Annual Meeting Program Highlights

Independence HallAmerican Public Health Association 137th Annual Meeting & Expo 
Philadelphia, PA
November 7-11, 2009

The Pennsylvania Convention Center (PCC) will house the Public Health Expo, Registration, the Opening General Session, Poster Sessions as well as hundreds of scientific sessions, social hours and business meetings. Scientific sessions have also been scheduled at two nearby hotels. Discounted APHA hotel rates will be available at 20 downtown hotels. The Guide to the Location of Sections, SPIGs and Caucuses will provide a snapshot of where sessions for each subgroup will take place. Check the Final Program to determine the location of specific events.

What's New?
  • Advance Registration and Housing are now closed! Advance registration and Housing will reopen on June 1, 2009.
  • 2008 Online Program Check here for comprehensive session details!

  • APHA Message Center is now closed! Take advantage of the opportunity to network with your friends and colleagues before the meeting begins. The APHA Message Center enables you to search for any registered attendees. Messages can be accessed on site from the two message centers in the Pennsylvania Convention Center (one in the Mix & Mingle Lounge, and the other in APHA Expo).

  • Opening General Session - Will take place on Sunday, November 8th from 12:00pm to 2:00pm at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.
  • An Evening of Entertainment - will take place on Sunday, November 8 from 6:30pm-7:30pm.
  • Special Sessions - Now on Monday from 8:30am-10:00am as well as Tuesday and Wednesday from 10:30am-12:00pm.
  • Closing General Session - The Closing General session will take place on Wednesday, November 11th at 2:30pm to 4:00pm.

Highlights of the Meeting

The APHA Annual Meeting theme is "Water and Public Health: the 21st Century Challenge." Much of modern public health began with major concerns for being able to supply potable water and to remove wastes.  The initial rewards in health and development were demonstrably great.  However, today much of the world’s population still has no potable water. In the United States, public water systems are aging, raising concerns regarding drinking water quality due to contamination from hazardous and non-hazardous waste.  Water is central in infectious disease transmission including vector borne disease and widespread childhood gastrointestinal illnesses.  The increase in bottled water usage has led to concerns regarding related environmental impact, cost and potential lower fluoride exposure. Battles over water rights are decades old, and sections of the U.S. are suffering repeated droughts.  Concerns regarding the impact of global warming on water supply add to concerns regarding the rationality of the use of water for housing developments and sprawl in deserts and along costal areas without attention to water restriction, conservation, damaging rains, floods, and hurricanes.  The theme will address the role of water in promoting and preserving health and in developing policy, programs and research to provide the foundation for appropriate management and use of water by the public for the public-- both in the US and throughout the world.

Scientific Sessions - The Annual Meeting consists of more than 900 scientific sessions, roundtables, poster sessions, institutes and panel discussions at which over 4,000 scientific papers will be presented. View the Online Program for details. Presenter acceptance emails will be sent on June 1st.

  • Special Sessions - Cutting edge educational programming presented by prominent Public Health experts will be featured. Special Sessions will be held on Monday at 8:30 am-10:00 am as well as Tuesday and Wednesday from 10:30 am-12:00 noon.
  • APHA Learning Institutes - Full and half-day educational programs designed to provide an in-depth learning experience in the latest public health trends and topics. They are held on Satuday and Sunday (Nov. 7-8, 2009) immediately prior to the start of the APHA Annual Meeting & Exposition.
  • Continuing Education Credits- Complete on-line evaluation and receive your CE certificate by email.
  • APHA Public Health Expo - APHA Booths and Exhibit Hall Events: Everything APHA, Public Health CareerMart, electronic information center, Virtual Expo
  • E-ssential Learning - Online scientific session presentation recordings

  • RSS IconAnnual Meeting Blog - With hundreds of events to choose from, stay up-to-date and help keep the conversation going by checking out the daily APHA Annual Meeting blog! Postings begin shortly before the Annual Meeting begins and go throughout the meeting, covering scientific sessions, social events and more. Subscribe after June 1st to the blog for free and receive updates in your e-mail.

  • Mix & Mingle Lounge
  • Public Health Awards Reception and Ceremony
  • Environmental Initiatives and the APHA Annual Meeting - look for updates on the 2009 Annual Meeting in June 2009.
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