Schedule

Tuesday, September 16, 2025

8:00 AM
Registration Opens


8:30 AM – 10:30 AM
Pre-Conference Workshops

Pre-Conference Workshop

8:30 AM – 10:30 AM

Best Practices for State and Federal Agencies in the Exchange and Protection of Tribal Data

Speakers: Heather Erb, J.D., Lead Policy Advisor, American Indian Health Commission; Summer Hammons, M.B.A., Legislative Policy Analyst, American Indian Health Commission; Kristin Peterson, J.D., Chief of Policy, Washington State Department of Health; Amanda Tjemsland, Senior Tribal Epidemiologist, Washington State Department of Health

Over the past few years, several Tribal Nations, the American Indian Health Commission (AIHC), and the Washington State Department of Health (WA DOH) collaborated to develop and adopt a Model Tribal Data Sharing Agreement Checklist that provides recommended items for state agencies to include when developing data sharing agreements with Tribal Nations. WA DOH and AIHC will use this checklist to provide session participants an overview of how state and federal agencies can protect Tribes’ right to informed consent on how their data, including sensitive communicable disease data about their Tribe and their Tribal members, are used or shared with third parties. Participants will also gain an understanding of best practices for ensuring Tribal governments have equitable access to public health data to protect the health and safety of their community members.

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Pre-Conference Workshop

8:30 AM – 10:30 AM

No One Left Behind: People Who Use Drugs and Public Health Protections

Speakers: Corey Davis, J.D., Director, Network for Public Health Law; Ashleigh Dennis, J.D., Staff Attorney, Network for Public Health Law; Amy Lieberman, J.D., Deputy Director, Network for Public Health Law; Michael Abrams, J.D., Senior Attorney, Network for Public Health Law

The Harm Reduction Pre-Conference Workshop is designed to inspire and enable legal professionals and policy makers to center the needs of people who use drugs (PWUD) in their work. With the changing federal landscape, it is likely that new legal and policy barriers for PWUD will arise, and a workforce that is informed and prepared to provide person-centered, evidence-based assistance and advocacy will be increasingly necessary. Attorneys from the Network’s Harm Reduction Legal Project will describe barriers to effective responses to drug-related harm, discuss scientifically sound yet underused overdose prevention policies, and highlight the need for legal professionals to understand the unique challenges facing harm reduction programs. Through discussion questions, case studies, and debate, the Project will engage attendees to think creatively about how to ensure health and dignity to all people.

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10:45 AM – 12:45 PM
Pre-Conference Workshops

Pre-Conference Workshop

10:45 AM – 12:45 PM

Reproductive Health Care: Anticipated Changes and Potential Impacts Under the New Administration

Speakers: Emma Kaeser, J.D., Staff Attorney, Network for Public Health Law; Naisha Mercury, J.D., Equal Justice Works Fellow, Network for Public Health Law; Kathi Hoke, J.D., Director, Eastern Region, Network for Public Health Law; Ashleigh Dennis, J.D., Staff Attorney, Harm Reduction, Network for Public Health Law

Attend this workshop to hear from Network for Public Health Law attorneys who are closely monitoring changes in law and policy that impact access to reproductive health care directly or through indirect measures that deter pregnant people from seeking care. Kathi Hoke from the Network’s Eastern Region will review changes to Title X, the federal program that funds family planning, and litigation surrounding Medicaid funding of Planned Parenthood for non-abortion health care. Kathi will also review FDA’s comments on potential changes to the approval of medication abortion drugs that would diminish access and states’ lawsuits to increase access. Emma Kaeser from the Network’s Mid-States Region will explain legal challenges to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Rule to Support Reproductive Health Care Privacy and the related impact elimination of the rule may have on medical professionals and on pregnant people who suffer miscarriage or have an abortion. Emma will examine the intersecting issue of state laws mandating reporting of abortion care or other fetal death, followed by Naisha Mercury from the Network’s Mid-States Region who will explain how these laws contribute to the possibility of criminalizing miscarriage. Our moderator, Ashleigh Dennis from the Network’s Harm Reduction Legal Project, will add insights into the impact of these myriad changes on pregnant and parenting people who use drugs. Interactive panel discussions will encourage audience participation via an extended Q&A session.

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Pre-Conference Workshop

10:45 PM – 12:45 PM

Public Health Career Planning: Insights for Student and Early Career Professionals

Speakers: Allison Winnike, J.D., Director, Western Region, Network for Public Health Law; Susan Fleurant, J.D., M.P.H., Staff Attorney, Mid-States, Network for Public Health law; Shannan Piccolo, J.D., Senior Attorney, Mid-States, Network for Public Health Law

Whether you are preparing to graduate or have already landed your first job, this workshop will provide you with insights into the diverse ways in which public health is practiced and the potential pathways for future career growth. Participants will engage in two 30-minute case study discussions led by experienced public health professionals. These real-world scenarios will highlight varied approaches to public health policy and practice, with a focus on advancing health equity. The workshop also includes an hour dedicated to networking, with opportunities to connect with professionals and peers one-on-one, ask questions, and explore career options.

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12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Opening Celebration
Poster Sessions

Poster

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

Surviving Below Sea Level – Harm Reduction in the Deep South: Incarceration Rates, Racial Inequity, and Re-Entry Barriers

Speaker: Jack Waguespack, Executive Director/Co-Founder, Below Sea Level Aid

The Deep South faces unique public health challenges shaped by high incarceration rates, systemic racial inequities, and significant barriers to re-entry for justice-involved individuals. Surviving Below Sea Level – Harm Reduction in the Deep South examines the intersection of these issues through the lens of harm reduction practices, with a focus on Louisiana, a state leading the nation in incarceration rates. This presentation highlights innovative strategies employed by grassroots organizations to address the disproportionate impact on marginalized communities, particularly Black and queer populations. It explores policy gaps, community-driven solutions, and the urgent need for public health law reforms to reduce harm, promote racial equity, and support successful re-entry into society.

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Poster

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

NaloxHome: Connecting At-Risk Patients, Their Families, and Friends to Harm Reduction

Speaker: Craig Wilson, J.D., M.P.A., Director of Health Policy, Arkansas Center for Health Improvement (ACHI)

In 2020, the National Institutes of Health found that patients who visit the emergency department (ED) for opioid overdose are 100 times more likely to die by overdose in the year after being discharged. In response, the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement initiated the NaloxHome program, designed to dispense free naloxone through hospital EDs to patients—or the families or friends of patients—who had overdosed or were at risk of overdose. Although at-risk patients could get prescriptions for naloxone from the ED, the cost of the opioid overdose reversal drug was a barrier for many individuals, and regulatory barriers prevented hospitals from dispensing a drug that could be used more than 30 days beyond the ED visit. Over the course of the program, 52 Arkansas hospitals participated in NaloxHome, dispensing 1,911 units of naloxone (each unit has two doses). The program not only provided a lifesaving drug to the most at-risk Arkansans in a time of great vulnerability but also helped combat the stigma of substance use through healthcare provider education. Attorneys from the Network’s Harm Reduction Legal Project will describe barriers to effective responses to drug-related harm, discuss scientifically sound yet underused overdose prevention policies, and highlight the need for legal professionals to understand the unique challenges facing harm reduction programs. Through discussion questions, case studies, and debate, the Project will engage attendees to think creatively about how to ensure health and dignity to all people.

