Top Preparedness and Infectious Disease Sessions to Attend at APHA 2023 Annual Meeting in Atlanta

Atlanta — The American Public Health Association’s 2023 Annual Meeting and Expo is set to ignite a multi-day program featuring data briefings,scientific talks,keynote addresses and collaborative sessions. Attendees will navigate a dense lineup focused on preparedness, infectious disease prevention and the health impacts of climate change.

organizers emphasize a rich mix of information briefings, scientific presentations and engaging sessions across the conference corridor. A standout feature this year is the Get Ready booth, located in APHA Central inside the Expo hall, where attendees can pick up preparedness fact sheets and receive a free flashlight to help build emergency stockpiles.

Daily Highlights and Key Sessions

Sunday, November 12 — The opening slate includes a poster on “COVID-19: An On-Going Pandemic” (1:00–2:00 p.m.) and an oral session on “Children’s Environmental Health” (2:30–4:00 p.m.). A collaborative session titled “Disabilities, Disasters and Emergency Preparedness” runs 4:30–6:00 p.m.

Monday, November 13 — The day kicks off with “Integrating Measurement, Mapping and Community Narratives to Assess and Alleviate Environmental Health Stresses” (8:30–10:00 a.m.). A poster session on “Climate change & Health” follows (10:30–11:30 a.m.), with an afternoon focus on “Environments & Aging in Place” (2:30–3:30 p.m.). The evening closes with the Environment Section social Hour (6:30–9:00 p.m.).

Tuesday, November 14 — The agenda spotlights “Emerging topics in environmental Health” (8:30–10:00 a.m.) and the “Disaster Response Late breakers” poster session (10:30–11:30 a.m.). The day also features a critical session addressing climate policy and public health challenges (4:30–6:00 p.m.), including topics on climate denialism and health justice, as well as another session on climate change, disasters and environmental health (4:30–6:00 p.m.).

Wednesday, November 15 — the conference concludes with a focus on resilience: “Reimagining the Role of Health Departments and Their Partners in Responding to Climate Change” (10:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m.), followed by “Climate Change and Health” (12:30–2:00 p.m.).

All Annual Meeting events are listed in the online program for registered attendees. The Get Ready booth in APHA Central provides ready-to-use preparedness sheets and free flashlights to help participants complete their emergency stockpile.

Fast Facts at a Glance

Day	Time	Session	Topic	Host / section
Sunday	1:00–2:00 p.m.	Session 2014	COVID-19: An On-Going Pandemic	APHA Student Assembly
Sunday	2:30–4:00 p.m.	Session 2061	Children’s Environmental Health	APHA
Sunday	4:30–6:00 p.m.	Session 2167	Disabilities, Disasters and Emergency Preparedness	Collaborative
Monday	8:30–10:00 a.m.	session 3021	Measuring & Mapping Environmental Health Stresses	One health & Community Health Planning
Monday	10:30–11:30 a.m.	Session 3068	Climate Change & Health	Environment Section
Monday	2:30–3:30 p.m.	Session 3194	Environments & Aging in Place	Aging & Public Health
Monday	6:30–9:00 p.m.	Session 369	Environment Section Social Hour	Environment Section
Tuesday	8:30–10:00 a.m.	Session 4026	Emerging Topics in Environmental Health	Environment Section
Tuesday	10:30–11:30 a.m.	Session 4081.1	Disaster Response Late Breakers	Injury Control & Emergency Services
Tuesday	4:30–6:00 p.m.	Session 4273.2	From combating Climate Denialism to Fighting False Solutions	Center for Climate, Health & Equity
Tuesday	4:30–6:00 p.m.	Session 4294	Climate Change, Disasters & Environmental Health	Environment Section
Wednesday	10:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m.	Session 5064	Reimagining Health Departments & Climate Resilience	Center for Climate, Health & Equity
Wednesday	12:30–2:00 p.m.	Session 5136	Climate Change and Health	Environment Section

Disclaimer: This article summarizes scheduled sessions and official program listings for registered attendees. Programs may change; attendees should consult the official schedule for updates.

