Call for Reviewers

The Network for Public Health Law is seeking volunteer reviewers to evaluate abstracts submitted for the 2027 Public Health Law Conference. Reviewers are essential to building a program that reflects the range and rigor of work happening in public health law and practice across the country. 

Abstracts are reviewed through a confidential, blind process by the Conference Planning Committee and a group of external reviewers. Each abstract has a maximum length of 250 words. Reviewers score submissions against a common rubric and provide brief written comments. Final program decisions rest with the Conference Planning Committee, informed by reviewer scores. 

Public health practitioners, attorneys, researchers, health care providers, and advocates working in U.S. public health, health care, and other sectors, as well as members of community-led organizations and coalitions, are all encouraged to apply. We particularly welcome reviewers from health agencies, Tribal organizations, community-based organizations, and legal services organizations.

Reviewers will receive a $100 discount off their conference registration rate. 

Who We Are Looking For 

We are recruiting approximately 20 reviewers across the priority areas listed below. Reviewers should have: 

  • Demonstrated professional experience in U.S. public health law, public health practice, or a related field, including practice-based experience outside of academic or legal settings; 
  • Substantive familiarity with at least one of the conference priority areas; 
  • The ability to evaluate submissions fairly against a rubric, independent of personal or organizational interest; and 
  • Availability to complete assigned reviews within the January 11 – January 29, 2027 window. 
  • Prior abstract or peer review experience is welcome but not required. Orientation and a written rubric will be provided. 

Priority Areas 

Applicants will be asked to identify their area(s) of expertise. Assignments are made to match reviewer expertise with submission content: 

  • Advocacy and Community Engagement
  • Harm Reduction
  • Health and Racial Health Equity
  • Environmental, Climate, and Health
  • Public Health Authority and Systems
  • Public Health Law Practice
  • Data Access, Sharing, and Privacy
  • Emergency Legal Preparedness and Response
  • Tribal Public Health
  • Emerging Issues (alternate/additional topics) 

Example subtopics for each priority area appear in the Call for Abstracts. 

What the Role Involves 

  • Volume: 7-10 submissions each limited to 250 words. Every abstract is reviewed independently by at least two reviewers. 
  • Time: approximately two hours, completed on your own schedule within the review window. 
  • Orientation: One 45-minute session in mid-December 2026, offered live and recorded. 
  • Platform: All reviewing is done online through Oxford Abstracts. No in-person meetings are required, and reviewing is not contingent on attending the conference. 
  • Scoring: Numeric scores against a rubric, plus two to three sentences of written comment. Preference in scoring is given to abstracts with strong law and policy and equity components, to complete panels, to panels including at least one lawyer or legal expert, and to panels including a community representative or advocacy group. 

Confidentiality and Conflicts of Interest 

Reviews are blind and confidential. Reviewers will be asked to sign a short agreement confirming that they will: 

  • Keep all submissions, scores, and deliberations confidential, and not share, cite, or circulate any submitted material;
  • Disclose any potential financial, professional, personal, or organizational conflicts that could affect their judgment on an assigned abstract; and 
  • Bear responsibility for recusing themselves from reviewing any abstract they authored, co-authored, or contributed to, or if they suspect a submission by their own organization or by a close colleague. Recusals are routine and carry no penalty. Reviewers may recuse at any point in the process, and abstracts are reassigned without comment.  

Reviewer Recognition 

Reviewing is a volunteer role. In recognition of the contribution, reviewers who complete their assignments receive $100 off their conference registration rate. Reviewers employed by federal, Tribal, state, or local government agencies should confirm with their own ethics official before accepting the reduced registration rate.

Reviewer Timeline 

Date Milestone 
Mid-December 2026Scoring rubric, review guidelines, and disclosure form distributed 
Mid-December 2026 Reviewer orientation session (live, and recorded for those who cannot attend) 
Monday, January 11, 2027 Review period opens and reviewers notified of track assignment 
Friday, January 29, 2027 All scores and comments due 


How to Participate 

E-mail the Public Health Law Conference at phlc@networkforphl.org, subject line: Abstract Reviewer, by Monday, November 23, 2026. Please note your name, title, organization, and area(s) of expertise in the body of the e-mail. 

Additional Questions? 

Public Health Law Conference 
phlc@networkforphl.org