After working on the front lines of the pandemic response in their local communities for the last two years, more than 500 Kansas public health professionals will gather in-person or virtually at the Governor’s Public Health Conference March 29-31 in Manhattan, Kansas at the Manhattan Conference Center/Hilton Garden Inn.
“In the midst of the pandemic, local public health leaders have worked to keep people healthy and save lives,” KDHE Secretary Janet Stanek said. “This conference will allow them to get re-energized, reconnect with colleagues, and bring valuable information back to their communities.”
Nationally and regionally known speakers will present on a variety of topics organized into four tracks: Maternal and Child Health/Family Planning, Public Health, Hot Topics and Leadership. The keynote speakers are headlined by Soledad O’Brien, award-winning documentarian, journalist, speaker, author and philanthropist. She will speak on “Love in the Time of COVID-19: How Public Health Workers Went from America’s Heroes to Become the Face of Government Skepticism and Cynicism.” Other keynote presenters are Erin Martin, gerontologist, Derek Reed, behavioral economist and Corey Ciocchetti, motivational speaker.
The audience includes leaders and staff from the 100 local health departments across the state as well as staff from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and other public health organizations. All attendees were provided free SARS-CoV-2 self-tests and masks, which are recommended but not required.
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