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.

Next Session

Lessons Learned from the Heat Dome and Climate Change

NASA image of the June 2021 heat dome event

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.

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Previous Sessions

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

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.

Data for Addressing Health Disparities

January 13, 2015

In this session of Hot Topics in Practice, Teresa Litton, MPH, discusses ways public health and health care professionals can use data to jointly address health disparities and lead health systems reform in their state.

Photograph of a health care provider checking a client's blood pressure in a home setting.

Health Impact Reviews: A Step Toward Health Equity in All Policies

December 16, 2014

In the December session of Hot Topics in Practice, representatives from the Washington State Board of Health and Governor’s Interagency Council on Health Disparities discuss how they conduct health impact reviews on legislative proposals.

Photograph of a magnifying glass over a legal document.

Ebola Preparedness in Washington State

November 18, 2014

In the November session of Hot Topics in Practice, Scott Lindquist, MD, MPH, discusses Ebola preparedness efforts underway in Washington State.

Public Health’s Response to the Oso Mudslide

October 8, 2014

In the October session of Hot Topics in Practice, Gary Goldbaum, MD, MPH, shares how his health district worked with partner agencies in response to the Oso, Washington mudslide.

Photograph of Oso slide showing a large area of hillside has slid into the river valley.

Mass Fatality Management: A Multi-Disciplinary Approach to Preparedness and Response

September 23, 2014

In the September session of Hot Topics in Practice, representatives from the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences share how their agency helps respond to mass fatalities.

Photograph of a man's gloved hand with EMTs working in the background.

Assessing a Public Health Workforce Using National Tools and Standards

July 23, 2014

In the July session of Hot Topics, representatives from Montana’s public health system discuss the policy, administrative, and human resource techniques they are employing to strengthen their statewide system.

Making the Case for Foundational Public Health Services

June 24, 2014

In the June session of Hot Topics, Barry Kling, MSPH, explains an initiative in Washington State to secure sustainable public health funding.

Graphic of a house foundation with outlines of a house above it.