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Amelie G. Ramirez, Dr.P.H., M.P.H.

Professor

Director of Institute for Health Promotion Research, Chair of the Department of Population Health Sciences at UT Health San Antonio

Associate Director of Cancer Outreach and Engagement at Mays Cancer Center

U.S. Latinos face a troublingly higher risk of disease—from obesity and diabetes to certain cancers—than their non-Latino peers. These health disparities exist for many reasons, including cultural, socioeconomic, and environmental factors. Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez is director of the Institute for Health Promotion Research (IHPR), chair of the Department of Population Health Sciences, and associate director of cancer outreach and engagement at the Mays Cancer Center, all at UT Health San Antonio. The IHPR, founded in 2006, investigates causes and solutions to cancer and chronic disease disparities to improve Latino health in San Antonio, South Texas and the nation. The IHPR has a faculty and staff of researchers who specialize in population health, prevention and screening, and health promotion and communication in issues of obesity, cancer, tobacco, nutrition, physical activity, and more among Latino and underserved populations. The IHPR’s official charter is to: conduct research, interventions and outreach projects on health disparities and health equity; train scientists and mentor students; and communicate findings and tools with researchers, academics and advocates using websites, social media, news media, public service announcements, scientific articles and reports, and more. The IHPR is the headquarters for Salud America!, a national program that uses innovative, evidence-based research and communications to educate and activate an online network of more than 300,000 advocates to promote healthy change and equity for Latino and all families (www.salud-america.org; @SaludAmerica on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube). Salud America! synthesizes research findings and data into culturally and linguistically relevant dissemination of health awareness-building content, role model stories and videos to stimulate health behavior changes and lay-friendly tools and action opportunities to drive grassroots system and policy changes. In addition, the IHPR has led studies on patient navigation, cancer screening and clinical trial enrollment, and incorporating the latest mobile technologies—smartphone apps, text messaging programs, and social media innovations—to improve health behaviors among Latinos, including a bilingual messaging service to help young adults quit smoking (https://quitxt.org/). Dr. Ramirez also has personally trained and/or mentored over 300 Latino undergraduate and pre- and post-doctoral students, as well as early-career faculty members, instructing about research design, methods, data analysis, and career development. Dr. Ramirez’s recognitions include 2007 election to the National Academy of Medicine, 2011 White House “Champion of Change,” 2014 Everett M. Rogers Public Health Communication Award from APHA, and 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society of Behavioral Medicine. Dr. Ramirez is on the San Antonio Mayor’s Fitness Council and is President of The Academy of Medicine, Engineering and Science of Texas from January 2019 to January 2021. Dr. Ramirez, a native of Laredo, Texas, earned MPH and DrPH degrees from UT Health Science Center at the Houston School of Public Health.