Public Health Association of BC Public Health Association of BC

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Conference 2024: Call for Abstracts deadline extended to Oct 18th 📣

Posted on October 10, 2024

Call for Abstracts extended to October 18th

Individuals and groups are invited to submit abstracts for one or more of the following presentation format(s):

  • Oral presentation (15-20 minutes)
  • Poster presentations (in-person “walk about” during poster session & on display both days)
  • Workshop (1.5 hours)

Oral presentations will take place across the first two days of the conference, with four sessions running simultaneously. Each presentation will be 15-20 minutes in length, offering a concise yet informative overview of topics related to the conference themes.

The poster session will be held at the end of the first day on the conference on November 21st and will be designed as a ‘walk-about’ in order to structure maximum interaction with the presenters and their work.

Workshops are intended to be an interactive opportunity to focus on a particular topic related to the conference themes in detail and/or to build skills or resources in relation to the theme.

 

 

 

Conference Details

Dates: November 21st and 22nd
Venue: Sutton Place Hotel
Address: 845 Burrard Street, Vancouver

All non-members purchasing two-day registration will receive a free one-year PHABC membership.

 

 

About the Conference

The Public Health Association of BC (PHABC) is thrilled to announce the theme of our 2024 conference, “Commercial Determinants of Health: Moving from Harmful to Healthy.”

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), we are the first public health association in the world to host a conference on the commercial determinants of health!

We are working with WHO and the National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health, and other notable partners to bring you an excellent, innovative and educational conference.

 

Conference Themes

  1. Taking action on industries that affect health: marketing, risks, and essential goods
  2. Building public sector strength: considering regulatory and functional opportunities
  3. Improving business practices: creating policies for healthier markets
  4. Rethinking economic development: sustainable approaches and cultural perspectives

 

 

Become a Sponsor

Our conference is only possible thanks to the continued efforts of numerous volunteers and the support of various partners and sponsors.

If you are interested in sponsoring the PHABC conference, or if you would like more information about the details of our request, contact us at conference@phabc.org.

 

 

PHABC Awards

Do you know someone or an organization in the public health community whose hard work and dedication deserves recognition? Nominate them for a PHABC award!

We accept nominations year-round for outstanding individuals and organizations.

This year’s deadline for the 2023 awards is October 28th, 2023.

Any nominations submitted after the deadline will be considered for the 2024 PHABC Awards.

PHABC Awards

Nomination Form

 

#DefeatMeningitis

Posted on October 4, 2024

What is Meningitis?

Meningitis is a serious and potentially life-threatening infection that causes inflammation of the membranes (meninges) surrounding the brain and spinal cord. It can develop rapidly and, without proper treatment, can lead to severe complications, including brain damage, hearing loss, or even death.

Meningitis can affect anyone, but certain groups, such as infants, teenagers, college students, and individuals with weakened immune systems, are at higher risk.

On October 5, 2024, we’re launching a nationwide effort to spread awareness about meningitis and its prevention. We need your help to make an impact! Share the message, educate your community, and protect those you care about by joining us in raising awareness.

Join the Movement to STOP Meningitis!

How You Can Get Involved:

Share on Social Media:

Help us reach more people by sharing our content with your network. Use the hashtag #WorldMeningitisDay and #DefeatMeningitis to show your support.

Host a Local Event:

Organize a meningitis awareness event in your community to educate others about the importance of early detection and vaccination.

Partner with Us:

Schools, businesses, and community groups can join our campaign to spread awareness and provide resources to those at risk.

Together, we can prevent meningitis and save lives. Get involved today and help us make October 5 a day of action!

For more information please visit the Meningitis Awareness site at www.meningitisawareness.org. 

Truth and Reconciliation: A Public Health Responsibility

Posted on September 29, 2024

Truth and Reconciliation is a commitment on an organizational, political, emotional and spiritual level. The Public Health Association of BC (PHABC) is honoured to carry such a responsibility, alongside our public health partners.

The Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA) defines public health as the organized effort of society to keep people healthy and prevent injury, illness and premature death. It is a combination of programs, services and policies that protect and promote the health of all Canadians.

PHABC endeavors to strengthen the foundation of decolonizing frameworks across all public health policies, projects and research. We recognize the immense privilege we hold provincially, nationally, and internationally, and we are dedicated to using our power to uphold, model, and enact real change.

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30th is a momentous federal statutory holiday. Real change only happens through daily actions. PHABC strives for Truth and Reconciliation across all our work every single day.

Resources:

Seed Library: Planetary Health Learning Garden

Posted on September 27, 2024

The Public Health Association of BC (PHABC) in collaboration with the Rural Coordination Centre of British Columbia, is pleased to share the Seed Library: Planetary Health Learning Garden.

The Seed Library is part of an initiative to grow capacity for planetary health workforce development to address health, equity and ecosystem imperatives. PHABC is dedicated to a transformative, integrative and collaborative ‘learning garden’ model designed to jump-start Planetary Health Workforce Development in Canada, and to connect and amplify global efforts.

Our key audiences include:

  • Indigenous learners and leaders
  • Health workers (public health workers, nurses, social workers, etc.)
  • Environment and ecosystems professionals (urban planners, emergency preparedness professionals, architects, engineers, land and water managers, etc.)
  • Cross-sectoral government professionals
  • Diverse educators, researchers and academics

PHABC is committed to the following transformative actions that can lead to real change:

  1. Identify and leverage existing strengths across diverse institutions (build on and share existing assets).
  2. Prioritise Indigenous leadership and knowledges in pilot design team, culture, content, and learners.
  3. Ground the BC Pilot in Indigenous-led land-based learning as a required part of the learning model.
  4. Promote cultural safety and equity – investing in capacity development that responds to the unique needs of communities with an overt emphasis to rural, remote and Indigenous communities.
  5. Foreground a systems-based, ecological perspective, reflecting the nested and connected nature of ecosystems, that demand attention: local, provincial, national, global.

