Adelita G. Cantu, PhD, RN, FAAN
Associate Professor
I am a nationally recognized doctoral prepared expert, specializing in public/community health nursing and clinical nursing research. My program of science in teaching, service and research has been focused on building healthy communities through the enhancement of public and community health grounded in the Socio-Ecological Model as a framework to prevent disease and promote health and wellbeing at primary, secondary, and tertiary levels of prevention. Through my teaching, research, and service, I have impacted health in communities, neighborhoods, and families.
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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
- 2021 Inducted as a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing
- 2019, Charlotte Brody Award
- 2019, Innovations in Education Award
- 2016, Academy of Master Teachers
- 2016, Presidential Teaching Excellence Award
Appointments
- 2016 - Present - Associate Professor - UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
- 2019 - 2021 - Medical Dental Staff - University Health System, Rehab Medicine, San Antonio
- 2015 - 2016 - Associate Professor - UT Health San Antonio, Department of Family and Community Health Systems
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Instruction & Training
- 2021, NURS 4217: Pop-Focused Health: Clinical Application, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
- 2021, NURS 4227: Pop-Focused Health: Clinical Application, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
- 2021, NURS 4327: Pop-Focused Health: Theory, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
- 2012 - present, NURS 4317: Pop-Focused Health: Theory, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
- 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
Submitted and Not Funded or Unfunded Research/Projects:
- 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
- 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
- 2021-2022, SON PTAC Chair
- 2020-2021, SON PTAC Vice Chair
- 2019-2020, SON PTAC Member
- 2022, STX-MSTP 12th Annual Retreat SOM Judge
- 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
Service to the Profession
- 2011- present, Steering Committee Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments
- 2017 - present, Manuscript Reviewer, International Journal of First Aid Education
- 2021 to present Member, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion Committee American Academy of Nursing
- 2021 to present Member, Environmental and Public Health Expert Panel American Academy of Nursing
- 2022 Member, Committee Public Health Nursing Organizations American Public Health Association
- 2022 Manuscript Reviewer, International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction
- 2020-present Manuscript Reviewer, Journal of Aging and Health
- 2018 - Present, Manuscript Reviewer, Global Journal of Health Science and 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
- 2021-2022 Cochair COSA COVID-19 Contact Tracing Workgroup
- 2019 to present Program Developer/Member SA KIDS B.R.E.A.T.H.E
- 2018 to present Member South Texas Asthma Coalition
- 2021 to present Vice Chair COSA Climate and Equity Committee
- 07/2018 - 2021 Member COSA Climate and Equity Technical Working Group.
- 2022-present Vice Chair CPS Energy Rate Advisory and Generation Planning Committee
- 2021-present Member CPS Energy Citizens Action Committee
- 2021-2022 Organizer UT Health SA Mobile COVID-19 Clinics
- 2021-present Member Committee on Accreditation for Anesthesia Technology Education
- 2021 to present Member Community Response and Equity Committee (COVID-19)
- 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
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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)