Adelita G. Cantu, PhD, RN, FAAN
Associate Professor
My outstanding contributions include a 40-year career trajectory focused on decreasing the burden of health disparities primarily through public health nursing (PHN). As an active educator, clinician, scholar, collaborator, and advocate, I am an early pioneer in the contributions and impacts of PHN acting upon social determinants of health to increase community wellness. I developed the Air Quality Youth Leadership Academy, a program educating minority youth on air quality and its impact on health triangulated with presentation skill development and youth-driven community presentations or Acts of Leadership. The program educated 90 students over 3 years. This unique project has been praised by city leaders and used as a model for environmental health youth development programs across the nation. Through my research on environmental health, I worked with UT Pan Am and Texas A&M Rural Public Health and formed an innovative academic-community partnership to increase understanding about how Lower Rio Grande residents in colonias make daily decisions about exposure risks to a local EPA Superfund site. Our work led to policy changes as well as modifying signage better explaining the dangers of fishing at the site. I collaborated with a local youth community-based arts agency to create 3 public service announcements aimed at raising awareness in impoverished communities about environmental stewardship and the active role they can play in ensuring a healthy community. Regionally I am a member of the CPS Energy Citizen’s Action Council, representing the voices of over 10,000 residents emphasizing the energy needs and climate change impacts of impoverished communities in their development of policies for a sustainable future.
I was first to develop a climate change module to be used in teaching of population health. Due to this expertise, I have been asked to provide consultations at 4 regional community agencies. I spearheaded the participation of public health students in disaster recovery in Rockport, TX after Hurricane Harvey, using this as a unique clinical experience demonstrating how disasters exacerbate inequity. I shared the impact of this work internationally, in Ireland. I was instrumental in the initiation and facilitation of a poverty simulation used campus-wide (nursing, medical, dental, health professions) as an interprofessional teaching tool for increasing understanding of poverty within the context of social determinants of health. Students were able to reflect about the realities of living on a low income but more importantly how the situation informs patients’ decisions, particularly relative to health and health care. My unique style of guiding and debriefing during simulation has led to consultations using this simulation across Texas (Dallas, Cuero, Rio Grande Valley, Laredo). Currently I am working with a team as a co-investigator testing 3 different diabetes management strategies for rural Hispanic residents and a consultant to a study examining understanding social determinants of health among homeless veterans.
Exemplary professional impact includes: 1) Past Chair, Board of Directors and Steering Committee Member of the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments; 2) Past Board of Directors Texas Nurses Association; 3) Founding Member and Board of Directors for International Association of Latino Nurse Faculty and 4) Board of Director National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN). For NAHN, I created the curriculum for Muevete!, a childhood obesity program that was conducted in 10+ chapters across the nation. I was a member of the US Preventive Services Task Force and my scholarly impact is evidenced by assisting with authoring 17 publications that had impact on national evidenced-based health screening standards. I am a member of the National Red Cross Scientific Advisory Council and have produced 4 scientific reviews of first aid techniques to be used in Red Cross First Aid classes.
