Call for Proposals

1. The Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH) invites oral and poster proposal submissions for our 2026 Annual Meeting for Academic Public Health March 18-20 in Arlington, VA.

   ASPPH is seeking proposals for innovative ideas, promising practices, and practical solutions that address challenges and advance opportunities in graduate and undergraduate academic public health.

   Proposals must be submitted to one of seven program areas. Program areas are intentionally broad to encourage submissions from the innovative and collaborative field of academic public health. We are particularly interested in how members demonstrate the following within each program area:

   1. Executing responsible and ethical use of AI and technology
   2. Mobilizing to address local, national, or global public health challenges
   3. Supporting and implementing the values of institutional excellence

   Please carefully review all the information below before starting your submission. Submissions are due Friday, October 03, 2025, at 11:59 PM PT. For any questions or additional information, please contact meetings@aspph.org.

2. Program Areas

   Our call for proposals has seven program areas—please click on the program area title below for a description of each area.

   1) Academic Public Health Research

   
   

   Submissions to this program area could include but are not limited to those that highlight the future of academic public health and research partnerships, implications of artificial intelligence utilized as a part of public health research, impactful and successful community-based participatory research models, public health as a STEM field, research and interventions that show promise for enhancing population health, NIH or CDC funding of prevention and implementation science, and innovations in qualitative and quantitative research methodology. We are especially interested in programmatic examples that have embraced the value of teaching and applied practice as part of academic research portfolios.

   2) Managing Institutional Operations, Effectiveness, and Innovation

   
   

   This program area focuses on the strategies, initiatives, and collaborations developed by schools and programs of public health to increase their effectiveness, enhance institutional excellence and support innovation. We are seeking proposals on a variety of topics relevant to finance and administration, including innovative talent management strategies, collaborations and partnerships in support of new and existing programs, and budget and financial models that enhance institutional excellence and support innovation.

   3) Policy and Advocacy

   
   

   Proposals submitted under this program area should be those that contribute to the further understanding of the interconnectedness of policies at the university/institution, community, local, state, regional, or federal level that impact structures designed to ensure healthy outcomes for everyone everywhere. Proposals demonstrating examples of academic-community partnerships with health departments, federal agencies, and/or NGOs that are designed to leverage resources and overcome barriers and structures that impede positive health outcomes are especially welcomed, including the role of advocacy and policies.

   4) Strategic Communications, Marketing, and External Engagement

   
   

   We are seeking proposals that showcase innovative approaches to marketing and communications in public health, emphasizing the critical role of effective messaging and outreach in promoting public health to the press, partners, potential/current students and/or local communities. We seek proposals that showcase cutting-edge strategies for engaging diverse communities, leveraging digital platforms to maximize impact, and disseminating public health information - including research and thought-leadership pieces. Successful case studies, theoretical frameworks, and evidence-based practices can inform and advance the field of public health communication and marketing. Submissions highlighting interdisciplinary approaches and partnerships between schools and programs of public health, public health professionals, communication experts, and technology innovators are particularly encouraged.

   5) The Student and Alumni Journey

   
   

   This program area seeks submissions that provide examples of innovative and diverse programs, activities, strategies, or placements that promote the various pathways for students to enter public health careers. Submissions to this area could detail innovative or promising practices in K12 and community college partnerships or pathways programs, admissions/recruitment, career services, alumni relations/development, staffing for success, and advising. Proposals are sought that approach both undergraduate and graduate issues. Successful case studies, theoretical frameworks, and evidence-based practices can inform and advance the field of public health communication and marketing. Submissions highlighting interdisciplinary approaches and partnerships between schools and programs of public health, public health professionals, communication experts, and technology innovators are particularly encouraged.

   6) Teaching and Learning

   
   

   This program area aims to respond to the question: “How is academic public health using high-impact and evidence-based educational strategies and practices to prepare current and future generations of learners to protect the public's health?” Submissions are sought for exemplars demonstrating generative AI; models and projects that incorporate innovations and technology in the curriculum; scholarly teaching and learning, such as flipped classrooms, learner-centered methodologies, and engaging students with community-driven research; interprofessional education for collaborative practice; culturally responsive pedagogies; responses to the Framing the Future 2030 call to action; micro-credentialing and badging; and competency-based education, among other topics.

   7) Workforce Development and Applied Practice

   
   

   This program area is intended to highlight academic training that develops and strengthens the public health workforce to protect and promote the health of all people in all populations. We are seeking proposals in the areas of public health workforce research, workforce competencies and training, professionalization and credentialing of the workforce, diversity and belonging, and academic and practice linkages, including academic health department models and collaborations to advance student training (i.e., applied practice experiences and integrative learning experiences), as well as workforce recruitment and retention.

3. Session formats

   
   

   1. Oral (15-20 minutes paired with complementary submissions)
   2. Poster
   
   NOTE: If a submitter wishes to submit a proposal for a full one-hour session, please email meetings@aspph.org for instructions.

4. Submission Deadline

   Submissions are due Friday, October 03, 2025 by 11:59 PM PT.

   Proposal Notification

   Submitters will be notified via email of their proposal status in early December 2025. Please make sure your email address is correct and up to date to receive the notification.

   Registration and Membership

   Membership is not required to submit a proposal or to register for the meeting. If your proposal is accepted for presentation, the presenting author(s) MUST register for and attend the 2026 ASPPH Annual Meeting for Academic Public Health in Arlington, VA.

5. Proposal Requirements

   Please review the proposal requirements before starting your submission:

   1. Submitters must select a program area.
   2. Individuals may submit more than one proposal but may NOT submit the same proposal to more than one program area.
   3. The proposal text may contain up to, but not more than, 500 words. No images, charts, or tables are allowed.
   4. All proposals must be free of commercial intent.
   5. No fees are required to submit a proposal; however, if your proposal is accepted, the presenting author(s) MUST register for and attend the meeting.
   6. Incomplete proposals will not be reviewed/accepted.
   7. To begin, click the "Begin a submission" button at the bottom of the page.