PRESS RELEASE
January 12, 2021
Contact:
Veronica Mikitka Reed, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The Mid-Atlantic Regional Public Health Partnership Hosts First Annual Public Health Conference
“Empowering Communities to Address the Social Determinants of Health” will address the most pressing public health issues in the region
PHILADELPHIA – The Mid-Atlantic Regional Public Health Partnership, a coalition comprising Pennsylvania Public Health Association, Delaware Academy of Medicine/Delaware Public Health Association, and Maryland Public Health Association, will host the first annual virtual Mid-Atlantic Public Health Conference on January 14-15, 2021.
“The ongoing pandemic has spotlighted the critical work of public health and reminded us that public health issues don’t recognize state lines,” said Stephanie Shell, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Public Health Association. “The creation of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Public Health Partnership and our first annual conference is a key strategy in our efforts to work together to create a strong public health infrastructure for the well-being of our residents and communities across Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland.”
The 2021 virtual conference “Empowering Communities to Address the Social Determinants of Health” will provide public health students, professionals and partners across our region with the opportunity to learn about and engage in discussions on innovative strategies addressing the most pressing issues in the region.
The conference’s keynote address will be delivered by Dr. Leana Wen, emergency physician and Visiting Professor of Health Policy and Management at the George Washington University School of Public Health. Other notable speakers include Dr. Rachel Levine, Secretary of Health for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Professor of Pediatrics and Psychiatry at Penn State College of Medicine; Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, Vice Dean for Public Health Practice and Community Engagement at Johns Hopkins University, and former Secretary of the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene; and Dr. Karyl Thomas Rattay, Director of the Delaware Division of Public Health.
The breakout sessions will focus on issues including: racism as a public health crisis, criminal justice, LGBTQ health, neighborhoods and the physical environment, food insecurity and chronic disease, gun violence, opioid crisis, vaccination, immigrant health, housing, and maternal and child health. Every session will have a public health expert from each state to bring a regional perspective to the discussion of these important issues.
For more information visit: https://midlantic.org/.
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About Pennsylvania Public Health Association
Pennsylvania Public Health Association (PPHA), a subsidiary of Public Health Management Corporation and a state affiliate of the American Public Health Association, is an all membership organization working to promote the health of Pennsylvania residents. PPHA does this through the advancement of sound public health polices and practice.
About Maryland Public Health Association
The Maryland Public Health Association (MPHA), a nonprofit and one of the oldest state affiliates of the American Public Health Association, is a state-wide organization of public health professionals dedicated to improving the lives of Marylanders. MdPHA champions health equity through advocacy and community collaborations.
About Delaware Academy of Medicine/Delaware Public Health Association
Delaware Academy of Medicine is a private, nonprofit organization founded in 1930 with a mission to enhance the well-being of the community through medical education and the promotion of public health. The educational initiatives span the spectrum from consumer health education to continuing medical education conferences.
Delaware Public Health Association (DPHA) was officially reborn at the 141st Annual Meeting of the American Public Health Association (APHA) held in Boston, MA on November 5, 2013. DPHA works to enhance the well-being of the Delaware community through education and the promotion of public health. This is accomplished through professional and lay education, advocacy efforts, partnerships with like-minded individuals and entities, and with guidance from national organizations including the American Public Health Association and the National Academy of Medicine.