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Poster

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

State Public Health Data Reporting Policies and Practices Vary Widely

Speaker: Margaret Arnesen, M.P.A.P., Senior Officer, State Policy and Research, The Pew Charitable Trusts

A first-of-its-kind, nationwide assessment from The Pew Charitable Trusts reveals vast variation in the policies and practices governing how vital clinical data flows to public health agencies and highlights opportunities to modernize public health data reporting. The report, which includes data from all 50 states and the District of Columbia, looked at four main types of public health data: case and lab reports that provide health departments with information about individual conditions such as communicable diseases and environmental illnesses; syndromic surveillance, which is an early-warning system of symptoms and syndromes captured primarily from emergency departments; and immunization information systems that collect data on individual vaccinations. The report is informed by the direct examination of each jurisdiction’s public health statutes and regulations (conducted from May to August 2021) and by interviews with 266 public health officials in the District of Columbia and in forty-seven states (conducted from October 2022 to April 2023). Researchers designed the interviews to supplement the policy analysis with more on-the-ground feedback about how these policies are implemented. Together, the findings about policy and practice provide a comprehensive view of what is driving data modernization. Among its key findings, the report found that more can and should be done to increase automated, electronic reporting of public health data – especially when it comes to case reports. The report also highlights several opportunities for improving public health data reporting throughout the country at the state and federal level.

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Poster

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

Prison Health is Public Health: Medical Co-Payment Policies as a Barrier to Health

Speaker: Lorinda Riley, S.J.D., Assistant Professor of Native Hawaiian and Indigenous Health, Office of Public Health Studies; and joint-appointment at Kamakūokalani Center for Hawaiian Studies

The United States accounts for 20% of the incarcerated population despite making up only 5% of the global population. Currently, over 1.23 million individuals are incarcerated, of which over 61,000 are serving life sentences. Moreover, from 1991 to 2021, the incarcerated population aged 55 or older increased from 3% to 15%, which will likely align with increased healthcare needs. This study explores state co-payment laws to determine how states provide access to healthcare for incarcerated individuals. We reviewed laws, regulations, and published policies on healthcare co-payment in all fifty states. Our findings indicate that 39 states have mandatory medical co-payments for incarcerated individuals ranging from $2 to $13.55 per visit. cost of co-payments amount to a significant proportion of one’s income and represent a significant barrier to healthcare since many incarcerated people are significantly underpaid or may be unable to work. While states have been reducing co-pInterayment amounts, barriers still exist. With the aging incarcerated population, this issue will become an increasingly more important public health issue. Ultimately, not addressing this high cost of prison medical care in some states places a significant burden on the incarcerated individual and their families, which may follow them post-release hindering their ability to re-enter society.

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Poster

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

State Public Reporting Mandates of Healthcare-Associated Infections: A Current Update

Speaker: Monika Pogorzelska-Maziarz, Ph.D., M.P.H., Professor, M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, Villanova University

Previous studies by our research team have revealed that most US states have healthcare-associated infection (HAI) data submission and public reporting laws. These mandates have provided data for state regulators to prevent and monitor HAIs while also providing information to consumers. We present an updated review of HAI laws as of June 1, 2024.

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Poster

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

Using Policy Mapping to Show Trends in Medical Aid-in Dying Laws

Speaker: Kathryn Kucyk, J.D., Legislative Counsel, Compassion & Choices

Facing a rapidly aging world population, the future of public health practice requires research focused on access to quality end-of-life care. Using legal epidemiology, this presentation will explore how policy surveillance and data collection inform public health policy development, specifically related to medical aid-in-dying (MAID) laws across the United States. Attendees will view an interactive map showing national trends in medical aid in dying laws and identify correlations between law changes and utilization rates. We will discuss how to use such a dataset to continue improving medical aid-in-dying laws and proposed legislation over time. This presentation is particularly useful for lawyers, practitioners, and researchers studying equitable access to healthcare, end-of-life care, healthcare regulations, and anyone interested in normalizing conversations about death and dying.

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Poster

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

Your Afterlife Workflow According to the Government

Speaker: Milda Aksamitauskas, M.P.P., Data governance expert

Vital records are registered at a local level in the United States. The last document that frames your life is the death certificate. By definition, somebody else fills out a form that turns into the death certificate that family members use to close telephone lines, bank accounts or split inheritance. Epidemiologists use mortality data to calculate mortality rates and burden of premature deaths for communities or rates of disproportion effects on a disease or condition. Some attributes about you will be included or excluded based on the workflow, options for the checkboxes, and design developed by the government. In the current model, you as person have no say what goes on the form. The digital transformation is not focused on this form, yet many taxpayer dollars are allocated based on mortality data analysis. The Supreme Court decision requiring states to recognize same-sex marriages lawfully performed out of state was based on the death certificate. The updated OMB rules on race and ethnicity data collection will have huge implications how and when funeral directors, medical examiners and coroners will check the MENA box. I will present the detailed workflow of current data collection and reimagined workflow that would allow adults to have a say about their last government form. My presentation is based on my twenty years of state level and international work on integrated data systems and public interest research.

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Poster

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

Enhancing Legal Literacy for Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response

Speaker: Jessica Baggett, Dr.PH., M.P.H., Senior Advisor, Public Health Response,Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO)

The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the critical role of legal literacy in public health emergency response, revealing the need to enhance state health officials’ understanding and application of emergency powers. Using a mixed-methods approach, a research study included a national survey of current and former state health officials and qualitative interviews to identify gaps in knowledge, skill deficiencies, and barriers to effective practice. Quantitative findings highlight key topic areas requiring attention, such as data sharing, environmental health regulations, and implementing community mitigation measures. Qualitative interviews provide nuanced insights into the experiences of state officials, emphasizing the impact of political dynamics and resource constraints on public health authority. Together, these data informed the development of a foundational curriculum designed to enhance legal literacy of public health officials. This poster will detail the study’s methodology, key findings, and recommendations for practice. It will discuss how the training curriculum can equip public health officials with the tools necessary to effectively navigate legal complexities, advocate for public health policies, and respond to emergencies. Attendees will gain valuable insights into the evolving landscape of public health law and authority, leaving with actionable information to strengthen public health preparedness and response capabilities at the state level.

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1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
Opening Plenary

Session Tile

Opening Plenary

1:00 PM – 2:30 PM

Year in Review: The Legal Shifts Shaping Public Health

Moderator: Professor of Law, University of California, Los Angeles

Speakers: Montrece Ransom, J.D., M.P.H., Director, National Coordinating Center for Public Health Training at NNPHI; Andrew Twinamatsiko, J.D., LL.B, Director, Center for Health Policy and the Law, O’Neill Institute; Jill Krueger, J.D., Director, Climate Health Team, Network for Public Health Law

This signature plenary session offers a fast-paced, wide-ranging look at the most significant legal and policy developments that shaped public health over the past year. Through focused insights and lively discussion, panelists will examine federal executive orders and actions, court decisions, legislation, and public health authority challenges that continue to define the field. Key topics will include federal and state efforts to redefine public health authority; reproductive and gender-affirming care; climate change and environmental justice; anti-racism and equity in health law; harm reduction and mental health reform; and the public health workforce’s evolving role in navigating polarized legal terrain. The session will explore how these developments inform the path forward for public health law, offering analysis and guidance for what lies ahead in 2026 and beyond.

