Amelie Ramirez, DrPH, MPH, a cancer researcher at UT Health San Antonio, has received a two-year, $400,000 leadership grant from Susan G. Komen to investigate whether therapeutic yoga can improve recovery among breast cancer survivors.
The study will focus on Hispanic breast cancer survivors in South Texas, comparing therapeutic yoga with standard physical therapy over a 16-week period. Researchers will examine how the two rehabilitation approaches affect health-related quality of life, fatigue, and physical function.
The project represents a growing effort to address the physical and emotional challenges that can continue long after breast cancer treatment has ended.
Looking Beyond Breast Cancer Treatment
Completing treatment does not always mark the end of the cancer experience. Survivors may continue to face fatigue, reduced mobility, physical limitations, and changes in their overall quality of life.
Amelie Ramirez and her team aim to determine whether therapeutic yoga can offer an effective and culturally responsive approach to supporting survivors during recovery.
Therapeutic yoga combines controlled movement, breath regulation, and meditative practices. Unlike general fitness-based yoga, the approach is adapted to individual health needs and physical abilities.
“By focusing on the whole person and listening to survivor experiences, we hope to find more effective, culturally responsive ways to support recovery,” Ramirez said.
Amelie Ramirez is affiliated with the Institute for Health Promotion Research and the Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio.
Two Rehabilitation Strategies, One Central Question
The study will directly compare standard physical therapy with therapeutic yoga among Hispanic breast cancer survivors in South Texas.
Over 16 weeks, investigators will evaluate three principal areas:
- Health-related quality of life
- Fatigue
- Physical function
The comparison is intended to provide evidence on whether therapeutic yoga can complement or offer an alternative to more traditional rehabilitation approaches for survivors who require continued support after treatment.
The project had a scheduled start date of July 1, 2026.
A Multidisciplinary Team for Survivorship Research
Ramirez will conduct the study with co-principal investigators Gustavo J. Almeida, PhD, PT, and Nydia Tijerina Darby.
Almeida is an associate professor of physical therapy and assistant professor of orthopaedics at UT Health San Antonio. For more than a decade, his work has focused on improving physical function and quality of life among older adults with musculoskeletal conditions.
His research has also examined how exercise can help mitigate muscle loss, improve mobility, and support overall well-being.
“We are so grateful to Komen for this award, which could help us improve life for cancer survivors who need support beyond traditional rehabilitation,” Almeida said.
Darby is the owner of Nydia’s Yoga Therapy Studio in San Antonio and the author of Therapeutic Yoga Works: The Whole Mind, Body, Spirit Practice for Optimum Spine Health.
Together, the investigators bring expertise in cancer survivorship, population health, physical therapy, rehabilitation, exercise, and therapeutic yoga.
Part of a $15.4 Million Research Commitment
Ramirez’s award is part of $15.4 million in breast cancer research grants distributed by Susan G. Komen to 35 researchers across the United States.
The funding supports both established investigators who have made significant contributions to breast cancer research and early-career researchers developing new approaches to the disease.
Ann Partridge, MD, MPH, chief scientific advisor for Susan G. Komen, said the funded researchers are advancing the understanding of breast cancer while introducing innovations that can help patients receive high-quality care and maintain a strong quality of life following diagnosis.
Ramirez is also a Susan G. Komen Scholar. Her previous breast cancer research has contributed to efforts to increase screening rates, improve early detection, and support survivors throughout their cancer experience.
Her work has demonstrated how tailored patient navigation can help individuals receive more timely diagnosis and treatment after an abnormal mammogram.
About Amelie Ramirez
Amelie Ramirez is professor and chair of the Department of Population Health Sciences and director of the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio.
She also serves as associate director of cancer outreach and engagement at the Mays Cancer Center.
Her work extends across cancer prevention, survivorship, health communication, community engagement, professional training, and research participation.
