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 Sue Grinnell.

Previous Sessions

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

October 31, 2023

October 31, 2023. This Hot Topics summarizes findings from a joint effort to advance data modernization for public health in Washington.

Graphic of a person writing symbols on a screen.
September 26, 2023

September 26, 2023. This Hot Topics explores the work of the Population Health Innovation Lab’s (PHIL) Aligning Systems for Health project, which conducted research with 22 Accountable Communities for Health (ACHs) in Washington state and California.

Photo montage of various public health and health care settings.
August 29, 2023

August 29, 2023. This Hot Topics takes a closer look at the data collected from the Washington State Maternal Mortality Review Panel’s most recent report.

A pregnant woman and a child make a heart shape with their hands over her abdomen
July 27, 2023

July 27, 2023. This Hot Topics webinar explores steps that organizations can take to build deeper connections with the communities they serve.

Photo of two people shaking hands outside on a farm
June 15, 2023

June 15, 2023. This Hot Topics webinar will explore the role of syndromic surveillance within Alaska’s Tribal Health System (ATHS).

Anchorage under data constellations
May 23, 2023

May 23, 2023. This Hot Topics webinar will explore the affordable housing challenges Washington’s older adults confront.

Photo of a man and woman in front of a house, with the man holding the keys
April 25, 2023

April 25, 2023. This Hot Topics webinar will consider themes known to have a negative impact on the occupational health of workers, including gender bias, stigma, and feeling unsafe at work.

Photo of a woman with her hands on her head
February 28, 2023

February 28, 2023. This Hot Topics webinar will discuss Rethink the Drink, a mass-reach health communications initiative led by the Oregon Health Authority. Presenters will discuss formative research and partner engagement, explore brand assets and strategy, and share key lessons learned from the program’s implementation.

Photo illustration of a woman on the left, looking up with eyes closed, and a glass of beer on the right. Text on image reads "Rethink the drink"
January 23, 2023

January 23, 2023. This Hot Topics webinar will examine findings from the 2021 Public Health Workforce Interest and Needs Survey. This study took place during a time of great challenge for public health, as rural health departments struggled to support high needs populations with inadequate resources. These existing challenges were compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has had lasting and severe impacts on both rural and urban public health practitioners.

Aerial view of a farm
December 20, 2022

December 20, 2022. This Hot Topics webinar will explore data and trends on fentanyl overdoses in Washington State. Participants will identify misconceptions and misinformation about fentanyl and learn how community-level initiatives are succeeding in addressing the overdose crisis.

Divided image showing pills on the left and a blurred photo of people walking on the right
November 29, 2022

November 29, 2022. This Hot Topics webinar will share insight from the State Medical Epidemiologist for Washington State about the response to Monkeypox and how public health professionals can prepare for and respond to other zoonotic outbreaks.

Photo collage of the Monkeypox virus, a man receiving a vaccine, a meerkat, a monkey, and a pika
October 27, 2022

October 27, 2022. This Hot Topics webinar will review the framework of adaptive leadership with a focus on the health systems sector. Attendees will consider their past, current and future leadership challenges using this framework.

A group of birds flying together, with graphic overlay indicating the leader of the group
August 24, 2022

August 24, 2022. This Hot Topics webinar will share lessons learned from Public Health — Seattle & King County about injury and violence prevention policy when it comes to traffic, water, and firearm safety.

A young girl rides a bicycle on a quiet country road
July 26, 2022

July 26, 2022. This Hot Topics webinar will share why abortion access is a public health issue and how Washington state has addressed it through a public health framework.

A woman holds a protest sign that reads "MY BODY MY CHOICE"
June 28, 2022

June 28, 2022. This Hot Topics webinar will share lessons learned from the heat dome and climate change by the Multnomah County Health Department in Portland, Oregon.

NASA image of the June 2021 heat dome event