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2:45 PM – 4:00 PM
Concurrent Sessions

2025 Public Health Law Conference Schedule

Advocacy and Community Engagement

2:45 PM – 4:00 PM

Through the Intersections: Criminalization, Public Health, and the Road Forward

Speakers: Kerry Thomas, Community Decriminalization Strategist, Sero Project; Jon Card, J.D., Staff Attorney, Health Law and Policy Clinic, Center for Health Law and Policy Innovation of Harvard Law School; Kae Greenberg, Esq., Staff Attorney, Center for HIV Law and Policy; Sean McCormick, Esq., Staff Attorney, Positive Justice Project, Center for HIV Law and Policy

This session will focus on the consequences of the heightened criminalization of People Living with HIV (PLHIV), including the impact of collateral consequences post-release on health outcomes and service accessibility. HIV criminalization will serve as a case study for broader criminalization-based approaches, emphasizing the importance of coalition-based strategies to overcome criminalization and enable compassionate public health solutions, such as harm reduction.

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Emerging Issues and Legal Challenges

2:45 PM – 4:00 PM

Fighting Federal Attacks on Health Care Access and Equity through Legal and Policy Advocacy

Speakers: Madeline Morcelle, J.D., M.P.H., Senior Attorney, National Health Law Program (NHeLP; Mara Youdelman, J.D., LL.M., Managing Director, Federal Advocacy, National Health Law Program (NHeLP)

This session will provide an overview of current federal attacks on and looming threats to Medicaid, the ACA, and civil rights, including those that affect sexual and reproductive health care access and equity. Learn how health law and policy advocates are responding through Congressional and administrative advocacy, litigation, and other enforcement actions, as well as opportunities to engage and help fight back.

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Harm Reduction and Overdose Prevention

2:45 PM – 4:00 PM

Advancing Public Health and Harm Reduction Solutions to the Intersecting Crises of Homelessness and Overdose in the Era of Regressive Backlash

Speakers: Kate Boulton, J.D., M.P.H., Senior Legal Technical Advisor, Vital Strategies Overdose Prevention Program; Amanda Hall, M.S.W., Senior Director of National Campaigns, Dream.org; Elizabeth Green, Ph.D., Communications Director, Big Cities Health Coalition; Derek Carr, J.D., Legal Technical Advisor, Vital Strategies Overdose Prevention Program

Perceived public disorder and rising homelessness have driven backlash against proven public health policies, with jurisdictions across the political spectrum increasingly embracing criminalization and other coercive responses to drug use and homelessness – a trend likely to worsen following the Grants Pass decision and 2024 election. In this session, presenters will explore this shifting landscape and provide attendees with legal, messaging, and advocacy strategies to defend and advance health-centered, harm reduction-oriented policies on drug use and homelessness.

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Health and Racial Health Equity

2:45 PM – 4:00 PM

How to Weave Cultural Healing in Clinical Care to Promote Community Health & Well-Being

Speakers: Sara Rogers, M.P.H., Senior Policy Analyst, Health Equity, Network for Public Health Law; Maria Vallejo, M.S.W. Candidate, Community Advancement Coordinator, Fairview Health Services; Christina McCoy, Manager, Community Health Equity Initiatives; Mary Anne Ligeralde Quiroz, Co-Founder & Executive Director, Indigenous Roots Cultural Arts Center

Culture shapes how individuals and families perceive health, interact with systems, and receive care, shaping both personal and collective well-being. This session will explore cultural healing and how culturally responsive approaches can be “weaved” into clinical care to foster trust, engagement, and improve health access and outcomes. It will also highlight key policy reforms that support these practices, creating opportunities to advance similar efforts in other healthcare and public health settings.

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Strengthening Public Health Protections

2:45 PM – 4:00 PM

Strengthening Public Health: Navigating Authority, Data Use, and Legal Resources

Speakers: Sunbal Virk, J.D., L.L.M, Public Health Attorney, Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists; Taylor Pinsent, M.P.H., Senior Program Analyst, Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists

This dynamic panel session will provide a comprehensive exploration of key issues shaping public health practice today. The session will address: (1) The shifts in legal and regulatory frameworks impact public health authority, governance, and the ability to respond to emerging challenges. (2) DUAs: when are required and challenges & best practices (3) New Resource: CSTE Public Health Law Repository Attendees will leave with actionable strategies and resources to strengthen public health decision-making and collaboration.

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Public Health Data Access, Sharing, and Privacy

2:45 PM – 4:00 PM

Privacy at the Crossroads: Adapting to New Regulations and Developments

Speakers: Stephen Murphy, J.D., Director, Network for Public Health Law—Mid-States Region; Meghan Mead, J.D., Deputy Director, Network for Public Health Law—Mid-States Region

Join us for a special in-person privacy peer learning session hosted by the Network’s Privacy Officer Peer Group and open to anyone with an interest in privacy. This session will include a discussion of recent updates to 42 CFR Part 2 and the current landscape of HIPAA enforcement. Network presenters will discuss implications for privacy of substance use data, the status and implications of the HIPAA Final Rule to Support Reproductive Health Care Privacy, OCR’s Right to Access Initiative, and state efforts to protect data from inappropriate access or use.

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4:00 PM – 4:05 PM
Break


4:05 PM – 5:20PM
Concurrent Sessions

Advocacy and Community Engagement

4:05 PM – 5:20 PM

Supporting and Developing Regenerative Leaders in Public Health

Speakers: Monica Valdes Lupi, J.D., M.P.H., Managing Director, Health Program, The Kresge Foundation; Daisy Ellis, M.P.H., Chronic Disease Policy Specialist, City of New Orleans Health Department; María Gallegos, Public Health Compliance Manager, One Albuquerque Environmental Health, City of Albuquerque

As the landscape for public health changes, leaders must develop the skills to undertake new challenges through regenerative practices. PHEARLESS, which stands for the Public Health Regenerative Leadership Synergy, emerged from a collaborative process to better prepare health department leaders and their staff to intentionally design communities where all can thrive. A total of 15 collaboratives were selected through an application process to participate in the professional development leadership program. The collaboratives were small teams representing staff from local health department and established community-based partners. The collaboratives submitted projects that they intended to complete throughout the course of the training and development program that ultimately would improve their community in a tangible way. The collaboratives were given seed funding to support their efforts and they were to demonstrate the application of mindsets and skillsets, acquired through PHEARLESS, to transform systems with a focus on regenerative leadership. The educational team (USF), technical assistance providers, mentors and peers collectively provided and supported the collaboratives in their final projects. As part of the evaluation of the program, Photovoice, was used to document the experience and the manifested changes in the teams. Collaboratives will share their experience and highlight their projects, how the leadership development program influenced their work and the impact on their collaboration and organizations moving forward.

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Emerging Issues and Legal Challenges

4:05 PM – 5:20 PM

Artificial Intelligence Assisted Policy Analysis and Legal Mapping

Speakers: Cason Schmit, J.D., Assistant Professor, Texas A&M University School of Public Health; Regen Weber-Fares, J.D., M.P.H., Postdoctoral Research Associate, Texas A&M University School of Public Health; Snigdha Peddireddy, M.P.H., Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Behavioral, Social, & Health Education Sciences, Emory University

Artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) present new tools for increasing efficiency of legal mapping and policy analysis for legal epidemiology. Recent uses of AI/ML in legal mapping provide insight into utilization of this methodology. This session will include a discussion of the issues and applications of AI/ML technologies in public health legal research, including AI/ML-assisted legal mapping methodology considerations, use of large language models for coding health data-sharing laws, and innovative approaches to real-time surveillance of emergency laws.

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Harm Reduction and Overdose Protections

4:05 PM – 5:20 PM

Innovations and the Law: Harm Reduction in Washington State

Speakers: Malika Lamont, Program Director, VOCAL-WA

We welcome attendees to come hear from harm reductionists across our host state of Washington discuss how their programs are supported or hindered by public health and the law, and how implementation of these programs varies across different areas of the state.