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Professional Background
Education
- 2016 - Internship - Population Health (None) - The Climate Reality Project
- 2008 - Postdoctoral Fellowship - Multidisciplinary Clinical Research - University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
- 2006 - Clinical Fellowship - Cultural Competency (Attended a year-long fellowship program designed to develop leaders in cultural competency in health care.) - Health, Research and Educational Trust
- 2006 - Doctor in Philosophy - Clinical Nursing Research - The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
- 1985 - Master of Science - Community Nursing Administration - Texas Women's University
- 1977 - Bachelor of Science in Nursing - Nursing - Incarnate Word College
Highlights
Licensure and Certifications
- Registered Nurse
Honors and Certifications
- 2019, Charlotte Brody Award
- 2019, Innovations in Education Award
- 2016, Academy of Master Teachers
- 2016, Presidential Teaching Excellence Award
Appointments
- Present - Professor - UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
- 2019 - 2021 - Medical Dental Staff - University Health System, Rehab Medicine, San Antonio
- 2016 - Associate Professor - UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
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Instruction & Training
- 2020, NURS 7111 Advanced Nursing” Seminar, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
- 2020, NURS 7511 Advanced Nursing: Clinical Application, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
- 2020, NURS 4217 Pop-Focused Health: Clinical, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
- 2020, NURS 4317 Pop-Focused Health: Theory, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
- 2020, NURS 4227 Pop-Focused Health: Clinical, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
- 2020, NURS 4327 Pop-Focused Health: Theory, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
- 2020, NURS 7312 DNP Practice Inquiry Seminar, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
- 2020, NURS 7313 DNP Practice Inquiry: Clinical Application, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
- 2020, NURS 4217 Pop-Focused Health: Clinical, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
- 2020, NURS 4317 Pop-Focused Health: Theory, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
- 2019 , OCCT 7020 Teaching and Leadership in OT, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
- 2019, NURS 6250 Advanced Health Promotion, Health Protection, & Disease Prevention, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
- 2019, NURE 7115 Application of Research in Nursing (Practicum), UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
- 2019, NURS 3275 Psyc & Mntl Hlth Nurs: Clinical, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
- 2019, NURS 7511 Advanced Nursing: Clinical Application, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
- 2019, NURS 4217 Pop-Focused Health: Clinical, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
- 2019 , NURS 4317 Pop-Focused Health: Theory, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
- 2019 , NURS 7312 DNP Practice Inquiry Seminar, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
- 2019, NURS 4217 Pop-Focused Health: Clinical, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
- 2019, NURS 4317 Pop-Focused Health: Theory, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
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Research & Grants
Grants
Currently Funded:
- 2018 - 2022, Funder: Health Resources and Services Administration/163694, $2,583,704.00. Title: ACORN: Advancing Community-Oriented Registered Nurses. Role: Co-Investigator
- 2017 - 2022, Funder: Colgate. Title: Global Alliance for a Cavity-Free Future/Colgate-Palmolive. Role: Co-Investigator
- 2016 - 2021, Funder: National Institute of Nursing Research/ GRANT11925781, $2,389,447.00. Title: Healthy Frio. Role: Co-Investigator
Pending Submissions:
- 2020 - 2021, Funder: Institute of Integration of Medical Sciences, $47,580.00. Title: Virtual GO! Arts: Remote Community-Based Professionally Taught Art Classes Delivered to Low Income Minority Older Adults. Role: Principal Investigator
Submitted and Not Funded or Unfunded Research/Projects:
- 2018 - 2018, Funder: Methodist Healthcare Ministries, $50,000.00. Title: External Evaluator for a Community-Based Nursing Program. Role: Principal Investigator
- 2014 - 2017, Funder: National Institute of General Medical Sciences. Title: PU2B2S: Preparing Undeclared Undergraduates in Bio-Behavioral Sciences. Role: Principal Investigator
Completed Research/Projects:
- 2019 - 2020, Funder: UT Health San Antonio, $4,000.00. Title: Trifecta: When Social Determinants of Health, Interprofessional Education and School Based Prevention Program Meet. Role: Co-Investigator
- 2018 - 2019, Funder: Private Trust, $30,000.00.Title: Program Evaluation of Ignite Solutions. Role: Principal Investigator
- 2016 - 2018, Funder: Aetna Foundation, $99,999.12. Title: Cultivating Citizen Scientists to Co-Create Healthy Communities. Role: Principal Investigator
- 2016 - 2018, Funder: Aetna. Title: Youth Air Quality Leadership Academy.
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Service
School
Student Mentees/Trainees
- 2019 - 2019 SUNRISE Mentor, Undergraduate Student Supervision, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing. Mentoring Jacob Carmichael, an undergraduate nursing student who is a SUNRISE Research Scholar. This summer he is working with the ADA Project Power Camp, doing the data entry and analysis. This program is a week long camp for Hispanic youth that are at risk for type 2 diabetes.
