team at the Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio.
The virtual presentation is part of the “Every Cancer, Every Story: A Series of Conversations” webinar series, a collaboration of the Mid Rio Grande Border Area Health Education Center (AHEC) and Mays Cancer Center Office of Community Outreach and Engagement (COE) at UT Health San Antonio.
register for the presentation!
About Dr. Patricia Chalela of UT Health San Antonio
Patricia Chalela, DrPH, is an associate professor at the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio and the Associate Director for Education and Training Programs for the COE team at the Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio.
Dr. Chalela’s expertise includes social and behavioral sciences, health communications and health promotion.
She co-leads several studies involving the use of mobile technology to promote smoking cessation among young adults, improving adherence to endocrine hormonal therapy among breast cancer patients through a phone application, and implementing culturally tailored programs to increase participation of minorities in clinical research.
Her main research interests include chronic disease prevention and control, particularly the role of epidemiological, environmental, and individual psychosocial factors on health and disease, with an emphasis on Latino populations.
register for the presentation!
About Sandra Sivak of UT Health San Antonio
Sandra Sivak is a research coordinator at the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio.
She is a certified patient navigator, tobacco cessation specialist, and has training in motivational interviewing.
With graduate training in health communication and promotion, she coordinates cancer education research studies, supports participant engagement, and collaborates with community partners to promote cancer prevention, and early detection.
register for the presentation!
Webinar Series on South Texas Community Conversations
The “Every Cancer, Every Story: A Series of Conversations” webinar series is a collaboration of the Mid Rio Grande Border Area Health Education Center (MRGB AHEC) and Mays Cancer Center Office of Community Engagement and Outreach at UT Health San Antonio.
The MRGB AHEC was established in 1993 in Laredo, Texas. Since then, it has served Webb, Zapata, La Salle, Duval, Jim Hogg, and Dimmit Counties. In 2022, services expanded to include Willacy and Starr counties.
The Mays Cancer Center’s mission is to decrease the burden of cancer in San Antonio, South Texas and beyond.
“Education and information can be shared with family members, friends, and networks. They will share opportunities for care, screening, and support available at the Mays Cancer Center,” said Dr. Julie Bazan, MRGB AHEC Director.
To help reach the South Texas community, the Mays Cancer Center is supported by Salud America!, a national health communication organization that creates relevant and research-based stories, videos, and tools to inspire people to start and support healthy changes where all families can live, learn, work, and play.
The program is led by Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez.
Dr. Ramirez is chair and professor of Population Health Sciences and director of the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio, and leads the office of Community Outreach and Engagement at the Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio.
register for the presentation!
By The Numbers
25.1
percent
of Latinos remain without health insurance coverage