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Health and Racial Health Equity

4:05 PM – 5:20 PM

Centering True Lived Experience in Policy to Support Health During Reentry from Incarceration

Speakers: Quang (Q) H. Dang J.D., Executive Director, Network for Public Health Law; Emma Kaeser, J.D., Staff Attorney, Network for Public Health Law—Mid-States Region; Dorel Clayton, C.P.S.S., Community Health Worker, Transitions Clinic Network; Anna Steiner, MSW, MPH, Associate Director of Transitions Clinic Network

The period when individuals reenter their communities following incarceration presents an important intervention point to mitigate the health harms of incarceration. Legal and policy innovations, such as Medicaid section 1115 waivers, provide opportunities to address health and social needs during reentry. This panel will examine the importance of centering the lived experience of people who are formerly incarcerated in development and implementation of these policies to promote dignity and wellbeing and to avoid replicating health-harming carceral systems.

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Strengthening Public Health Protections

4:05 PM – 5:20 PM

Legal Epidemiology for Health Departments: A Tool for Evaluating Policy Impact on Population Health

Speakers: Scott Burris, J.D, Director, Center for Public Health Law Research, Temple University; Alexandra Hess, J.D., M.P.H., Legal Training Manager, Center for Public Health Law Research, Temple University; Elizabeth Platt, J.D., M.A., Director of Research and Operations, Center for Public Health Law Research, Temple University; Elizabeth Van Nostrand, J.D., Associate Professor, Temple University College of Public Health

This interactive panel will support legal epidemiology capacity-building in health departments to strengthen and support policy evaluation and change. The panel will introduce new tools and resources developed for and in consultation with a curated community of practice to meet the needs of health departments using legal epidemiology to evaluate their public health laws. Panelists will solicit feedback on the tools and resources while detailing case study projects from community of practice members.

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Public Health Data Access, Sharing, and Privacy

4:05 PM – 5:20 PM

Modernizing Data for Public Health Impact: Strategies for Secure Release and Smarter Systems

Speakers: Deja Kemp, Esq., Director of Legal Policy, AISP; and Research Faculty, University of Pennsylvania; Jennifer Schitter, M.P.H., Director of Public Health Data, Big Cities Health Coalition (BCHC); Taylor Pinsent, M.P.H, Senior Program Analyst, Surveillance and Informatics Program, Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE); Willysha Jenkins, Senior Advisor, Data Modernization and Informatics, Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB)

As public health challenges evolve, so must our approach to data management and sharing. This session will provide an overview for developing clear guidance for aggregate data release and creating a roadmap for data modernization. Participants will explore strategies to strengthen data infrastructure, balance transparency with privacy, and support more responsive public health efforts. Whether navigating legacy systems or planning for the future, this discussion offers practical tools and forward-looking perspectives to better leverage data for better health outcomes.

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Wednesday, September 17, 2025

7:30 AM – 9:00 AM
Registration Open/Breakfast Buffet


8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
Poster Session


9:10 AM – 10:30 AM
Concurrent Sessions

Advocacy and Community Engagement

9:10 AM – 10:30 AM

Pro-Vaccine Advocacy at the State Level: Legislative and Judicial Trends

Speakers: Ashley Chambers, J.D., Director of Legal Affairs, SAFE Communities Coalition; Richard Hughes IV, J.D., M.P.H., Epstein Becker Green

The SAFE Communities Coalition supports pro-vaccine legislation and lawmakers, and empowers everyday people (the often silent pro-vaccine majority) to advocate for health and safety alongside medical, legal, and public health professionals. This session will provide information on recent state-focused legislative and judicial trends, and how to participate in advocacy efforts as part of a broad and diverse coalition of partners that supports public health, works for equitable access to immunization, and advocates for laws that protect vulnerable populations.

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Emerging Issues and Legal Challenges

9:10 AM – 10:30 AM

Changing the Narrative through Community-Centered Legal Epidemiology Research

Speakers: Dawn Hunter, J.D., M.P.H., Founder and CEO, The Dawn Lab; Montrece Ransom, J.D., M.P.H., Director, National Coordinating Center for Public Health Training at NNPHI; Alexandra Hess, J.D., M.P.H., Legal Training Manager, Center for Public Health Law Research, Temple University

This panel will explore the importance of community-centered legal epidemiology in advancing health equity by providing a framework to engage communities most impacted by structural inequities in the research process. By incorporating a community power-building framework, legal epidemiology can move beyond esoteric data analysis to create meaningful policy and structural interventions. Panelists will highlight the role of public discourse in framing public health issues and the significance of centering the voices of affected communities through real-world examples. They will also share a practical tool, the Legal Epidemiology and Community Engagement Crosswalk, to integrate community power-building principles into legal epidemiology research, along with strategies to support using this framework in practice.

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Harm Reduction and Overdose Prevention

9:10 AM – 10:30 AM

Advancing Policy for Public Health: Using Legal Epidemiology to Advance Harm Reduction Policies to Improve Outcomes Related to HIV and Viral Hepatitis

Speakers: Scott Burris, J.D., Director, Center for Public Health Law Research, James E. Beasley Professor of Law, Temple University Beasley School of Law; Katie Moran-McCabe, J.D., Lead Law and Policy Analyst, Center for Public Health Law Research, James E. Beasley Professor of Law, Temple University Beasley School of Law; Tamara Rushovich, Ph.D., M.P.H., Postdoctoral Fellow, Urban Health Collaborative, Drexel Dornsife School of Public Health

Empirical research on the health effects of law can empower public health leaders to identify and implement evidence-based legal changes. This session explores the use of legal epidemiology to uncover opportunities for policymakers to increase law’s effectiveness to achieve better outcomes related to HIV and viral hepatitis. Panelists will discuss the need for research on policy interventions, longitudinal legal data on laws related to syringe access, and studies analyzing the health effects of these laws.

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Health and Racial Health Equity

9:10 AM – 10:30 AM

Embedding Equity in State-Wide Decision Making to Address Root Causes of Health Inequities

Speakers: Cait Lang-Perez, M.P.H., Health Policy Analyst, Washington State Board of Health and the Washington State Governor’s Interagency Council on Health Disparities; Miranda Calmjoy, M.P.H., Health Policy Analyst, Washington State Board of Health and the Washington State Governor’s Interagency Council on Health Disparities; Lindsay Herendeen, M.P.H., M.C.R.P., Health Policy Analyst, Washington State Board of Heath and Governor’s Interagency Council on Health Disparities

In 2006, the Washington State Legislature authorized the State Board of Health to conduct Health Impact Reviews (HIRs) in collaboration with the Governor’s Interagency Council on Health Disparities. An HIR is an objective, non-partisan, evidence-based analysis that provides the Washington State Governor and legislators with information on how a legislative or budgetary proposal may impact health and equity. This session will explore the development, evolution, and influence of HIRs as a state-wide decision-making tool.

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Strengthening Public Health Protections

9:10 AM – 10:30 AM

The Case for Modernizing Public Health Systems Through Better Governance

Speakers: Susan Fleurant, J.D., M.P.H., Staff Attorney, Mid-States, Network for Public Health Law; Megan McClaire, M.S.P.H., Chief Program Officer, Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB); Marisa Bremer, Program Manager, Institute for Responsive Government

Imagine a trusted and modernized public health system that meets the needs of the communities it serves. This session will describe and align existing legal authorities and policy principles at play in national public health frameworks such as the 10 Essential Public Health Services and Foundational Public Health Services, which aim to drive public health system modernization, and action-oriented frameworks for adopting more efficient, effective, and transparent government processes that modernize and streamline administrative burdens.

