Hot Topics will host its 250th episode this month! Tune in to learn how the series has evolved over time and what it means for the future of public health.
Hot Topics in Practice will be hosting its 250th episode on February 24 from 12-1 pm PT. Since 2004, the webinar series has provided thousands of public health professionals across the region with information on the latest public health topics. Join us as we explore the history of the series and what it means for public health moving forward.
Pioneering Public Health Webinars
Hot Topics has historically served as a space to gather and exchange ideas on emerging public health issues. Over the course of an hour, professionals from across the field and subject matter experts come together to discuss different strategies and share resources. “They’re bite sized sessions that are meant to encourage discussion on timely public health topics,” said Betty Bekemeier NWCPHP Director and Hot Topics Moderator. “We’re providing an opportunity for people to get their heads above the day-to-day of their job, maybe gather with colleagues over lunch, and get thinking and talking about what different topics mean for them.”
In 2004 the webinar series was one of the first of its kind, “We wanted to experiment with delivering the series remotely to our region because our Northwest states are so expansive,” said Sarah Manchanda, Project Director. “Back then, our region covered two more states (Montana and Wyoming) than we do now, so a webinar series was a promising way to connect practitioners to each other.”
In rural and frontier areas, this was no small feat. Limited technology and unreliable internet required NWCPHP to work closely with community members to innovate and find ways to stay connected despite weak Wi-Fi signals. "We had to connect to phone lines so people could get audio, and we encouraged people to watch in groups in conference rooms so more could join,” said Manchanda. “As the technology has changed, we’ve been able to reach and connect with even more people, especially with the explosion of Zoom during the pandemic. Sometimes we have close to 500 connections during these live sessions plus others who watch the recordings.”
From Past Lessons to Future Practice
Over the course of its existence, the series has covered a wide range of topics that show how public health has evolved over time. From preparedness to hurricanes, to opioid overdose prevention, to medical marijuana, Hot Topics has covered it all. More recently, topics have included social media, AI, data sovereignty and misinformation. “We’re hoping folks can learn about what someone else is doing so they can replicate it or rework it for their organization,” said Manchanda. “Our participants are doing important work. Our goal is to support them with resources and connections that can help strengthen that work.”
In the 250th episode, Bekemeier will be joined by Patrick O’Carroll, former NWCPHP Director and current President and CEO of The Task Force for Global Health, to discuss these evolutions and what it means for public health moving forward. “This episode takes a look back at what we’ve learned so far, what themes and patterns have stood out along the way, and how those insights might help shape what’s coming next,” said Bekemeier. “It’s a conversation about what’s been hot, what’s on the horizon, and where the next 250 episodes could be headed.”