Background

As digital advancements shape the way health information is accessed, shared, and utilized, understanding the implications for equitable health outcomes becomes paramount. Addressing misinformation concerns, ensuring digital access for all, leveraging AI for precision health, and enhancing quality of life through assistive technologies are crucial discussions in the pursuit of inclusive, effective public health strategies. This conference provides a timely platform to dissect these intricacies and equip practitioners with the insights needed to navigate the evolving landscape of health in the digital age. Work from the 2023 Summer Institute has helped to guide and frame the objectives and goals for the 2023 conference.

 

Goal

To bring together public health and other related professionals to foster cross-disciplinary dialogue and collaboration, exploring the intersection of digital innovation, public health, and AI. By addressing digital equity, misinformation challenges, and innovative solutions, we strive to equip attendees with insights and strategies to harness technology’s potential for equitable health advancements in the digital age.

 

Objectives

Participants attending the two-day conference will increase public health and wider societal capacity and stimulate knowledge transfer by attaining the following objectives. These objectives are designed to encourage participants to act and provide guidance on how participants can motivate others to take action.

Learning Objectives:

1. Develop an in-depth understanding of how artificial intelligence impacts the dissemination of misinformation and disinformation in public health contexts. Explore effective strategies for identifying and countering the negative effects of AI-generated misinformation while harnessing AI’s potential to improve public health practices.
2. Acquire insights into the crucial role of digital equity in public health and its influence on reducing health disparities. Explore ways to promote equal access to digital resources, bridge the digital divide, and ensure that marginalized populations have the necessary technological tools to engage effectively with health information and services.
3. Explore innovative applications of AI and technology that advance public health practices. Gain an understanding of how AI-powered solutions can enhance disease surveillance, optimize resource allocation, and support evidence-based decision-making through expert-led discussions and real-world instances, revealing the transformative potential of these technologies.
4. Examine the role of assistive technologies in promoting healthy aging and maintaining independence among older adults. Explore successful implementations and challenges to uncover effective ways to leverage technology, address the unique needs of the aging population, improve their quality of life, and ensure that older adults can participate fully in the digital era.

Operational Objectives:

1. Encourage participants, including intersectoral partners, to apply new knowledge, skills and/or resources in their activities during and following the conference.
2. Attract people working in related sectors as participants in the conference.
3. Facilitate a knowledge exchange between PHABC members, non-members, government officials, health authority representatives, etc.

 

Thank you all who attended the 2023 PHABC Conference!

We look forward to welcoming you all to the 2024 PHABC Conference next November!