- 2018 - 2018 Masters of Public Health Supervisor, The George Washington University. School of Public Health. I supervised the MPH internship for Ernest Ybarra from GWU. He worked on my program evaluation project for Ignite.
- 2017 - 2017 Ronald E. McNair Research Mentor, Undergraduate Student Supervision, UT Health San Antonio. I will mentor a pre nursing student from Trinity University enrolled int he McNair Research Scholar Program.
Institutional
- 2019 - Present, UT Health SA, School of Nursing Holistic Admissions Reviewer
- 2016 - Present, UT Health SA IIMS Pilot Project Study Section (P2S2), Member
- 2015 - Present, UT Health SA Grant Reviewer for the IIMS Community Pilot Project Reviewer
- 2013 - Present, UT Health SA, School of Nursing Frontera de Salud, Faculty Representative
- 2012 - Present, UT Health SA, School of Nursing Juntos Podemos Leadership Advisory Committee, Advisory Committee Member
- 2011 - Present, UT Health SA Scholarship Advisory Group and Reviewer, Advisory Committee Member
- 2011 - Present, UT Health SA, School of Nursing Hispanic Latin Faculty Association, Board of Directors
- 2009 - Present, UTHSCSA One Community One Book Planning Committee, Faculty
- 2008 - Present, UTHSCSA Community Service Learning Conference, Program Committee
- 2008 - Present, UTHSCSA Center for Medical Humanities and Ethics Community Service Learning Mini-Grants, Internal Reviewer
- 2003 - Present, UT Health SA Latin/Hispanic Faculty Association, Officer
Service to the Profession
- 2018 - Present, Manuscript Reviewer Global Journal of Health Science and Nursing
- 2015 - Present, Manuscript Reviewer Public Health Nursing Journal Manuscript reviewer for Public Health Nursing Journal
- 2015 - Present, Board Member International Association of Latino Nurse Faculty
- 2008 - Present, Reviewer McMaster PLUS/PIER/EB Journals Manuscript reviewer for evidence based practice journals.
- 2008 - Present, Developer Muevete (Move) USA
- 2019 - 2021, Mentor SON Faculty UTHSCSA
- 2020 - 2020, Manuscript Reviewer American Nurse Today
- 2019 - 2020, Mentor ANHE Environmental Health Nurse Fellowship Program
- 2020, Manuscript chapter reviewer 10th edition of Rector, C. Community and Public Health Nursing
Professional Affiliations
- 2010 - Present, UTHSCSA Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Member
- 2010 - Present, Texas Nurses Association, Member
- 2007 - Present, National Association of Hispanic Nurses, Member
- 2003 - Present, Western Institute of Nursing, Member
- 1985 - Present, American Nurses Association, Member
Community Service
- 2017 - Present, Manuscript Reviewer International Journal of First Aid Educations
- 2012 - Present, Board Member Ella Austin Community Center
- 2011 - Present, Board Member Bihl Haus Art Gallery
- 2010 - Present, Chair Healthy Futures of Texas
- 2009 - Present, Member Prosumer Mujeres
- 2009 - Present, Panel Member Breast Cancer Screening Task Force
- 2008 - Present, Participant H-E-Body Adventure: The Full Body Experience
- 2008 - Present, Member Healthy Futures Alliance
- 2006 - Present, Member Future Nurses Board
- 2006 - Present, Pre Nursing Advisor HRSA grant, Avanzar
- 2006 - Present, Member San Antonio Health Literacy Initiative
- 2004 - Present, Member Leadership Council
- 2003 - Present, Member Center for Health Care Services Adult Mental Health Planning Advisory Board
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Publications
Peer-reviewed Articles (*indicates data-based)
- Salt P, Sickora D, Page D, Martinez M, Cantu P, Schwab P, Lee P. “We Didn’t Forget”: Utilizing a Community-Nurse Partnership to Promote Health in Rockport Texas After Hurricane Harvey Public Health Nursing 2020 Jan
- Rios, Janelle Ramsey, Steve Raun, Loren Montemayor, Lisa Miller, Aubrey Cantu, Adelita. Improving Hurricane Harvey Disaster Research Response Through Academic-Practice Partnerships American Journal of Public Health 2019 May
- Bridges, BS, Karina. Camp PowerUp: An Evaluation of An American Diabetes Association Program To Target Children At Risk For Developing Type-2 Diabetes International Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolic Disorders 2018 May;4(1):1-5.
