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Northwest Center for Public Health Practice

Public Health Training, Research, and Evaluation for the Northwest

Hot Topics in Practice

Hot Topics in PracticeHot 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.

Latest Session

Reinvesting in a 21st Century Public Health System

August 31, 2020

In the August session of Hot Topics in Practice, John Auerbach, President and CEO of Trust for America’s Health, examines what has led to the chronic underfunding of federal, state, and local public health systems, and what can be done to repair the damage.

Read more to learn about the investments needed to build a modern public health system.

Previous Sessions

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

Public Health Leadership in Times of Crisis

July 29, 2020

This one-hour webinar, which is part of the Hot Topics series, explores equity-focused leadership skills for the COVID-19 crisis.

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cabin on Alaskan shore

Addressing Racism and COVID-19

June 30, 2020

This one-hour webinar, which is part of the Hot Topics series, explores the root causes of COVID-19 health inequities.

Read More »
structural-racism-protest

Mentoring Matters in Public Health

May 27, 2020

This one-hour Hot Topics webinar explores how mentoring is an important tool for developing leaders and building more equitable public health organizations.

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Mentee and mentor smiling

The Evolving Role of a COVID-19 Community Advisory Group

April 28, 2020

This one-hour Hot Topics webinar reviews a unique community partnership for addressing the COVID-19 response.

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Addressing Trending Topics on Social Media

March 31, 2020

In this one-hour Hot Topics webinar, Claire Tollefsen, Digital Media Specialist for the Oregon Health Authority, shares strategies for addressing trending topics on social media.

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Ethical Issues in Public Health Data Use

February 27, 2020

In this one-hour Hot Topics webinar, two attorneys explore the legal and ethical issues related to public health data use.

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Close up view of green camera lens reflecting a crowd and computer code

Mental Health and Suicide Prevention in Rural America

January 28, 2020

In this one-hour Hot Topics webinar, two leaders from Idaho review why local public health agencies should be involved in mental and behavioral health issues and the role they can play in rural suicide prevention.

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Image of people having a conversation

Clearing the Air on Youth Vaping

December 18, 2019

This one-hour Hot Topics webinar reviews vaping-related products, health impacts, and prevention efforts underway in Washington State.

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Photo of the lower quarter of a man's face blowing out smoke, while he holds a vape pen.

Visually Communicating Public Health Data

November 21, 2019

This one-hour Hot Topics webinar discusses the latest strategies and tools for using data to tell compelling public health stories.

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Photograph of a chart formed from a rainbow of colored pencils.

Economic Development for Rural Health

October 29, 2019

This one-hour Hot Topics webinar discusses a unique community coalition in Klamath County, Oregon, that is connecting economic improvements to health.

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Oregon high desert skyline

Strengthening Tribal Public Health Partnerships

September 23, 2019

This one-hour Hot Topics webinar reviews how non-tribal public health agencies can better collaborate with tribal entities to support community health.

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Photograph of tribal members at the annual canoe journey.

Messaging Strategies in the Era of Misinformation

August 27, 2019

This one-hour Hot Topics webinar reviews messaging strategies for hot-button issues like vaccines, climate change, and fluoridation.

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Photograph of a girl holding a glass of water.

Comics for Health Promotion

July 23, 2019

This one-hour webinar explores how comics can be used for creative public health messaging.

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Clark County’s 2019 Measles Outbreak: Vaccination Science, Controversy, and Public Trust

June 25, 2019

This one-hour Hot Topics webinar describes how Clark County Public Health in Washington State responded to an outbreak in a community with large populations of unvaccinated children.

Read More »
Photograph of a sign reading Measles Alert: STOP.

Finding Strength in Small Numbers: Epidemiology in Urban Indian Communities

May 21, 2019

This one-hour Hot Topics webinar reviews strategies for working with small data sets to better understand health issues, with examples from urban Indian communities.

Read More »
Photograph of an AI/AN woman and young child.