Hot Topics in Practice is a monthly webinar forum to discuss issues currently affecting public health practice.

Each month guest speakers from local, state, tribal, and national public health organizations present and take questions from the audience. Hot Topics is moderated by Allene Mares.

Upcoming Session

Addressing Trending Topics on Social Media

March 31, 2020

In this one-hour Hot Topics webinar, a digital media specialist shares strategies for addressing trending topics, like coronavirus, on social media.

Read more to learn why social media matters for public health work.

Previous Sessions

Below you may browse previous Hot Topics webinar sessions. All are available for viewing in PH LearnLink free of charge.

From Access to Taxes: Strategies for Reducing Sugar Consumption in the U.S.

June 21, 2016

In this one-hour Hot Topics webinar, Jim Krieger, MD, MPH, discusses policy and communications strategies for lowering sugar consumption.

Photograph of a spoon pouring sugar onto a pile.

Zika Preparedness: Lessons for the US Public Health System

May 17, 2016

In this one-hour Hot Topics webinar, leaders from Washington State discuss what Zika preparedness means for the region's public health and emergency management systems.

Photograph of a mosquito biting a person's skin.

Climate Change, Equity, and Health: Lessons Learned from Local Planning Efforts in Oregon

April 19, 2016

In this one-hour Hot Topics webinar, Brendon Haggerty reviews Oregon’s state and local efforts to address the health impacts of climate change in the Northwest.

Photograph of the sky and sun obscured by smoky haze.

Putting the Public Health Approach to Firearm Safety Into Action

March 29, 2016

In this one-hour Hot Topics webinar, national and state public health leaders discuss putting the public health approach to firearm safety into action.

So Much at Stake: Lessons on Stakeholder Engagement from the Washington State Suicide Prevention Plan

February 23, 2016

In the February session of Hot Topics in Practice, Karyn Brownson describes the process of developing the new Washington State Suicide Prevention Plan with more than 250 stakeholders.

Photograph of a group of people in a listening session.

All Hands on Deck: How Non-Traditional Partners Evaluated Boating Laws

January 26, 2016

In the January session of Hot Topics in Practice, Marla Peters, MHA, shares her experience working with marine law enforcement officials to evaluate a law change to improve boater safety.

Leading Strategic and Long-Range Planning Efforts

November 10, 2015

In this one-hour Hot Topics webinar, Kurt O’Brien, MHROD reviews the importance of long-range planning, especially in light of health care reform.

Graphic of a woman drawing a diagram on a whiteboard.

Developing Evidence About Public Health Services

October 28, 2015

In this one-hour Hot Topics webinar, Betty Bekemeier, PhD, MPH, FAAN, reviews the importance of collecting standardized data and demonstrates how the information is being used to make the case for public health services.

Photograph of a restaurant inspector looking under a counter.

Evaluating Injury and Violence Prevention Strategies

September 29, 2015

In the September session of Hot Topics in Practice, Donovan Newton, MPA, discusses evaluation results of current injury and violence prevention initiatives.

Photograph of a teen football player on the practice field.

The “One Health” Approach to Public Health Challenges in the Pacific Northwest

July 14, 2015

In the July session of Hot Topics in Practice, Peter Rabinowitz, MD, MPH, discusses the “one health” framework for connecting human, animal, and environmental health to address emerging disease challenges.

Photograph of a boy holding a young chicken.

Ending the Tobacco Epidemic: Past Lessons and Next Steps

June 23, 2015

In the June session of Hot Topics in Practice, Drs. Patrick O’Carroll and Tim McAfee will review past and future strategies for preventing tobacco-related diseases.

Photograph of a placard reading "Thank you for not smoking."

Measles Elimination: Successes and Challenges in Alaska

May 19, 2015

In the May session of Hot Topics in Practice, Rosalyn Singleton, MD, MPH, shares how Alaska’s health care providers, public health workers, and policy-makers helped to successfully eliminate endemic measles cases in their state.

Photograph of women with small child and a medical provider.

Community Health Workers: Public Health and Health Care Collaborating for Health Equity

April 21, 2015

In this one-hour webinar, which is part of the Hot Topics series, health care leaders provide an overview of the community health worker model and review opportunities for integrating these health professionals into public health and health care delivery systems.

Priority Spokane: Focusing on Educational Attainment to Improve Health

March 17, 2015

In this session of Hot Topics in Practice, leaders from Priority Spokane discuss their unique partnership for educational attainment and health.

Photograph of graduates in regalia tossing their mortarboard hats.

Naloxone Distribution for Opioid Overdose Prevention

February 24, 2015

In this session of Hot Topics in Practice, leaders from the front lines of the opioid overdose epidemic will offer collaborative solutions and evidence-based interventions for supporting public health and safety.

Graphic of vials, capsules, and a syringe next to a stethoscope.