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Data Privacy and Public Health

9:10 AM – 10:30 AM

Disaggregating Public Health Data by Race and Ethnicity to Improve Public Health

Speakers: Leslie Zellers, J.D., Public Health Attorney; Amy Vertal, M.P.H., Senior Program Manager for Census and Data Equity, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights; Mar Velez, M.P.H., Director of Policy, Latino Coalition for a Healthy California; Lloyd Feng, Senior Data Policy Coordinator, CACF

Disaggregated data on race and ethnicity allows public health professionals to create appropriate, efficient, and equitable interventions to improve health outcomes. This session will provide an overview of state laws to disaggregate race and ethnicity data; best practices for state data disaggregation laws; and case studies from California and New York about the adoption and implementation of those state’s data disaggregation laws.

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10:30 AM – 10:45 PM
Networking Break


10:45 AM – 12:00 PM
Concurrent Sessions

Advocacy and Community Engagement

10:45 AM – 12:00 PM

Community Determined Policies and Intervention: Approaches to Climate Change and Health Equity

Speakers: Bradley Kramer, Ph.D., M.P.H., Senior Program Manager, Climate & Health Equity Initiative, Public Health Seattle & King County; Jessica Jeavons, J.D., Director Policy and Strategy, Public Health Seattle & King County; Ginna Hernandez Rodriguez, M.P.I.A., Policy Analyst, Public Health Seattle & King County; Paulina Lopez, M.A., Executive Director, Duwamish River Community Coalition (DRCC/TAG)

The session will feature three dynamic approaches by Public Health – Seattle & King County to reach community self-determined solutions to address policy and interventions that accelerate health equity. Presenters will speak on multi-sectorial issues surrounding extreme weather, climate change, and resilience. Each presentation features direct and deep engagement with the most impacted individuals, community-based organizations, and other partners, and highlights approaches ranging from systems modeling, representative survey sampling, and policy priority co-creation.

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Emerging Issues and Legal Challenges

10:45 AM – 12:00 PM

2021-2022 Racial Equity Dataset: A Searchable Collection of Laws Related to Racial Health Equity

Speakers: Quang (Q) H. Dang, J.D., Executive Director, Network for Public Health Law; Phyllis Jeden, J.D., Senior Attorney, Network for Public Health Law—Mid-States Region; Alexandra Hess, J.D., M.P.H., Legal Training Manager, Center for Public Health Law Research, Temple University

In the wake of the renewed racial justice movement in 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic, jurisdictions across the country enacted laws to address health disparities and advance racial equity — as well as laws that may impede these goals. The Network for Public Health Law sought to identify these laws based on keyword searches in bills proposed in the 2021 and 2022 legislative cycles in all 50 US states. As a result of this research, laws that were enacted, and that were still in effect on December 31, 2022, were compiled into a cohesive dataset to provide insight into the outcomes of those legislative sessions.

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Harm Reduction and Overdose Prevention

10:45 AM – 12:00 PM

Drug Checking for the Public Health: Lessons from Practitioners

Speakers: Carmelita Cruz, J.D., Director, Office of Health Equity and Policy Initiatives, NY Department of Public Health; Thea Oliphant-Wells, M.S.W., Harm Reduction & Fentanyl Testing Program Manager, Public Health – Seattle & King County; Blake Joachim, Lead Drug Checking Coordinator, OutsideIn; Amy Lieberman, J.D., Deputy Director, Harm Reduction, Network for Public Health Law

Drug checking can be an effective harm reduction intervention on both the individual and community levels. In this session, attendees will hear from three drug checking practitioners on the ways drug checking has been implemented and how law and policy can support these vital programs.

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Health and Racial Health Equity

10:45 AM – 12:00 PM

Meeting the Moment: Addressing Structural Barriers to Sexual and Reproductive Health Care Access and Equity

Speakers: Alejandro McGhee, M.Phil, Research Assistant, Department of Health Policy & Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health; Madeline Morcelle, J.D. M.P.H., Senior Attorney, National Health Law Program; Amy Merceicia, Ph.D. Candidate, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine

Structural oppression continues to shape access to sexual and reproductive health care, disproportionately harming Black, Indigenous, and other people of color, LGBTQI+ individuals, people with disabilities, and other marginalized communities. This session will examine policy, legal, and grassroots advocacy strategies to advance sexual and reproductive health care access and equity, including the use of planned community-based childbirth to racism in pregnancy care; the role of nondiscrimination law in promoting sexual and reproductive health care equity for undervalued communities; and lessons from Ireland’s abortion rights movement in identifying coalition-building strategies that can inform advocacy efforts in politically and religiously conservative contexts.

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Strengthening Public Health Systems

10:45 AM – 12:00 PM

Beyond Legislation: Litigation, Rulemaking, and Policy Implementation to Promote Health Equity

Speakers: Sarah de Guia, J.D., Chief Executive Officer, ChangeLab Solutions; Sabrina Adler, J.D., Vice President of Law, ChangeLab Solutions; Alexis Etow, J.D., Managing Director, ChangeLab Solutions; Jami Crespo, J.D., M.P.A., Senior Attorney, ChangeLab Solutions

Policy change efforts often focus on legislation as a tool, but there are non-legislative strategies that can be equally if not more effective, particularly in challenging political climates. This session will provide an overview, using case studies and specific examples, of three non-legislative avenues to advance health equity: litigation, rulemaking, and equitable implementation of laws and policies. Participants will learn about how to utilize these strategies, and will have the opportunity to discuss them.

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Public Health Data Access, Sharing, and Privacy

10:45 AM – 12:00 PM

Navigating Legal Barriers to Cross-Jurisdictional Public Health Data Sharing

Speakers: Fallon Cochlin, J.D., Postdoctoral Research Associate, Texas A&M University School of Public Health; Jami Crespo, J.D., M.P.A., Senior Attorney, ChangeLab Solutions; Regen Weber-Fares, J.D., M.P.H., Postdoctoral Research Associate, eTxas A&M University School of Public Health; Tara Ramanathan Holiday, J.D., M.P.H., Branch Chief for Data Policy, Research and Translation Public Health, CDC’s Public Health Law Program

Hundreds of siloed public health data systems hinder the timely and effective exchange of critical public health data to help keep our communities healthy. CDC’s Data Modernization Initiative aims to establish a new public health information system governed by a cohesive framework. Achieving this goal requires public health partners across all levels of government to navigate complex legal and policy landscapes. This panel examines the challenges and opportunities for public health data sharing.

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12:05 PM – 1:35 PM
Lunch Keynote


1:45 PM – 3:00 PM
Concurrent Sessions

Advocacy and Community Engagement

1:45 PM – 3:00 PM

Health and Democracy: Democratizing Community Health Assessments

Speakers: Gnora Mahs, Dr.PH., M.P.H., Health & Democracy Coalitions Advisor, Institute for Responsive Government; Margarita Northrop, M.P.H., M.I.P.A., State Health Plan Coordinator, Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Office of Policy and Practice Alignment; Jeannette Raymond, Former Public Health Practice Assistant Section Manager, Minnesota Department of Health; Jeanne Ayers, R.N., M.P.H., Fellow, Institute for Responsive Government

There is a growing recognition of the interconnected relationship between democracy and health. Healthy People 2030 named increasing voter participation as a core objective paving the way for health departments to prioritize promoting civic and voter participation across their community health assessments, plans, and programs. In this session, leaders from Minnesota and Wisconsin will share examples of advancing health equity by building cross-sectoral partnerships and strengthening civic participation through health assessment and planning processes.

