State Leaders Convene to Shape the Future of Public Health
From May 23 to 25, 2023, the Wisconsin Public Health Association (WPHA) and the Wisconsin Association of Local Health Departments and Boards (WALHDAB) hosted their annual Public Health Conference in Middleton, Wisconsin. The three-day event served as a dynamic forum for public health professionals, policymakers, educators, and community leaders to collaborate, share innovations, and strategize around the evolving challenges and opportunities in public health.
With hundreds of attendees from across the state, the 2023 conference focused on rebuilding and strengthening public health systems in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as addressing long-standing issues such as health inequities, workforce shortages, and rural health access.
Key Themes and Conference Objectives
The conference centered around three major pillars:
1. Health Equity and Community Engagement
Sessions emphasized the importance of equity-focused public health strategies that reflect the needs of Wisconsin’s diverse communities. Speakers explored methods to eliminate racial and socioeconomic disparities in health outcomes, improve maternal and child health among marginalized populations, and ensure that health messaging is culturally and linguistically appropriate.
Interactive panels highlighted successful community partnerships that have led to improved vaccine uptake, chronic disease prevention, and environmental health awareness in both urban and rural settings.
2. Workforce Development and Resilience
Recognizing the unprecedented strain placed on the public health workforce during the pandemic, the conference featured discussions on recruitment, retention, and mental health support for public health professionals. Presenters addressed the need for sustainable funding to support local health departments and stressed the importance of training programs and academic partnerships to develop the next generation of public health leaders.
A spotlight session was dedicated to burnout prevention and trauma-informed leadership, acknowledging the toll of the past few years on frontline workers.
3. Innovation and Emerging Health Challenges
Workshops and plenaries showcased data-driven approaches to managing emerging threats such as opioid addiction, youth mental health crises, and environmental health hazards. Innovations in public health informatics, telehealth integration, and rural health outreach were highlighted as scalable solutions to persistent barriers.
A key session on climate change and public health examined how extreme weather patterns, air quality issues, and environmental degradation are reshaping local health priorities.
Building Cross-Sector Collaboration
One of the defining features of the WPHA-WALHDAB conference is its ability to bridge silos by bringing together professionals from government agencies, tribal health organizations, academic institutions, and nonprofit entities. The 2023 gathering continued this tradition, with a strong emphasis on collaborative governance, interagency data sharing, and inclusive policy development.
Local health departments shared case studies illustrating how cross-sector alliances have strengthened their ability to respond to crises, from pandemic surges to water safety concerns.
A Platform for Action and Continued Learning
In addition to keynote presentations and panel discussions, the conference offered skills-building workshops, poster presentations, and networking events aimed at fostering professional growth and peer learning. Attendees left the conference equipped with actionable strategies and tools to implement in their respective communities.
WPHA and WALHDAB leaders closed the event by reaffirming their shared mission: to elevate the visibility and value of public health in Wisconsin and to advocate for robust, resilient, and equitable public health systems statewide.
Source:
WPHA-WALHDAB Annual Public Health Conference