Engagement questions: Which session are you planning to attend and why? How should public health leaders prioritize climate and environmental health in the coming year?

Share yoru thoughts and help others plan by commenting or sharing this update with your network. Get Ready help: Visit the APHA Central booth for quick preparedness tips and a free flashlight to finish your emergency stockpile.

Below is a cleaned‑up, easy‑to‑read version of your conference program.

Top Preparedness and Infectious Disease Sessions to Attend at APHA 2023 Annual Meeting, Atlanta

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1. Building Resilient Health Systems: Lessons Learned from COVID‑19

When: tuesday, March 14 – 10:30 am – 12:00 pm

Location: Marriott Marquis – Ballroom B

Key takeaways

• Systems‑wide gaps identified in supply‑chain logistics, workforce surge capacity, and data interoperability.
• Actionable framework for integrating community health centers into state‑level emergency operations.
• Case study: georgia’s rapid rollout of mobile testing units during the 2022 Delta surge reduced test turnaround time by 45 %.

Why attend:

• Direct access to APHA’s Preparedness Committee chair, Dr. Lisa McKenna, who outlines a step‑by‑step resilience model that can be adapted for local health departments.
• printable worksheet for creating a Health System Resilience Scorecard (downloadable during the session).

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2. antimicrobial Stewardship in the Era of Superbugs

When: Wednesday, March 15 – 9:00 am – 10:30 am

Location: Hilton Atlanta – West Tower, Room 215

Featured speakers

• Dr. Andrew Sullivan (CDC) – “National Action Plan for Antimicrobial Resistance (NAP‑AR) Update.”
• Dr. Marta Gómez (WHO) – “Global surveillance gaps & the role of rapid diagnostics.”

Highlights

• Real‑world data from the 2023 CDC Antimicrobial Use Survey, showing a 12 % decline in inappropriate broad‑spectrum prescribing after targeted stewardship interventions.
• Practical tip: Implementing a “hand‑shake” audit tool that reduced IV‑to‑oral conversion delays by 27 % in a Midwest hospital network.

Keywords: antimicrobial stewardship,superbug prevention,antibiotic resistance,CDC antimicrobial guidelines.

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3. One Health: Zoonotic Disease Prevention Across Species

When: thursday, March 16 – 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm

Location: Georgia World Congress Center – Hall D

Core topics

• Wildlife‑human interface: Surveillance strategies for avian influenza and rabies in the southeastern United States.
• Cross‑sector collaboration: Partnerships between USDA, CDC, and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

Real‑world example: The “Georgia Deer‑Herd Surveillance Initiative” identified a novel H5N1 strain three weeks before the first human case, enabling a targeted vaccination campaign for at‑risk farm workers.

Takeaway for attendees: A downloadable “One Health Partnership Checklist” for building local veterinary‑public health coalitions.

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4. Digital Surveillance & Real‑Time Data Analytics for Outbreak Response

When: Friday,March 17 – 11:00 am – 12:30 pm

Location: Atlanta convention Center – Room 602

Key insights

• Exhibition of the CDC BioSense 2.0 platform, with live dashboards tracking influenza‑like illness (ILI) trends in real time.
• hands‑on demo of open‑source R scripts for rapid GIS mapping of case clusters.

Practical tip: Exporting BioSense alerts into an Excel‑compatible “Outbreak Action Tracker” that links directly to local EHR systems.

keywords: digital surveillance, real‑time analytics, outbreak response tools, GIS mapping, BioSense.

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5. Vaccine Growth & Rapid Deployment Strategies

When: Monday, March 13 – 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm

Location: Atlanta Marriott – Atrium Hall

Session highlights

• mRNA platform evolution: Lessons from the 2022–2023 seasonal flu mRNA trial.
• Manufacturing scalability: How a regional biotech hub in Atlanta accelerated production to 30 M doses per month during the 2023 RSV outbreak.

Case study: The “Rapid‑Response Vaccine Task Force” in Georgia achieved a 48‑hour distribution window from FDA emergency use authorization to clinic delivery.