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Emerging Issues and Legal Challenges

1:45 PM – 3:00 PM

Preparing for the Next Public Health Emergency: Investment in Broadband Infrastructure to Improve Public Health Outcomes

Speakers: Sara Raza, LL.M., Clinical Fellow and Attorney, Center for Health Law and Policy Innovation of Harvard Law School; Seth Hoedl, Ph.D., J.D., President and Co-Founder, Post Road Foundation; Waide Warner, J.D., Chairman and Co-Founder, Post Road Foundation

From vaccine appointments and test results to tracking CDC mask mandates, healthcare and public health’s reliance on the internet surged during the COVID-19 pandemic. Virtual care became the new norm, prompting laws and policies to expand access to telehealth. At the same time, public health agencies took on broad new initiatives to conduct contact tracing, surveillance, and other outreach functions, many of which relied on rapid and secure electronic communications. This session will discuss laws and policies that engage public health departments in digital equity programming to advance health equity and will examine the potential roles public health agencies can play in leveraging broadband infrastructure investments to sustain telehealth expansion and support other public health functions in the long-term, to be ready to respond when the next disaster calls.

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Harm Reduction and Overdose Prevention

1:45 PM – 3:00 PM

Disability Justice: Novel Approaches to Using the American Disabilities Act to Protect the Rights of People Living with Disabilities and Promote Public Health

Speakers: Bianca Laureano, Ph.D, M.A., C.S.E., C.S.E.S., Foundress, ANTE UP!; Milo Inglehart, J.D., Staff Attorney, Transgender Law Center (TLC); Amelia Caramadre, Esq., M.P.H., Attorney, Kaplan & Grady; Sean McCormick, J.D., Staff Attorney, Positive Justice Project, Center for HIV Law and Policy (CHLP)

This session will explain the historical and ongoing discrimination against people living with disabilities and explore its convergence with other forms of oppression. Speakers will provide innovative legal strategies to address discrimination against people living with HIV and those with substance use disorders, as well as steps for using these approaches to protect the rights of people living with stigmatized conditions and promote public health.

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Health and Racial Health Equity

1:45 PM – 3:00 PM

Fighting the Anti-Anti-Racism Movement through Theory, Practice, and Litigation

Speakers: April Shaw, Ph.D., J.D., Acting Director, Health Equity, Network for Public Health Law; Paloma Wu, J.D., Deputy Director, George Riley Impact Litigation Initiative, Mississippi Center for Justice; Ali Rogers, M.P.H., Policy Analyst, Ingham County Health Department

This session examines the anti-anti-racism movement and its public health impacts. It assesses legal and narrative trends focusing on where we are, where we were, and what has changed. Turning to practice, participants will learn about real-world health impacts, including pivots to nonetheless meet the needs of people of color. Participants will also learn about how the law can act as both a barrier and be used as a supportive tool to challenge the sweeping measures to eradicate anti-racist public health efforts.

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Strengthening Public Health Protections

1:45 PM – 3:00 PM

Banning Menthol Cigarettes: The Fight for Health Justice in the Face of Industry Racism and Regulatory Incompetence

Speakers: Colleen Healy Boufides, J.D., Senior Staff Attorney, Commercial Tobacco Control Programs, Public Health Law Center; Mark Meaney, J.D., M.A.,  Director, Commercial Tobacco Control Programs, Public Health Law Center; Andrew Twinamatsiko, J.D., LL.B, Director, Center for Health Policy and the Law, O’Neill Institute

This session to recap the decades of work by public health advocates, lawyers, and researchers to advance evidence based policy in the face of relentless and racist industry targeting and federal regulatory indifference and incompetence.

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Public Health Data Access, Sharing, and Privacy

1:45 PM – 3:00 PM

State Health Departments and Tribes: A New Public Health Data Sharing Approach and Model

Speakers: Chris Alibrandi O’Connor, J.D., Managing Director and Owner, Chris Alibrandi O’Connor Consulting; Peter Reckmeyer, J.D., Senior Legal Counsel, Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium

Long-standing barriers hinder state health departments from sharing data with Tribal Health Organizations (THOs). These barriers, which may include legal obstacles, uncertainty, and a lack of trust, keep states from working collaboratively with THOs and leveraging their resources and skills to address shared public health objectives. Learn how Alaska’s Division of Public Health and the Alaska Native Epidemiology Center’s recent successful effort to address and remove those barriers can be an approach and model for health departments and Tribal organizations.

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3:00 PM – 3:15 PM
Networking Break


3:15 PM – 4:30 PM
Concurrent Sessions

Advocacy and Community Engagement

3:15 PM – 4:30 PM

The Role of Law and Policy in Achieving Mobility and Transportation Equity

Speakers: Kerri McGowan Lowrey, J.D., M.P.H., Deputy Director, Network for Public Health Law—Eastern Region; Johnathon Ehsani, Ph.D, M.P.H., Associate Professor, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health; Dan Cooke, Licensing, Endorsements, and Traffic Safety (LETS) Administrator, Washington State Department of Licensing; Jaqueline Garcia Castillo, Founder and Executive Director, Mujer al Volante

Through engaging discussion, this session will present a powerful example of the role of law, advocacy, and community engagement in addressing mobility equity, a key driver of health and wellness. Speakers will: Set the stage by discussing The Why: mobility as a driver of health and wellness and how novice driver licensing law is both a remedy and an unintentional driver of certain inequities impacting marginalized communities (e.g., due to delayed licensure). Present The How: a tangible example of advocacy for policy change at all levels, describing how Washington state was able to build political will and pass innovative legislation to improve road safety while addressing equity challenges and engaging the community in rulemaking and implementation. Highlight The What: the power of community engagement by discussing Mujer al Volante, an innovative program in Washington that helps low-income immigrant, refugee, and asylum women gain independence through driving.

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Emerging Issues and Legal Challenges

3:15 PM – 4:30 PM

Integration of Public Health in Climate Strategies by Major U.S. Cities: A Pragmatic Look at the Treatment of Climate-Health Crisis in Municipal Policies

Speakers: Keegan Warren, J.D., LL.M., Executive Director, Institute for Healthcare Access, Texas A&M University; Principal, Future States Advisory; Patrick Murphy, M.B.A., Vice President, Sierra Club

The field of sustainability seeks to integrate environmental health, social equity, and economic vitality for the well-being of current and future generations. A critical emerging challenge in this field is addressing the growing impacts of climate change on communities. Despite the clear ties between environmental health and public health, and despite a nascent global emphasis on the “climate-health crisis,” little empirical research has examined whether and how U.S. cities have integrated public health into their climate action plans, and how those plans align with local public health strategies. This session will discuss the alignment of climate actions plans with public health adaptation strategies, as well as leading practices and persistent gaps that must be addressed as municipal climate strategies grow in sophistication and public health strategies take increasing account of climate risks.

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Harm Reduction and Overdose Prevention

3:15 PM – 4:30 PM

The Future of Harm Reduction in an Increasingly Hostile Legal Environment

Speakers: Amy Lieberman, J.D., Deputy Director, Harm Reduction Legal Project, Network for Public Health Law; Allison Newman, M.P.H., Program Operations Specialist (CEDEER), University of Washington; Corey Davis, J.D., Director, Harm Reduction Legal Project, Network for Public Health Law

How can public health professionals work collaboratively with harm reduction programs in a hostile legal and political environment to ensure best health practices, safety, and dignity for people who use drugs and their communities? Hear from speakers on how the current legal environment is affecting programs on the ground, and ways to support and grow harm reduction movements into the future.

