It’s that time again! The annual meeting for the American Public Health Association starts on October 24th with a twist–this year, the meeting is being held virtually. Everything from social events to scientific sessions will take place online. While I will miss seeing old and new friends in person, I am excited about the meeting. Public Health is always crucial, but this year the meeting feels even more urgent as we continue to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year’s theme, “Creating the Healthiest Nation: Preventing Violence,” has taken on renewed meaning, particularly concerning racism. Racism is, and always has been, a public health crisis, and APHA has been actively educating, advocating, and creating policy statements. Many members are actively engaged in advocacy and research to advance racial equity. The 2015 webinar series, “Advancing Racial Equity” is an excellent tool for learning about racism and its effects. Preventing violence is a theme that touches many areas of our lives. The breadth of the program is a key strength of this year’s meeting.
You can browse the full program online. There are many incredible events scheduled. As an extra benefit, the scientific sessions are being recorded, and the recordings are included with registration so you won’t have to choose between sessions.
Medical Care Events
The Medical Care Section has an incredible program planned (see our sessions here). While I can’t hope to cover every amazing session, I’ll highlight a few:
- 21st Annual Donabedian Award Session: Challenges and Opportunities to Improving Health and Health Care for Vulnerable Populations (Monday 10/26, session 3215.1). Dr. Ana Lopez-De Fede is a Research Professor and the Associate Director at the Institute for Families in Society at the University of South Carolina. She will present her work on “Transformational and Applied Research: A journey in search of quality through a health equity lens ” as the keynote 21st Annual Donabedian awardee lectureship. Evan Rusoja, MD, Ph.D., a Quality and Safety Innovations Fellow at Alameda Health System in California and an Attending emergency medicine physician, will discuss caring for patients during the COVID-19 pandemic in Oakland, California, and lessons learned on strengthening the safety net.
- Medical Care Section Student Paper Competition (Tuesday 10/27, session 4306.2). This year we will honor 4 students for their excellent papers. The session will be a wonderful opportunity to see some fantastic research on many different topics.
- An Evening with Chesa Boudin – Chasing Justice (Tuesday 10/27, session 432.0). This year, DA Boudin will share his own journey towards criminal justice reform, describing the story of his parents’ participation in a crime that led to their incarceration for his entire childhood and explains how it tied into his career as a public defender and then to his election as the District Attorney of San Francisco. Alison O Jordan will provide context as the APHA liaison to the National Commission on Correctional Health Care. Together, they will explore the impact of the criminal legal systems and their hopes for Chasing Justice.
Section Business Meetings
We will also be hosting several social and business meetings. Please feel free to attend. We’d love to have you!
- Orientation – Welcome to Medical Care (Tuesday 10/20)
- MC Happy Hour (Friday 10/23)
- Policies and Committees Session #1: (Saturday 10/24)
- Policy Reports (first hour)
- Followed by Committee Meetings Session #1: Drug Policy Committee and Military & Veteran Health (second hour)
- The Medical Care Section’s Journal and Blog (Sunday 10/25)
- Committee Meetings Session #2: Justice and Incarcerated Health and the Health Equity Committee (Sunday 10/25)
- Committee Meeting Session #3: Rural and Frontier Health (Wednesday, 10/28)
Our members have been working at a breakneck pace this year. Many of them are at the forefront of the pandemic providing patient care. Many others have been working to influence policy, create evidence, support decision-makers, run programs and facilitates, and mentor students. We are all dealing with personal and professional upheaval this year. I hope that the annual meeting will allow us to recharge and learn from one another. I look forward to connecting with you all over the coming several days.
Jess Williams