2026 APHEO-OPHEN Conference
🌊 ARE YOU READY TO SET SAIL?!?!?!?!!?? 🌊
Registration for the 2026 APHEO Conference — featuring our special guest OPHEN — is officially OPEN!!!
Drop your anchor and check out the details below!
(applause, applause, applause, applause, applause, applause, applause!!!!!!!)
2026 APHEO/OPHEN Conference: Call for Abstracts and Elain Hector Award
APHEO and OPHEN invite abstract submissions for poster presentations, oral presentations, and other session formats (e.g., workshops, panels) for the 2026 conference to be held May 27-28, 2025 at the Waterfront Conference Centre in Hamilton, Ontario. Submissions should be relevant to the conference goal and objectives. Please submit your abstract here: 2026 APHEO/OPHEN Conference: Call for Abstracts – Fill out form by March 13th, 2026.
CONFERENCE OVERVIEW
⚓ WHEN:
May 27–28, 2026 at the Waterfront Centre, Hamilton, ON
Title: Exploring New Horizons and Charting a Course for Public Health
Goal: Participants will enhance their ability to effectively respond to emerging public health issues and navigate the evolving public health landscape in Ontario.
Objectives:
Share innovative methodologies in population health assessment, surveillance, performance measurement, and evaluation.
Promote continuous quality improvement and strategies for efficiency and effectiveness in public health practice.
Explore strategies for adapting to the changing public health context and responding to emerging public health issues.
Strengthen cross-disciplinary connections and knowledge exchange through sharing examples of work, self-reflection, and lessons learned.
Key Topics of Interest:
While the Call For Abstracts is open to all submissions that align with the Conference Objectives, the Conference Planning Committee has identified the following priority areas as key topics of interest for the conference:
Innovation in methodology
Data modernization
Artificial intelligence
Continuous quality improvement
Maximizing public health impact
Implementation of the 2026 Ontario Public Health Standards
Integration of the 2025 Public Health Core competencies
Managing public health unit mergers and restructuring
Cross cutting public health topics such as: climate change, emergency management, mental health, social health, health equity
Community engagement strategies
ELAINE HECTOR AWARD
APHEO will be providing the Elaine Hector award for this conference. This award is given at the time of the APHEO conference and is meant to acknowledge that students engaged in applied public health epidemiology will help shape the future of public health in Ontario. Its purpose is to recognize the best student abstract as determined by the Conference Planning Committee.
Eligible students who submit an abstract for an eligible research or evaluation project (see below) to the “Call for Abstracts” for the APHEO/OPHEN conference by the submission deadline will be considered for the Elaine Hector Student Award. Individuals must indicate their student status as part of the abstract submission to be considered for the award. The award recipient will be notified prior to the conference (beginning of April, 2026) and will be expected to give a presentation based on their project during one of the conference/workshop sessions.
The award is intended to cover the cost of travel, and accommodation to attend the APHEO/OPHEN conference. The recipient of the award will have their registration fee for the conference waived and receive reimbursement of up to $500 in conference-related expenses. Travel and accommodation expenses covered by another organization are not eligible for reimbursement from this student award.
Award Eligibility Criteria
Graduate or undergraduate students enrolled in a full-time program at the time of abstract submission in a field related to applied public health epidemiology or evaluation at an academic institution. The project for which the abstract is being submitted must be work that the individual completed while enrolled as a full-time student in the relevant field.
🌅 WHAT TO EXPECT:
This year, we’re charting a fresh course!
Mid-week conference (no weekend voyaging required!)
Round tables (no lecture halls—just smooth sailing!)
No long-distance trekking (except optional refreshing waterfront walks!)
Cozy hotel rooms ⚓
And spectacular networking with all your favourite public health shipmates!
