Together We Thrive: Health Across the Lifespan
San Antonio | November 1-4, 2026
Held at the Henry B. González Convention Center
As the largest public health gathering of the year, APHA’s Annual Meeting and Expo convenes approximately 11,000 public health professionals and partners from around the world. Join us for this can’t miss opportunity to make lasting connections and learn from exhibitors, peers and today’s leaders. Together, let’s ensure health for all across the lifespan.
APHA Women’s Leadership Institute
Please note: There is an $85 fee to attend.
Rooted to Rise, Ready to Flow: Moving Boldly to What’s Next
Welcome to an experience designed to help you honor where you've been, embrace who you are and move confidently toward what's next. This year’s Institute celebrates the power of staying grounded in your values while embracing new opportunities for growth and leadership.
Whether you are just beginning your career journey, stepping into a new leadership role or preparing for your next chapter, the Institute offers opportunities to reflect on your experiences, strengthen your confidence and take meaningful steps toward your goals. Together, we will explore how self-awareness, authenticity and intentional action can help transform aspirations into momentum.
Schedule
2026 APHA Women’s Leadership Institute
HBGCC, Stars At Night Ballroom 2/3
*This schedule is accurate as of September 2026 and is subject to change
Saturday, October 31
| 8 – 9 a.m. | Registration and Continental Breakfast |
| 9 – 9:15 a.m. | Welcome |
| 9:15 – 10:15 a.m. | How to Be Your Best Advocate: Trusting Your Voice Speaker: Minda Harts, Workplace Strategist, The Memo, LLC |
| 10:15 -10:30 a.m. | Break |
| 10:30 – 11:15 a.m. | Finding Your Flow: Navigating the Next Career Bend Move beyond the traditional job search and learn how to navigate career transitions with confidence. This session will explore practical strategies for identifying opportunities, positioning your skills and experience and thinking beyond simply applying for the next role. Moderator: Brooke Mootry, MSW, CHES®, Founder/CEO, The Public Health Network Speakers:
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| 11:20 a.m. – 12:05 p.m. | Rooted in Purpose, Ready to Build: Public Health and Entrepreneurship Join this fireside chat for a candid conversation on how public health professionals are applying their values and expertise to entrepreneurial pathways. Panelists will share real world experiences, lessons learned and insights on navigating uncertainty while building innovative, mission driven work focused on what’s next. Moderator: Chris Chanyasulkit, PhD, MPH, Founder & CEO, Chanyasulkit Consulting; Past-President, APHA Executive Board Speakers:
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| 12:10 – 12:45 p.m. | Rooted to Rise: A Fireside Chat about Overcoming Challenges Hear personal stories from women who challenged the status quo and disrupted conventional narratives to navigate their careers with integrity and confidence. Moderator: Magda G. Peck, ScD, Founder and Principal, MP3 Health Group Speakers:
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| 12:50 – 1:40 p.m. | Lunch |
| 1:45 - 2:20 p.m. | Rooted Online: Leveraging Social Media to Enhance Your Public Health Career This session explores how a clear, authentic social media presence, including LinkedIn, can support career growth and professional visibility. Participants will gain practical insights on aligning their online presence with career goals, building credibility and using social media platforms strategically to move confidently toward what’s next. Moderator: Ericka Horne, DrPH, MPH, CHES®, CCHW, Community Engagement Research Administrator, Florida State University; CEO & Founder, AKCIRE Consulting, LLC Speakers:
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| 2:20 – 2:30 p.m. | Closing Nandi A. Marshall, DrPH, MPH, CHES®,CLC, CDE Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Associate Professor, Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health, Georgia Southern University; President, APHA |
Join us for additional Women’s Leadership Programming during the Annual Meeting
Please note: You must be registered for the Annual Meeting
Sunday, Nov. 1
9-9:45 a.m.
Beyond the Profile: Using LinkedIn to Jumpstart Your Career
HBGCC, Room 225B, Level 2
Unlock the full potential of LinkedIn as a tool for career growth, professional networking and personal branding. This session will help mid- to senior-level public health professionals navigate the platform with confidence by highlighting effective strategies, common pitfalls to avoid and ways to build meaningful professional connections. Attendees will leave with practical tips to strengthen their online presence and leverage LinkedIn to support their career goals.
Speaker: Charlotte Hughes Huntley, PhD, MPH, CEO & Principal Consultant, DrCHHuntley, LLC
Monday, Nov. 2
8:30 – 10 a.m.
Champion Conversation: Rest, Well-being and Their Impact on a Healthy Lifespan
HBGCC, Lila Cockrell Theater, Street Level
In fast-paced public health work environments, rest is often undervalued, despite rising levels of burnout across the workforce. This session reframes rest as a practical, preventive strategy that supports resilience, clarity and sustainable performance across the lifespan. This session will examine how intentional rest can help mitigate burnout, strengthen well being and sustain the capacity of public health professionals to meet ongoing and emerging demands, with actionable strategies applicable across roles and career stages.
Moderator: Veena Thamilselvan, MSPH, Student, University of Maryland Medical School
Speakers:
- Charlotte Hughes Huntley, PhD, MPH, CEO & Principal Consultant, DrCHHuntley, LLC
- Marissa McKool, MPH, The Public Health Burnout Coach
- Minda Reed, MD, MPH, Founder, Joy in Her Journey
- Danuta M. Wojnar, PhD, RN, MN, IBCLC, FAAN, Dean & Professor, Ila Faye Miller School of Nursing and Health Professions, University of the Incarnate Word
2:30-3:15 p.m.
Achieving Positive Outcomes: What You Can Do Before You Show Up
HGBCC Room 214D, Level 2
This session explores how your mindset, presence and actions influence the outcomes you achieve in your career. Participants will learn practical strategies for showing up with intention, building credibility and creating meaningful relationships that support growth and success. Through reflection and real-world examples, attendees will discover how good preparation and planning can lead to positive professional and personal outcomes.
Speaker: Randi Brosterman Hutchens, MBA, President & CEO, Actionable Transitions LLC
Tuesday, Nov. 3
10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
If Not Us, If Not Now: Strengthening Women’s Leadership for the Public’s Health
HBGCC, Room 220, Level 2
This dynamic session invites emerging and established public health practitioners to ground and gird their leadership for healthier communities and social and environmental justice, in the urgency of now. Offered as an extension of APHA’s 2026 Women’s Leadership Institute, this session fosters opportunities to connect with other changemakers and champions, through hands-on learning and practical leadership tips and tools.
Facilitator: Magda G. Peck, ScD, Founder and Principal, MP3 Health Group
Wednesday, Nov. 4
7:15-8 a.m.
Pausing to Reflect, Ready to Flow Forward
Say Hey Lounge, HBGCC, Main Lobby, Street Level
Join fellow participants to pause, reflect and express gratitude for the connections and experiences from the 2026 Annual Meeting.