December 17, 2024

In this one-hour webinar, which is part of the Hot Topics series, the presenters (Cassandra Mohan, MSPH, Research Associate, and Seun Aluko, MPH, Lead Research Scientist, from the Population Health Innovation Lab (PHIL)) will the research behind the Equity Framework for Outbreak Response and Prevention in Healthcare Settings and offer guidance for how LHDs can work with healthcare facilities and the community towards implementing equity focused outbreak response and prevention interventions. By the end of the webinar, participants will be able to describe the concepts of health equity and have a better understanding of how to collect data and metrics that can inform outbreak response and prevention work.

Learning Objectives

  • Describe the concepts of health equity and how they can be applied to outbreak response and prevention in healthcare settings
  • Collect data and metrics that can inform outbreak response and prevention work
  • Understand how to apply the Equity Framework and develop targeted interventions for the upcoming respiratory outbreak season

November 17, 2024. In this one-hour webinar, which is part of the Hot Topics series, Kat Kelley, Lead Analyst – Syndemics at NACCHO, S. Garrison Carruth, Public Health Administrator III at CDPH, and Sylvia Dziemian also from CDPH, will define syndemic approaches and highlight various strategies used by local health departments (LHDs) to address the syndemic. The presenters will also discuss how LHDs can advance syndemic approaches to more effectively address the intersecting epidemics of HIV, STIs, hepatitis, tuberculosis, and overdose. By the end of the webinar, participants will be able to identify common barriers that affect this work and identify strategies local health departments can use to address HIV, STIs, hepatitis, tuberculosis, and overdose.

Learning Objectives

  • Define the term “syndemic” and describe the value of a syndemic approach for local public health
  • Identify strategies local health departments can use to address HIV, STIs, hepatitis, tuberculosis, and overdose as a syndemic approach, and reference CDPH’s syndemic approach as a concrete example of syndemic implementation
  • Describe common barriers that affect local health department’s ability to advance syndemic approaches.

October 29, 2024. In this one-hour webinar, which is part of the Hot Topics series, Peter Rabinowitz MD, MPH, a Professor of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, Family Medicine, Global Health and Medicine at the University of Washington, and Heather Hill, RN, BSN, the Deputy Director to the Health Officer at Benton-Franklin Health District, will discuss how one local health jurisdiction has created a One Health Team and uses its concepts to connect work across all programs within the agency and community. They will cover both local applications and global developments of the One Health concept. The presentation will include a brief background on this initiative and some potential barriers to its efforts. The presenters will then share some ways to overcome these barriers and offer steps you can take to explore greater use of One Health.

Learning Objectives

  • Explain the One Health concept and how it is relevant to public health practice in this region
  • Describe three steps to implement One Health concepts at the local health jurisdiction level
  • Describe statewide and regional applications of the One Health approach

September 24, 2024. In this one-hour webinar, which is part of the Hot Topics series, Gretchen Armington, MA, the Deputy Director of the Center for Innovative Diagnostics for Infectious Diseases (CIDID) at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the Program Director for I Want The Kit (IWTK), along with Alicia Edwards, MPH, CHES, the HIV/STI Communications Manager in the Syndemic Support Department at the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board (NPAIHB), and Cody Knight MPH, CPH, Program Manager on the Southern Plains Tribal Health Board will tell the story of STIs in Indian Country. The presentation will include a brief historical background of American Indian/Alaska Natives (AI/AN) in the United States, social determinants of health, the rates and locations of STIs in Indian Country, and the IWTK intervention. The presenters will also share some preliminary data on uptake to date, information on successes, limitations, and practical next steps.

Learning Objectives

  • Discuss elements of the historical background of AI/AN populations in the United States, especially regarding health care.
  • Identify rates and locations of STIs in Indian Country.
  • Explain IWTK as a service and how it works for clients and health practitioners.

