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

Public Health, This is Your Shot!

January 26, 2021

The January session of Hot Topics in Practice will review the nuances of local governance in Washington state to better understand the financial, political, and cultural factors that influence local public health oversight.

Register today to learn about working more effectively with elected officials to build stronger public health systems. Public health, this is your shot!

Previous Sessions

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

Addressing Adverse Childhood Experiences at Local Health Jurisdictions

May 27, 2014

In the May session of Hot Topics, leaders from Washington’s Comprehensive Health Education Foundation explain the statewide plans to coordinate efforts to address adverse childhood experiences.

Putting Health on the Map: Using Data to Build New Partnerships

April 15, 2014

In this one hour Hot Topics webinar, Muriel DeLaVergne-Brown, Public Health Director for Crook County, Oregon, shares how her agency used data to cultivate new partnerships and financing for better walking and biking trails.

Graphic of a "map" with a dot labeled "Health" at the intersection of two "roads."

A Healthy Dose: Strengthening Reach and Impact of Community Strategies

March 25, 2014

In this one-hour Hot Topics webinar, evaluation specialists from Group Health Research Institute explain how to strengthen the reach and impact of community health strategies.

Photograph of a water droplet splashing with an expanding wave around it.

Health Care Reform In the Northwest (Part One)

February 26, 2014

In this one-hour Hot Topics webinar, public health leaders from Oregon discuss the impacts of the Affordable Care Act in their state during part one of a special two-part series exploring health care reform around the region.

Graphic showing a map of Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, with Oregon highlighted.

Health Care Reform In the Northwest (Part Two)

January 22, 2014

In this one-hour Hot Topics webinar, public health leaders from Idaho, Washington, and Wyoming discuss the impacts of the Affordable Care Act in their states during part two of a special two-part series exploring health care reform around the region.

Graphic showing a map of Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, with Washington, Idaho, and Wyoming highlighted.

Hookah Lounges Today. Marijuana or E-cigarette Lounges Tomorrow?

December 17, 2013

In this one-hour Hot Topics webinar, representatives from four health jurisdictions in Washington State discuss their experiences developing policies and enforcing laws to promote smoke-free air in public places.

Photograph of a person's face breathing out vapor.

Lessons from the Fertilizer Plant Explosion in West, Texas

November 19, 2013

In this one-hour Hot Topics webinar, Bruce Clements, the Public Health Preparedness Director at the Texas Department of State Health Services, shares the incredible story of community resilience and heroism during the immediate response to a chemical explosion.

Photograph of a boarded up house with an American flag and "God Bless West" painted on it.

Drill of the Dead: Using Zombie Scenarios to Train Community Partners

October 22, 2013

In this one hour webinar, which is part of the Hot Topics series, emergency preparedness leaders from Montana share their unique experience using a zombie-themed exercise to enhance community preparedness.

Photograph of exercise staff with made-up actor superimposed over a "zombie outbreak" sign.

From Data to Desk: Translating Needs Assessments into Targeted Employee Training

September 24, 2013

In this one hour webinar, which is part of the Hot Topics series, three workforce development specialists share their tips for assessing staff training needs and implementing training plans.

Blackboard reading: Workforce training plan: Survey, Analyze, Implement

From Plan to Practice: Helping Transportation Policies Hit the Streets

August 27, 2013

In this one hour webinar, which is part of the Hot Topics series, Brendon Haggerty discusses "complete streets" policies and how public health agencies can use them to influence transportation planning for health.

Photograph of a bicycle lane between a sidewalk and car traffic lanes.

Impact of Local Health Spending on Maternal and Child Health: Results from the PHAST Study

July 16, 2013

In this one-hour Hot Topics webinar, Betty Bekemeier explains how results from the Public Health Activities and Services Tracking (PHAST) Study can help local health jurisdictions understand their impact on population health and plan accordingly.

Building Sustainability: One Health Department's Response to a Resource Crisis

June 25, 2013

In this one-hour Hot Topics webinar, Paul Kuehnert tells how the Kane County Health Department implemented a strategic, organizational response to the 2008 recession and fortified the agency for long-term growth and sustainability.

Lead Exposure at Firing Ranges

May 21, 2013

In this one-hour Hot Topics webinar, Michael Kinzer and Gerry Croteau discuss safety standards to reduce lead exposure at firing ranges.

Financially Sustainable Health Departments: Business Planning Made Easy

April 30, 2013

In this one-hour Hot Topics webinar, Stephen Orton discusses why business planning is important for the future of public health.

Graphic of a woman drawing a diagram of a business plan on a whiteboard.

Integrating Public Health and Primary Care

March 19, 2013

In this one-hour Hot Topics webinar, members of the Northwest Regional Primary Care Association discuss strategies for better integrating public health and primary care.

Graphic of two roads, one labeled "Public Health," one labeled "Primary Care" converging into a larger road labeled "Improved Community Health."