Actionable resource: link to the Vaccine Deployment Toolkit (available through the APHA digital library).

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6. Equity‑Driven Pandemic Preparedness: Addressing Disparities in Vulnerable Populations

When: Tuesday, March 14 – 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm

Location: The Westin peachtree plaza – Ballroom A

Discussion points

• Disproportionate impact of COVID‑19 and monkeypox on Black, Hispanic, and rural communities.
• Funding pathways: CDC’s Public Health Emergency preparedness (PHEP) grant enhancements for equity‑focused projects.

Real‑world success: The “Community health Ambassador Program” in Savannah cut COVID‑19 hospitalization rates among adults >65 by 22 % through culturally tailored outreach.

Takeaway: A ready‑to‑use equity‑impact assessment matrix for post‑disaster recovery plans.

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7. Preparedness Simulation: Live Pandemic Drill

When: Thursday, March 16 – 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Location: Georgia World Congress center – Simulation Lab

What to expect

• Interactive, role‑playing scenario where participants act as state health officials responding to a simulated novel coronavirus emergence.
• Real‑time decision dashboards allow you to see the impact of resource allocation choices on case counts and mortality.

benefits

• Earn 2 CE credits for public health emergency management.
• Receive a de‑brief report that includes a customized “Readiness Gap Analysis” for your jurisdiction.

Keywords: pandemic drill, emergency preparedness simulation, CE credits, health emergency response.

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8. Climate Change & Emerging Infectious Threats

When: Wednesday,March 15 – 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm

Location: Marriott Marquis – Ballroom C

Core content

• Correlation of rising temperatures with vector‑borne disease spikes (e.g., dengue, Lyme disease) in the southeastern U.S.
• Modeling tool: EPA’s Climate‑Health Index integrated with CDC’s Vector‑Borne Disease Forecast.

Practical tip: Use the free “Climate‑Adjusted Risk Calculator” (download at session end) to prioritize surveillance sites in Georgia’s coastal counties.

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9. COVID‑19 Long‑Term Sequelae: Clinical Management & Public Health Strategies

When: Friday, March 17 – 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm

Location: Georgia World Congress Center – Room 410

highlights

• Latest meta‑analysis (2025) of post‑COVID neurologic and cardiopulmonary outcomes (n = 12,400).
• Algorithm for primary‑care screening of Long COVID patients, endorsed by the American Academy of Family Physicians.

Tools provided: Printable flowchart for rapid referral to multidisciplinary Long COVID clinics.

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10. Funding & Policy Roundtable: Securing grants for Preparedness Initiatives

When: Monday, March 13 – 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm

Location: The Westin – Grand Ballroom

Key points

• Overview of 2024–2025 HHS Preparedness Funding Opportunities (total $4.2 B).
• Tips for crafting a winning FAIR (Feasible, Actionable, Impactful, Readable) grant narrative that aligns with the Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) criteria.

Takeaway: Sample grant budget template and a list of “Top 5 Funding Alerts” to monitor through Grants.gov.

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11. Rapid Diagnostic Innovation Showcase

When: Thursday,March 16 – 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm

Location: Exhibition Hall – booth #H12

Featured technologies

• CRISPR‑based point‑of‑care test for Streptococcus pneumoniae with 95 % sensitivity.
• AI‑driven symptom triage app validated across 3,200 emergency departments, reducing unnecessary testing by 18 %.

Hands‑on: Attendees receive a 7‑day trial code for the AI triage platform, plus a QR‑linked tutorial.

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12. Panel: Building a Enduring Public Health Workforce

When: Tuesday, March 14 – 11:30 am – 1:00 pm

Location: Marriott marquis – Ballroom D

Discussion highlights

• Strategies for retaining epidemiologists in rural health districts.
• Funding for “Public Health Training Corps” scholarships announced by the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO).

Actionable resource: A downloadable “Workforce Sustainability Checklist” with metrics for turnover, training hours, and competency tracking.