August 27, 2024. In this one-hour webinar, which is part of the Hot Topics series, Dr. Kristie Ebi, a professor at the University of Washington’s Department of Global Health and the founder of the Center for Health and the Global Environment (CHaNGE) at the School of Public Health, will explain how health adaptation and mitigation can reduce the current and projected burdens of climate-sensitive health outcomes over the short term, and examine potential emission and development scenarios into the next century. The presenter will also discuss sustainable development pathways, which could delay but not eliminate associated health burdens. By the end of the webinar, participants will be able to explain some of the health benefits associated with the key policies that aim to mitigate the effects of greenhouse gas emissions.

Learning Objectives

  • Identify the major health risks of climate variability and change, including the sources of vulnerability to those risks
  • Identify highly vulnerable populations domestically and globally
  • Identify key interventions to promote climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable health systems
  • Outline the health benefits of mitigation policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions


July 30, 2024. In this one-hour webinar, which is part of the Hot Topics series, Lilly Deerwater, Economic Inequity & Health Program Manager, Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility and Esther K. Chung, Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington and Seattle Children’s Hospital, will discuss the political landscape of Earned Income Tax Credits, with a focus on the Pacific Northwest. The presenters will also provide ways to take action and connect families with these programs. By the end of the webinar, participants will understand the basics of Earned Income Tax Credits and other cash assistance programs, as well as be able to describe the health outcomes associated with cash assistance programs.

Learning Objectives

  • Understand the basics of Earned Income Tax Credits and other cash assistance programs
  • Describe the health outcomes associated with cash assistance programs
  • Apply knowledge to connect families with resources and take political action

June 25, 2024. In this one-hour webinar, which is part of the Hot Topics series, Jackie Qataliña Schaeffer, Iñupiaq, Director of Climate Initiatives, will explain how receding glaciers, rising sea levels, increasing temperatures, permafrost thaw, and other influences are impacting Alaska's rural and indigenous populations. The presenter will also discuss strategies to protect these communities. By the end of the webinar, participants will be able to identify climate threats to public health in rural Alaska and have a better understanding of the inequities with processes for state and federal funding and resources.

Learning Objectives

  • Identify climate threats to the health of rural Alaska communities
  • Understand inequities within state and federal processes for funding and resources

May 15, 2024. In this one-hour webinar, which is part of the Hot Topics series, Tia Benally, Malcolm Clay, Brooke Ambrose, and Emma Diffendal will offer their personal perspectives on how they have remained resilient and found opportunities for growth in their careers. By the end of the webinar, participants will better understand some of the challenges that new public health professionals face and consider ways to support early career staff in public health organizations of all sizes.

April 30, 2024. In this one-hour webinar, which is part of the Hot Topics series, Seth Fritsch, MPH, Founder of Seth Fritsch Consulting, will review the updated framework that is centered on community organizing and partnership development and includes three assessment areas: Community Status, Community Partners, and Community Context. The presenter will also discuss how to use the framework materials to evaluate CHI efforts. By the end of the webinar, participants will be able to  recognize the components of the MAPP 2.0 framework and identify materials to support current CHI endeavors.

Learning Objectives

  • Recognize the components of the MAPP 2.0 framework
  • Use MAPP 2.0 materials to evaluate past CHI efforts
  • Identify MAPP 2.0 materials to support current CHI efforts

March 26, 2024. In this one-hour webinar, which is part of the Hot Topics series, Abraham Flaxman, PhD, an Associate Professor of Health Metrics Sciences at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington, will focus on generative artificial intelligence and the role it plays in enhancing or hindering the work to improve population health. He will include a live demonstration with tools such as ChatGPT.

Learning Objectives

  • Define Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI)
  • Assess the relevance of GenAI to challenges in population health
  • Use a GenAI tool like ChatGPT for a task that you do not like doing, cannot do fast enough, or cannot afford to do.