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Health and Racial Health Equity

3:15 PM – 4:30 PM

Maternal Health Disparities and Local Health Department Engagement

Speakers: Monica Valdes Lupi, J.D., M.P.H., Managing Director, Health Program, The Kresge Foundation; Sian Elmore, Public Health Administrator, San Antonio Metropolitan Health District; Kimberly Henderson, Ph.D, Deputy Chief of Staff, Harris County Public Health; Erika Brown, MD, MBA, FACHE, Director – Community Health and Wellness Division, Harris County Public Health

The Kresge Foundation hosted a Maternal Health Disparities Leadership Summit. The Summit provided a roundtable discussion to explore persistent and alarming disparities in maternal and child health outcomes and examine local approaches to data, access to care, and policy needed to ameliorate disparities. The goal was to create an opportunity for local health departments to share promising practices, common challenges, and identify collaborative opportunities to address the issue.

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Strengthening Public Health Protections

3:15 PM – 4:30 PM

Challenges and Opportunities in Public Health Under the Trump Administration

Speakers: Scott Burris, J.D., Director, Center for Public Health Law Research, James E. Beasley Professor of Law, Temple University Beasley School of Law; Mehreen Butt, J.D., Managing Director, Center for Health Policy and Law, Northeastern University of Law; Sabrina Adler, J.D., Vice President of Law, ChangeLab Solutions

The 2023-2024 Supreme Court term and the 2024 elections ushered in a new and unfamiliar landscape for public health law. In the session, the Act for Public Health partnership will identify the resulting challenges and opportunities in the public health landscape, including: (1) federal legislative and executive actions impacting public health; (2) the impact of recent Supreme Court decisions; and (3) opportunities for state and local governments to strengthen public health authority to address social determinants of health.

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Public Health Data Access, Sharing, And Privacy

3:15 PM – 4:30 PM

Advancing Health Equity through Community Information Exchanges (CIEs)

Speakers: Stephen Murphy, J.D., Director, Network for Public Health Law—Mid-States Region; Emma Kaeser, J.D., Staff Attorney, Network for Public Health Law—Mid-States Region; Meghan Mead, J.D., Deputy Director, Network for Public Health—Mid-States Region

A community information exchange (CIE) is a community governed infrastructure that enables critical health and social information to be responsibly shared among partner organizations in support of holistic coordination of care and equitable systems change. In this session, panelists will share practical insights from the development of a CIE, exploring CIEs as a model for promoting health equity and discussing lessons learned for developing a workable legal framework.

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4:35 PM – 5:50 PM
Concurrent Sessions

Advocacy and Community Engagement

4:35 PM – 5:50 PM

Building Partnerships with Community and Cross-Sectoral Partners to Advance Health and Health Equity

Speakers: Angela McGowan, J.D., M.P.H., Senior Director, Alliance for the Public’s Health, American Public Health Association; Kate Robb, M.S.P.H., Project Manager, Building Bridges, American Public Health Association; Maslyn Locke, J.D., Senior Attorney, New Mexico Environmental Law Center

Strong cross-sectoral and community partnerships are critical to advancing public health and health equity. Advocacy and collaboration ensure laws and policies facilitate, not impede, health and well-being, which in turn creates the conditions communities need to enable everyone to be healthy and thrive. This session highlights lessons for creating partnerships with public health, cross-sectoral, community-based, and power-building organizations and provides tools and resources to identify shared values and priorities and build transformational relationships with lasting impact on communities’ health.

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Emerging Issues and Legal Challenges

4:35 PM – 5:50 PM

It’s Getting Hot Out There – Law and Policy Strategies to Reduce Health Risks of Extreme Heat

Speakers: Betsy Lawton, J.D., Deputy Director, Climate and Health, Network for Public Health Law; Caleb Smith, Resiliency Coordinator, WeAct; Joanne Pérodin, Ph.D., Vice President of Programs, CLEO Institute

The data is clear: Earth’s temperature is on the rise, with the 10 most recent years being the hottest on record. Extreme heat—the number one weather-related killer in the nation—is regularly a top news story, with distressing health hazards caused by excess heat reported throughout the United States. Laws and policies to protect individuals from the health hazards of extreme heat in various settings—including at home and on the job—are developing on the national, state, and local front. This panel will discuss the realities of extreme heat exposure, community needs during extreme heat, and a variety of law and policy developments that can reduce the health risks of extreme heat, with an eye on protections for the most sensitive populations, such as pregnant people, young people, aging populations, and communities located in urban heat islands; as well as populations that have high rates of exposure to extreme heat, such as farm workers and other outdoor workers, and individuals who lack access to cooling equipment at home.

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Health and Racial Health Equity

4:35 PM – 5:50 PM

The Public Health Case for Reparations and Insights from the Field

Speakers: Melissa Jones, M.P.A., Executive Director, BARHII; Brandon Greene, Esq., Director of Policy Advocacy, Western Center on Law and Poverty; Eric McDonnell, Principal, Peacock Partnerships, LLC

This session explores the intersections of public health and reparations policies. Public health experts, legal advocates, and local government leaders will examine the transformative potential of this strategy for addressing health inequities and collaborative approaches to design and implement reparative policies in diverse local contexts. Participants will explore opportunities for reparative actions, potential health benefits, and what it takes to advance this work in the current national environment.

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Strengthening Public Health Protections

4:35 PM – 5:50 PM

Navigating Roadblocks and Detours: Impact of Preemption, Policy Changes, and Funding Cuts on Public Health

Speakers: Allison Winnike, J.D., Director, Western Region, Network for Public Health Law; Amy Cook, J.D., Senior Law and Policy Analyst, Center for Public Health Law Research; Jill Krueger, J.D., Director, Climate Health Team, Network for Public Health Law

This session examines recent public health policy changes at the federal and state levels, including major shifts in climate policy, federal cuts to public health funding and infrastructure, and increased use of state preemption to limit local authority—with disproportionate impact on marginalized and vulnerable populations. Presenters will discuss how these changes have collectively undermined efforts to address climate change, respond effectively to current infectious disease outbreaks, and inhibit local governments’ ability to enact policies that promote public health within their communities.

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Public Health Data Access, Sharing, and Privacy

4:35 PM – 5:50 PM

Protect and Share: Empowering data sharing with ethical governance and social license to address disparities in marginalized communities

Speakers: Cason Schmit, J.D., Assistant Professor, Texas A&M University; Deja Kemp, Esq., Director of Legal Policy, Actionable Intelligence for Social Policy; Isabel Algrant, M.S., Assistant Director of Training and Technical Assistance, Actionable Intelligence for Social Policy; Meghan O’Connell, M.D., M.P.H, Chief Public Health Officer, Great Plans Tribal Leaders’ Health Board

This session will explore how ethics-based policies and practices are key to unlocking the full potential of data for impactful public health interventions. The presentations will underscore the critical role of establishing a strong social license and implementing good data governance as protective ethical practices. These frameworks are essential for fostering trust and enabling more effective data sharing and use, particularly when addressing the interconnected needs of marginalized communities and dismantling systemic inequities that often skew data and hinder progress. Participants will be introduced to the updated, “A Toolkit for Centering Racial Equity Throughout Data Integration.” This revised resource offers practical strategies and 53 new real-world examples for identifying and mitigating bias across the data lifecycle. The session will also focus on the persistent challenges faced by Tribal governments and Tribal epidemiology centers in accessing vital public health data.