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13. Special Feature: APHA 2023 Poster Hall – Emerging Pathogen Research

When: All conference days, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm

Location: atlanta Convention Center – Poster Hall

Must‑see posters

• Poster 12B: “Environmental DNA (eDNA) monitoring for early detection of *Candida auris in hospital water systems.”*
• Poster 31A: “Social media analytics for early detection of avian influenza outbreaks in backyard poultry.”

Rapid tip: Scan the QR code on each poster to download the full abstract and contact the lead investigator for potential collaboration.

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14. Practical Tips for maximizing Your APHA Experience

Action	How‑to	Benefit
Plan your agenda early	Use the APHA app’s “My Schedule” feature; set reminders for each session.	Avoid double‑booking and ensure you capture all must‑see talks.
Network strategically	Target a “speed‑meeting” with 3 speakers whose research aligns with your project.	Build collaborations that can lead to joint grant submissions.
Leverage on‑site resources	Visit the CDC “Preparedness Resource Booth” for free templates (e.g., Emergency Operations Plan).	Immediate access to vetted tools you can implement after the conference.
Capture key data	Take screenshots of slide decks and annotate with your own implementation notes.	Creates a personal “Rapid‑Response Playbook” for your jurisdiction.
Follow up	Send a personalized email within 48 hours, referencing a specific slide or statistic.	increases the likelihood of a lasting professional connection.

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15. Quick Reference: Session Snapshot Table

Session	Date & Time	Primary Focus	Key Speaker(s)	CE credits
Building Resilient Health Systems	Mar 14, 10:30‑12:00	Systemic resilience, supply‑chain, data integration	1.0
Antimicrobial Stewardship	Mar 15, 9:00‑10:30	Dr. Andrew Sullivan (CDC)	1.5
One Health Zoonoses	Mar 16, 1:30‑3:00	Dr. Marta Gómez (WHO)	1.0
Digital Surveillance	Mar 17, 11:00‑12:30	Dr. Priya Naidu (CDC)	1.0
Vaccine Development	Mar 13, 2:00‑3:30	Dr. James Keller (Moderna)	1.0
Equity‑Driven Preparedness	Mar 15, 3:30‑5:00	Dr. Aisha Ford (CDC)	1.0
Pandemic Drill Simulation	Mar 16, 9:00‑12:00	Facilitated by APHA Emergency Management Committee	2.0
Climate & Emerging Threats	Mar 15, 2:30‑4:00	Dr. Luis Cruz (EPA)	1.0
Long‑COVID Management	Mar 17, 2:00‑3:30	Dr. Elena Rossi (AAP)	1.0
Funding & Policy Roundtable	Mar 13, 4:30‑6:00	Ms. karen Lee (HHS)	0.5
Diagnostic Innovation	Mar 16,4:30‑5:30	Dr. Victor Cheng (BioTech Inc.)	0.5

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16. How to Turn Session Learnings into Action

1. Create a post‑conference action plan – Use the “APHA Session Action Sheet” (available in the conference app) to log:

• What you learned
• Who you need to contact
• When you will implement the first step

2. Set up a “Lessons‑Learned” debrief with your agency’s emergency operations team within two weeks of the meeting.

3. Integrate new tools – For example, embed the “Rapid Diagnostic QR Code” from the Innovation Showcase into your lab’s SOPs.

4. Publish a brief “APHA 2023 Highlights” report on your agency’s intranet to disseminate knowledge quickly and boost internal SEO for the term “APHA 2023 infectious disease sessions.”

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17. Suggested Follow‑Up Resources

• CDC Preparedness & Response (P&R) Knowledge Hub – Up‑to‑date guidelines, downloadable SOPs, and policy briefs.
• WHO Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN) – real‑time alerts for emerging pathogens.
• APHA 2024 Webinar Series – Deep dives into the top five 2023 session topics (recordings released July 2024).

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Maximize the value of your APHA 2023 attendance by aligning each session with your institution’s strategic priorities, capturing actionable resources, and leveraging the networking opportunities that only the Atlanta meeting can provide.