February 27, 2024. In this one-hour webinar, which is part of the Hot Topics series, Paula Kett, PhD, MPH, RN, a research scientist at the University of Washington’s Center for Health Workforce Studies, and Dany Zemmel, MPH, the Training and Engagement Manager at the Region V Public Health Training Center, will focus on the components of public health practice that are important for health equity competencies. They will also discuss recommendations to improve workforce development and training, such as explicit naming of the effects of structural racism, application of new concepts, and skill development. These skill areas include identifying, influencing, and implementing policies, community engagement, and cross-sector partnership building.

Learning Objectives

  • Describe two to three factors associated with greater knowledge of and confidence in addressing health equity among governmental public health staff
  • Identify at least two characteristics associated with staff-reported involvement in work to address racism as a public health crisis
  • Discuss recommendations to improve workforce development and training focused on advancing health equity

January 30, 2024. In this one-hour webinar, which is part of the Hot Topics series, Josh Gryniewicz, CEO of the social change consultancy Odd Duck, will focus on strategies to navigate deceptive messaging across the media. Josh will discuss the misinformation continuum, with a special emphasis on distrust, the importance of storytelling and building trust, and other essential keys to navigating misinformation. He will then discuss actions that will help public health practitioners build trust for pro-health outcomes in their communities.

Learning Objectives

  • Assess the types of misinformation/disinformation that infect a media ecosystem
  • Define the five essential keys to navigating a media ecosystem to build trust
  • Establish concrete actions community-based organizations can take to navigate a complicated media ecosystem

December 19, 2023. During this one-hour webinar, which is part of the Hot Topics series, Beau Ohlgren, MSc, Jefferson County Transgender Support Group leader, and Jackie Levin, MS, RN, Patient Advocate and Transgender Care Navigator, will focus on gender-affirming care strategies implemented at Jefferson Healthcare. This rural care network has been a leader in exploring unique approaches for providing successful, equitable care to trans and gender nonconforming patients. Beau and Jackie will articulate reasons for the value of gender-inclusive care, with a special emphasis placed on inclusive care training for all staff. They’ll identify barriers within facilities that can affect trans and gender nonconforming patients and will help describe a path forward to compassionate care for all.

Learning Objectives

  • Describe the value of gender-inclusive care.
  • Understand the importance of gender-inclusive training for all staff.
  • Identify barriers within facilities to trans and gender nonconforming patients. 
  • Define a path toward more gender-inclusive care within health systems.  

November 28, 2023. During this one-hour webinar, which is part of the Hot Topics series, Avanti Adhia and Nikki Van Wagner will provide a thorough background on the public health impacts of sexual violence among adolescents. Avanti is an Assistant Professor at UW who focuses her research on preventing interpersonal violence, while Nikki is a Program Consultant with the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). After providing context for the impacts of sexual violence among adolescents, Avanti and Nikki will then explore new research from a pilot study on prevention strategies conducted at middle schools in Washington state. They’ll conclude by examining the challenges that school-based prevention efforts often encounter.

Learning Objectives

  • Understand the burden and health consequences of sexual violence among adolescents.
  • Explore evidence-informed approaches to sexual violence prevention.
  • Describe the need for school-based prevention efforts to reduce sexual violence.
  • Discuss challenges and recommendations for conducting school-based prevention programs and research.

October 31, 2023. During this one-hour webinar, which is part of the Hot Topics series, Michelle Campbell, the Director of the Center for Data Modernization and Informatics at the Washington State Department of Health, and Janet Baseman, the Interim Chair of the University of Washington’s Department of Epidemiology and a member of the NWCPHP’s Research Team, will summarize findings from a joint effort to advance data modernization for public health in Washington. Their discussion will focus on the accomplishments and goals that have emerged from their partnership, with an eye toward improving partner involvement and driving ongoing initiatives.

Learning Objectives

  • Explore the importance of data modernization for state and local public health stakeholders.
  • Describe how gap analyses can inform data modernization efforts.
  • Understand how workforce training is an important component of data modernization initiatives.
  • Describe the value of leveraging state and academic partnerships to advance data modernization.