Amelie Ramirez directs Salud America!, a national multimedia health program that develops stories and practical tools for a network of more than 400,000 community leaders working to support healthier families.
Through Salud America!, she also contributes to communication initiatives for the San Antonio Center for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Population Aging and Social Studies at UT San Antonio.
Amelie Ramirez is additionally involved in the COmmuNity eNgagEment for building Capacity, Trust, and Ownership of Research project, known as CONNECTOR. Funded by the American Heart Association, the initiative serves as a community engagement resource center supporting organizations that promote health across the country.
Expanding Cancer Research in South Texas
A major part of Ramirez’s work has focused on reducing the cancer burden among Latino communities and the wider population.
She launched the Avanzando Salud Center with support from a four-year, $4.08 million grant from the American Cancer Society. The center addresses the cancer burden and non-medical drivers of health affecting communities in South Texas.
Ramirez has also worked to increase participation in cancer and Alzheimer’s disease clinical trials. Her efforts include highlighting currently available studies, conducting educational webinars, and sharing the experiences of people who have participated in clinical research.
This work has received support from Genentech, a member of the Roche Group.
Ramirez also leads the South Texas site of the Avanzando Caminos study. The project aims to enroll 1,500 Latino cancer survivors in South Texas and another 1,500 survivors in Miami.
Researchers are examining the behavioral, psychological, biological, and medical factors that influence life after cancer.
Her cancer prevention work also includes Quitxt, a bilingual text-message service designed to help young adults stop smoking. The program is funded by the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas.
Preparing the Next Generation of Cancer Researchers
Alongside her research, Ramirez has trained or mentored more than 250 people working in health-related fields.
She leads Éxito!, a training program funded by the National Cancer Institute. The program supports master’s-level students and professionals interested in pursuing doctoral education and careers in cancer research.
Since 2011, Éxito! has trained 226 participants. More than 27% have enrolled in or graduated from a doctoral program.
Ramirez said the program is designed to help participants take the next step from a master’s degree toward doctoral training and careers focused on cancer research and prevention.
National Leadership and Recognition
Ramirez is an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine.
She serves on the prize juries for the Fries Prize for Improving Health Award and the Elizabeth Fries Health Education Award. In Texas, she is a member of the San Antonio Mayor’s Fitness Council and a past board president of The Academy of Medicine, Engineering and Science of Texas.
Her previous honors and leadership positions include:
2011: White House Champion of Change
2014: APHA Everett M. Rogers Public Health Communication Award
2018: Icons in Healthcare Award from CentroMed
2019: Lifetime Achievement Award in Health from the Society of Behavioral Medicine
2019: Bluebonnet Award from the Texas Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
2020: CDC Board of Directors
2021–2022: Chair of the Women in Cancer Research Council of the American Association for Cancer Research
2022: Outstanding Support Award from the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education
2023: Induction into the San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame
2023: Association of American Cancer Institutes Cancer Health Award
2024: John P. McGovern Lectureship Award in Health Promotion
2025: Sedgwick Memorial Medal for Distinguished Service in Public Health from the American Public Health Association
In 2022, Oprah Winfrey selected Ramirez as a “Cycle Breaker” in recognition of her work in public health.
Connecting Cancer Prevention, Treatment and Survivorship
Ramirez also created the ACRLP biennial conference series.
Launched in 2018, the conference continued in 2020, 2022, 2024, and 2026. It brings together international researchers, physicians, community leaders, patient leaders, and other stakeholders to address cancer across the full continuum, from prevention and treatment to survivorship.
The conference emphasizes translating research into clinical best practices, effective community interventions, and professional training programs.
Ramirez earned her DrPH and MPH degrees from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. She is a native of Laredo, Texas.
Through the newly funded study, Ramirez and her colleagues will now examine whether therapeutic yoga can provide breast cancer survivors with an additional path toward improved physical function, reduced fatigue, and a better quality of life after treatment.
Written by Nare Hovhannisyan, MD
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