 

Conference 2024: meet the SPC Co-Chairs

Posted on

 

#PHABCCon24: Meet the SPC Co-Chairs

We are pleased to introduce Dr. Claire Betker and Tina D. Purnat as our Scientific Program Committee Co-Chairs for our 2024 conference. 

Tina D Purnat is a Doctor of Public Health student and Prajna Leadership Fellow at TH Chan School of Public Health at Harvard University. Her DrPH studies focus on improving services to vulnerable and at-risk communities experiencing social, commercial, economic and health information inequities and barriers to health and wellbeing.

Claire is a Registered Nurse and, since March 2019, has been the National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health’s (NCCDH) Scientific Director. Prior to coming to the NCCDH, Claire was the Executive Director of the Population and Public Health Branch with Manitoba Health, Seniors and Active Living.

Learn more about Tina and Claire as well as the rest of our incredible Scientific Program Committee.

 

 

#PHABCCon24: Call for Abstracts

Individuals and groups are invited to submit abstracts for one or more of the following presentation format(s):

  • Oral presentation (15-20 minutes)
  • Poster presentations (in-person “walk about” during poster session & on display both days)
  • Workshop (1.5 hours)

Based on the restricted opportunities for oral presentations, we strongly encourage applicants to consider structuring their proposals, particularly if they are practice-based research, around a poster presentation.

The poster session will be held at the end of the first day on the conference on November 21st and will be designed as a ‘walk-about’ in order to structure maximum interaction with the presenters and their work.

Workshops are intended to be an interactive opportunity to focus on a particular topic related to the conference themes in detail and/or to build skills or resources in relation to the theme.

Abstract Submission Guidelines

Those submitting abstracts will be required to submit the following information:

  • Presenter & co-presenter(s) professional designations & contact information
  • Presentation format & conference theme(s)
  • Presentation title
  • An abstract of 250 words or less

Please note that the information provided in the abstract submission will be used to describe your presentation in the final program should your abstract be selected. Please ensure your description is accurate, fully proof-read and all presenters are listed.

If your abstract describes primary or secondary research, you are encouraged to submit an abstract covering: background, methods, results and discussion/conclusions.

Those submitting practice-based abstracts are encouraged to include information on: Purpose, focus/content, significance for the theme and target audience.

 

Conference Details

Dates: November 21st and 22nd
Venue: Sutton Place Hotel
Address: 845 Burrard Street, Vancouver

 

 

 

#PHABCCon24: Early bird registration now open

The Public Health Association of British Columbia, in collaboration with the National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health, is excited to introduce this year’s conference, focusing on the Commercial Determinants of Health (CDoH): From Harmful to Healthy.

We are the first association in the world to lead a conference on the commercial determinants of health!  Inspired by the World Health Organization’s (WHO) ongoing work on the global report addressing CDoH (linked here), this conference will examine how commercial entities, financial systems, and governments shape public and population health outcomes.

Register now for early bird rates. All non-members purchasing two-day registration will receive a free one-year PHABC membership.

Conference Themes

  1. Taking action on industries that affect health: marketing, risks, and essential goods
  2. Building public sector strength: considering regulatory and functional opportunities
  3. Improving business practices: creating policies for healthier markets
  4. Rethinking economic development: sustainable approaches and cultural perspectives

 

Conference Learning Objectives

  1. Develop a comprehensive understanding of commercial determinants of health (CDoH)
    • Define and explain the concept of CDoH, and identify key industries and commercial practices (e.g., tobacco, alcohol, ultra-processed foods, fossil fuels) that impact public health.
  2. Analyze public health’s role in addressing CDoH
    • Critically examine how strategies by commercial actors, including marketing, lobbying, and product development, shape health behaviors and outcomes, highlighting both positive and negative effects.
    • Examine core competencies for Public Health as they relate to CDoH
  3. Learn from successful interventions against harmful commercial practices
    • Explore case studies and stories of successful interventions that have effectively mitigated commercial risks to public health.
  4. Develop strategies for strength-based harm prevention
    • Address the identification and prevention of health harms caused by commercial activities, emphasizing the use of strengths-based language and approaches in public health interventions.
  5. Provide exemplars of commercial activities generating well-being economies

 

 

Become a Sponsor

Our conference is only possible thanks to the continued efforts of numerous volunteers and the support of various partners and sponsors.

If you are interested in sponsoring the PHABC conference, or if you would like more information about the details of our request, contact us at conference@phabc.org.

 

Volunteer at the Conference

Calling volunteers for our 2024 conference and gala dinner! Volunteers work a total of eight hours in exchange for free conference registration.

There are limited spots available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

If you’re interested in volunteering, please reach out to us at conference@phabc.org.

 

PHABC Awards

Do you know someone or an organization in the public health community whose hard work and dedication deserves recognition? Nominate them for a PHABC award!

We accept nominations year-round for outstanding individuals and organizations.

This year’s deadline for the 2023 awards is October 28th, 2023.

Any nominations submitted after the deadline will be considered for the 2024 PHABC Awards.

PHABC Awards

Nomination Form