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Harm Reduction

4:35 PM – 5:50 PM

Legal Strategies and Protections in Harm Reduction

Speakers: Jacqueline Seitz, J.D., Deputy Director of Health Privacy, Legal Action Center; Shanaya Desai, Dual J.D. and M.P.H. student, Temple University; Ashleigh Dennis, J.D., Attorney, Harm Reduction Legal Project, Network for Public Health Law

Attorneys from Vital Strategies, Northeastern University, Drug Policy Alliance, the Center for HIV Policy Innovation, the law firm Kaplan & Grady and the Network’s own Harm Reduction Legal Project have been working together to form the Legal Advocates for Harm Reduction. It is a group for harm reduction minded attorneys and legal professionals from all legal areas, not just harm reduction and public health. Our goals include working towards developing a harm reduction legal workforce and coordinated strategies to protect harm reduction programs and the people who use drugs that they serve. This session will give an overview of the group, its goals and how to get involved.  

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6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Conference Reception


Thursday, September 18, 2025


8:30 AM – 10:00 AM
Closing Plenary

Session Tile

Closing Plenary

8:30 AM – 10:00 AM

Bridging Public Health and Community Needs Through Strong Partnerships

Moderator: April Shaw, J.D., Ph.D., Deputy Director, Network for Public Health Law—Health Equity team

Speakers: Emma M. Torres, M.S.W., Executive Director/Founder, Campesinos Sin Fronteras; Zelalem Adefris, M.P.H, Chief Executive Officer, Catalyst Miami; Annajane Yolken, MPH, Director of Strategy, Project Weber/RENEW

Community based organizations (CBOs) are at the forefront of efforts to create positive health outcomes for communities of color and others who experience structural harms. The work that CBOs do, including building trust, understanding community needs, and implementing community-based solutions are essential to public health. It also calls for strong partnership between CBOs, public health agencies, and other governmental agencies. This plenary will provide different perspectives and insights from CBOs who are advancing health justice in their communities by addressing the social determinants of health. Attendees will get an understanding of the support needed by CBOs in their important work, hear about how to best partner and build trust with communities, and gain valuable learnings that can guide partnerships and collaborations between public health agencies, CBOs, and other partners. The session will inspire attendees to forge partnerships and take action to strengthen public health in their communities.

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10:15 AM – 11:30 AM
Concurrent Sessions

Advocacy and Community Engagement

10:15 AM – 11:30 AM

Policy Co-Design Through Community Engagement

Speakers: Ginna Hernandez Rodriguez, M.P.I.A., Policy Analyst, Public Health Seattle & King County; Jessica Jeavons, J.D., Director Policy and Strategy, Public Health Seattle & King County; Sarah Walker, Ph.D., Director of University of Washington CoLab for Community & Behavioral Health Policy; Angel Swanson, Executive Director, Feeding Feasible Feasts

This presentation will highlight the innovative approaches taken by Public Health – Seattle & King County and the University of Washington CoLab to address public health issues through community-centered policy co-creation. Attendees will gain insight into the methodologies, challenges, and successes of these collaborative efforts aimed at improving health outcomes by addressing racism, fostering multisector collaboration, and increasing food security.

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Emerging Issues and Legal Challenges

10:15 AM – 11:30 AM

The Misclassification of Misoprostol and Mifepristone as Controlled Substances – A Public Health and Legal Response

Speakers: Jeanie Donovan, M.P.H., M.P.Aff., Deputy Director, New Orleans Health Department; Ryann Martinek, M.P.H., Sexual and Reproductive Health Specialist, New Orleans Health Department; Ellie Schilling, J.D., Health Care Attorney, SEMM Law

In 2024, Louisiana became the first state to place misoprostol and mifepristone on the state’s Controlled Substances List in a misguided attempt to reduce access to the drugs, which are used in medication abortion but also in many other medical procedures. Now other states are looking to follow in the footsteps of Louisiana. Learn how leaders at one local health department and advocates are fighting back against this misuse of the Controlled Substances Act.

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Harm Reduction and Overdose Prevention

10:15 AM – 11:30 AM

Overdose Prevention Centers: State of the Law and Continuing Momentum

Speakers: Kellen Russoniello, J.D., M.P.H., Director of Public Health, Drug Policy Alliance; Annajane Yolken, MPH, Director of Strategy, Project Weber/RENEW; Sam Rivera, Executive Director, OnPoint NYC; Alaine Mezon, OPC RPIC (Responsible Person in Charge); Mike Selick, MSW, Director of Capacity Building and Community Mobilization, National Harm Reduction Coalition

With nearly 100,000 people dying of overdose in the United States every year, communities must take bold action to save lives. Overdose prevention centers (OPCs) are evidence-based harm reduction interventions that improve public health and safety and should be part of a comprehensive approach to drug policy. Panelists will provide a legal overview of the current status of OPCs, recent wins and challenges, and policy developments across the country.

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Health and Racial Health Equity

10:15 AM – 11:30 AM

Proyecto Luz 3.0: Navigating the Intersection of Immigration Law and Public Health in Latino Communities

Speakers: Dulce Ruelas, Dr.PH., M.P.H., Research Scientist & Associate Professor, Grand Canyon University; Carol Galletly, J.D., M.P.H., Associate Professor, Medical College of Wisconsin

Concerns about immigration laws and the laws themselves can impact immigrants’ participation in public health measures undermining efforts to control epidemics effectively. Proyecto Luz 3.0 investigates how actual and perceived immigration laws affect Latino immigrants’ willingness to engage in public health measures for infectious disease control, specifically testing/diagnosis, contact tracing, prompt medical care, and vaccination.  The study is conducted in two U.S. cities with contrasting legal environments, Phoenix, AZ, and Chicago, IL.    Eight Spanish-language focus groups were conducted with 80 Latino immigrants, both documented and undocumented, and fourteen virtual interviews with professionals in Latino-serving organizations nationwide.   Seven key domains of concern at the intersection of immigration enforcement and public health engagement were identified: concerns about drawing unwanted government attention, concerns regarding the protection of public records and confidentiality, uncertainty about the stability of immigration laws, confusion related to eligibility criteria, concerns about the “public charge” rule, the desire to be perceived as a model resident, and the potential for collaboration between health departments and immigration authorities. Participants expressed that these concerns deter some groups of immigrants from engaging in public health infectious disease control efforts.     The findings suggest that there are significant legal concerns and misunderstandings of law among immigrants, which may affect engagement in public health infectious disease control measures among Latino immigrants in the US. By preparing public health personnel to address legal misconceptions and concerns, public health systems can better address communicable diseases within vulnerable populations in future pandemics and promote health equity within immigrant communities.

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Public Health Data Access, Sharing, and Privacy

10:15 AM – 11:30 AM

Is TEFCA a panacea? What TEFCA solves, what it doesn’t solve, and how you can use it

Speakers: Lillian M. Colasurdo, J.D., M.E.L.P., Director of Public Health Law & Data Sharing, Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO); Nichole Sweeney, J.D., General Counsel and Chief Privacy Officer, CRISP

The promise of TEFCA for data sharing with public health authorities has been heralded from the top offices at the Federal Government. This session will explore whether and how early implementers have glimpsed this promise – what has worked, what has not, and what still needs to be solved. The session will also discuss when TEFCA benefits from working with local entities such as health information exchanges and how such partnerships can promote local concerns with national data exchange.

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12:00 PM
Conference Adjourns