While COVID-19 has kept many people apart during the pandemic, public health professionals have been able to stay connected, thanks to innovative virtual activities hosted by APHA’s member groups.
With the advent of physical distancing last year, APHA’s Sections, Forums, Caucuses and other groups have embraced online interaction, holding book clubs, panel discussions, exercise classes and more.
While unexpected, the shift to virtual has been beneficial in many ways, according to Juviza Rodriguez, MS, chair of the Communications Committee for the Latino Caucus for Public Health.
“Our Caucus has seen amazing engagement this year,” Rodriguez told The Nation’s Health.
The Latino Caucus has created connections during the pandemic with a range of online offerings, such as a monthly webinar series and the “Sana Sana: Latinos in Public Health” podcast. In April, the Caucus launched a Cafécito Hour, a casual networking event where people chat online over coffee.
“We have emerging leaders, young professionals and students who are transforming how public health communicates,” Meg Traci, PhD, chair of the Disability Section, told The Nation’s Health.
“We have emerging leaders, young professionals and students who are transforming how public health communicates.” — Meg Traci
Many APHA member groups plan to continue with some virtual events even as the coronavirus becomes less of a threat in the U.S. Virtual events can be a great way to keep members engaged and informed about issues, organizers say.
Illustration by Aaron Warnick
Members of APHA’s Disability Section have also embraced virtual gatherings, which can remove some of the travel barriers that can keep people with disabilities from attending in-person events. Unfortunately, many online events do not have sign-language interpreters for people with hearing loss, and graphics are frequently inaccessible to those with visual impairments.
“It’s exciting to see interest, but we have to do better at making sure that we are putting in the effort to make sure that these virtual meetings are truly accessible,” Traci said.
On July 26, the Disability Section will host its inaugural Twitter conference, during which students and early-career professionals will share their public health work.
APHA’s Physical Activity Section has been holding Twitter conferences since 2019. Organizers plan to hold more online events this year, including an expanded Twitter conference.
Carissa Smock, PhD, MPH, chair of the Physical Activity Section, told The Nation’s Health that increased participation in online events means that the Section’s Twitter conference will grow this year, with more presentations and new partnerships.
APHA’s Foot and Ankle Section has learned that by hosting small events virtually, people are more likely to attend. Many members attend multiple in-person conferences and meetings during a usual year, which can mean small events get passed over, according to Chia-Ding Shih, DPM, MPH, MA, Section social media chair. A virtual format allows for specialized events, he said.
“You can’t expect people to travel across the country for a small panel discussion on a very narrow topic,” Shih said. “But if you time it right, you can pack a virtual room with people from all over.”
During National Public Health Week, members of the Foot and Ankle Health Section participated in a panel discussion on methods to reduce amputations in Black patients. Shih said attendees found the talk impactful, but it was the kind of event he suspects would have drawn only small in-person attendance.
“It will be so, so great to get back to meeting and networking with people in person,” Shih told The Nation’s Health. “But virtual meetings will undoubtedly continue to be a part of our programming.”
For more information on APHA’s member groups, visit www.apha.org/apha-communities.
- Copyright The Nation’s Health, American Public Health Association
