“Focusing on the PUBLIC in Public Health: Strengthening public health through community engagement & collaboration across disciplines”

Hosted by the Institute for Public Health

This year’s Washington University Public Health Annual Conference will focus on vital public health-related collaboration between the university and our community; collaboration on critical public health issues with state, regional and local leaders; and the outstanding  public health work conducted by faculty, staff and students across all seven schools at Washington University in St. Louis. 

Following in the 16-year tradition of the Institute for Public Health Annual Conference, the 2023 conference is a joint effort between Office of the Provost, WashU’s Here and Next Initiative, and the Institute for Public Health.  This year, the conference will extend to two days, taking place in person on both days.

October 23 (evening) – Graham Chapel (Danforth Campus)

The Johns Hopkins University William C. and Nancy F. Richardson Professor in Health Policy, Darrell J. Gaskin, PhD, MS, will present a keynote address. Gaskin is director of the Hopkins Center for Health Disparities Solutions and a health economist who “advances community, neighborhood and market-level policies and programs that reduce health disparities.” Audiences can join Gaskin in a panel discussion with St. Louis public health leaders to be moderated by WashU Vice Provost for Interdisciplinary Initiatives, Mary McKay, PhD, MSW. An hors d’oeuvres reception completes the evening.

October 24 – EPNEC (Medical Campus)

Day two of the conference begins at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, October 24, at the Eric P. Newman Education Center (EPNEC) on WashU’s Medical Campus. The Larry J. Shapiro Director of the Institute for Public Health, William G. Powderly, MD, will offer opening remarks and discuss the university’s latest advances in public health, followed by an update on the university’s Here & Next strategic plan from Vice Provost McKay. Physician, epidemiologist and author, Sandro Galea, MD, MPH, DrPH, dean and the Robert A. Knox Professor at Boston University School of Public Health, will present a keynote address. Day two audience members can participate in a Q&A following two panel discussions:

• Leveraging Community Collaboration & Research to Achieve Equitable Public Health, moderated by the Steven H. and Susan U. Lipstein Distinguished Professor of Public Health, Ross Brownson, PhD.  
• Public Health as a Cross-Disciplinary & Equitable Endeavor: Essential Needs & Concepts, moderated by Professor of Medicine and co-Director of the Center for Community Health Partnership and Research, Angela L. Brown, MD.  

Lunch, a poster session and exhibits from WashU departments and public health community partners round out day two of the conference.

Please visit our event page for more information.