Discover how strategic outreach, intentional feedback loops, and innovative student engagement can build a strong and effective academic-practice linkage. This session will explore the creation and growth of an Academic Health Department (AHD) model designed to strengthen partnerships between a state health agency and multiple academic institutions. Participants will learn how the Tennessee Department of Health AHD secured formal academic partnerships with twelve universities, enhanced student practice experiences, and established mechanisms to provide actionable feedback to universities on student career readiness. The session will also highlight how building a multi-university AHD can strengthen public health training by aligning academic preparation with public health practice. Attendees will learn replicable strategies for developing or advancing an AHD model that creates meaningful, mutually beneficial engagement – and ultimately supports a stronger, more prepared public health workforce.

Presenter: Casie Higginbotham, MS, CPH, MCHES, Academic Health Department Director, Office of Human Resources and Talent Management, Tennessee Department of Health

What makes a strong workforce development program? Join this interactive session to learn the basics of workforce development planning and action. Explore why workforce development is important, how workforce development plays a role in health department accreditation, how retention and recruitment relate to workforce development planning, and opportunities to better meet workforce development needs within your organization.

Presenters:

• Sonja Armbruster, MA, Performance Improvement Expert, PHF
• Ron Bialek, MPP, President and CEO, PHF

This session will introduce the basic tenets of quality improvement (QI) and performance management (PM) framed in a public health accreditation context. Participants will receive help on how to identify areas of strength and areas for improvement in their agency’s current QI/PM practices through an agency assessment tool.

Presenter: Amanda McCarty, MS, MBA, MHA, Performance Improvement Expert, PHF

Creating a sustainable culture of quality improvement (QI) requires more than tools—it demands intentional leadership practices that engage people, align purpose, and embed improvement into daily work. This session explores practical leadership strategies that foster both continuous improvement and joy in the workplace. Participants will examine how QI is foundational to high-performing public health organizations and how leaders can move beyond formal projects to cultivate an everyday “improvement mindset.” The session highlights the powerful connection between Joy in Work and QI, demonstrating how elevating staff voices can directly enhance performance and innovation. Through real-world examples and applied frameworks attendees will learn how to create conditions where staff feel empowered to identify problems, test ideas, and contribute to meaningful change. The session will also introduce actionable strategies such as leading safe-to-fail experiments, using structured “What matters to you?” conversations, and integrating simple QI tools into daily routines. Emphasis will be placed on leadership behaviors that reduce resistance to change, build trust, and encourage participation across all levels of an organization. By the end of the session, participants will walk away with practical approaches to embed daily improvement, strengthen engagement, and lead a culture where quality and joy reinforce one another—resulting in stronger teams, better outcomes, and more resilient organizations.

Presenters:

• Mona Zuffante, PhD, MPH, Chief Public Health Officer, Winnebago Public Health Department
• Sonja Armbruster, MA, Performance Improvement Expert, PHF

Organizations today are navigating a level of change that has become the norm rather than the exception. Workforce transitions, evolving community needs, shifting priorities, technological advances, and changing funding landscapes are reshaping how organizations operate and how leaders make decisions. In this environment, success depends on more than having talented people. It requires systems that preserve knowledge, support good decision-making, and enable organizations to adapt without losing momentum when circumstances change. This session explores how organizations can move from relying on individual expertise and informal workarounds to building sustainable practices that strengthen resilience over time. Through stories, real-world examples, and practical tools, participants will learn how to identify hidden vulnerabilities, build shared ownership, and transform recurring challenges into opportunities for organizational growth. Drawing on experiences from health departments and community-focused organizations across the country, the session demonstrates how leadership, workforce development, strategic planning, financial stewardship, quality improvement, and community engagement work together to create organizations that remain effective through change. Participants will leave with practical strategies for strengthening organizational capacity, preserving institutional knowledge, and building systems that help their organizations remain strong, adaptable, and still standing no matter what comes next.

Presenter: Jade Ramsdell, MBA, Performance Improvement Director, Kansas Department of Health and Environment

Artificial intelligence is moving from conversation to implementation — and public health is no exception. This session offers a candid look at real-world AI adoption in action, featuring insights from PHF’s immunization AI pilot program and the local health departments putting it into practice. Rather than a broad overview of AI’s potential, attendees will hear directly from those navigating the opportunities and challenges of implementation on the ground. Whether your agency is just beginning to explore AI or already taking steps forward, this session will offer honest lessons, practical takeaways, and a look at what’s possible when public health leads with intention.

Presenter: Jack Moran, PhD, Senior AI and Quality Advisor, PHF

Public trust and meaningful policy engagement are at the heart of effective public health leadership. This closing panel brings together local health department commissioners, directors, and communications experts for a candid conversation about how agencies can strengthen community relationships and navigate today’s policy landscape. More details and speaker announcements coming soon.

Panelists:

• Carol Moehrle, Vice President, Programs, PHF