- White CL, Cantu A, Motz D, Patterson Michele, Caron JL, Birnbaum LA. Opportunities and Challenges in Secondary Stroke Prevention: A Mixed Methods Study Disability and Rehabilitation 2018 May
- Cantu, PhD, RN AG. Visualizing Environmental Injustice in Rockport, Texas 2018 Apr. Available from: http://climateforhealth.org/blog/visualizing-environmental-climate-injustice-rockport-texas
- Cantu AG, Fleuriet, K. Jill. Making the Ordinary More Extraordinary:” Exploring Creativity as a Health Promotion Practice Among Older Adults in a Community-Based Professionally-Taught Arts Program Journal of Holistic Nursing 2017 Mar.
Non-Peer-reviewed Articles (i. e. editorials, news articles, etc.)
- Cantu AG. Sociocultural Context of Physical Activity in Older Mexican American Women: A Life History Approach 2006.
Abstracts
- Cantu, PhD, RN AG. Impacting Practice: Using a Poverty Simulation to Develop Leadership Skills in Baccalaureate Nursing Students. 2017 Jul.
- Morris RM, White CL, Cantu AG, Trevino M. Interventions for Caregivers of Stroke Survivors: An Update of the Literature 2014. p. AWP299. (Stroke; vol. 45).
Invited Podium Presentations (i. e. keynotes presentations)
- 2020, Health Related Impacts of Climate Change, 9th Annual Peace and Conflict Studies Symposium, Austin Community College, Austin, TX (Panel)
- 2019, Public Health Implication of Zika Virus, Reception to Launch Zika Virus Exhibit, UT Health San Antonio School of Nursing, San Antonio, TX (Invited Speaker)
- 2019, Youth Engagement in Environmental Health, Environmental Exposures Affinity Session, Healthy Places by Design, San Antonio, TX (Invited Speaker)
- 2019, The Social, Economic and Health Care Costs of Poor Air Quality & EJ Strategies Moving Forward, Sierra Club Monthly Meeting, Sierra Club, San Antonio, TX (Invited Speaker)
Peer Reviewed Podium Presentations
- 2020, Trifecta: When Social Determinants of Health, Interprofessional Education and School Based Prevention Program Meet, 2020 Innovations Conference, Ken Shine UT Austin, Austin, TX (Co-Presenter)
- 2019, The Connection Between Health and the Environment, Leon Creek Town Hall, Southwest Workers Union, San Antonio, TX (Panel)
- 2019, Holistic Admission in Nursing: An Initiative to Increase Nursing Workforce Diversity, Nuts and Bolts for Nurse Educators: NEXT GEN LEARNING: From Critical Thinking to Clinical Judgment to NLCEX® and Beyond, NurseTim, Minneapolis, MN (Co-Author)
- 2019, Climate Change Champion and Youth Engagement, ANHE Nursing Summit, Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments, Nashville, TN (Panel)
- 2019, Cafe Conversations: Climate Action Steps at Home/Outside of Work, ANHE Nursing Summit, Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments, Nashville, TN (Panel)
- 2019, Trifecta: When Social Determinants of Health, IPE, & School-Based Prevention Meet, 6th Annual Cultural Inclusion Institute Conference, Office of Faculty Excellence, UT Health San Antonio School of Nursing, San Antonio, TX (Co-Presenter)
- 2019, Nursing in a Changing Climate: A Call to Action, Webinar, Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments, San Antonio, TX (Co-Presenter)