Public Health in the Rockies 2026: Full Schedule

Background and Purpose. A Community Health Assessment (CHA) highlights community strengths, uncovers public health disparities, and communicates critical health needs to multiple audiences. In rural and frontier communities, it can do something more: it can be a catalyst for community engagement, cross-sector partnership, and lasting trust between a health department and the residents it serves. Small, rural, and frontier local health departments (LHDs) often complete CHAs as compliance exercises, producing reports written in technical language that the communities they describe cannot access or use. This session showcases a community-driven approach developed across rural communities in the Pacific Northwest that treats the CHA process itself as an act of partnership.

Methods. The approach involves conducting surveys, interviews, and focus groups with English- and Spanish-speaking residents and community leaders, then working with local health departments and community advisory boards to develop CHA reports that speak to the community and reflect their perspectives and insight. Quantitative evidence is presented using rural-appropriate techniques — including per-1,000 rather than per-100,000 rates that more honestly reflect small-population realities — and qualitative findings are woven in through direct resident quotes in both English and Spanish. Final reports are written in plain language with strengths-based framing and translated into Spanish so the full community can read and use them.

Results. Trust and rapport building, accountability, and transparency emerged as the most important factors in both data collection and report development. Communities reported feeling genuinely represented in the findings, and local partners used the reports as shared tools for cross-sector action rather than filing them away.

Implications. Attendees will learn how to engage their community and leave with a sample engagement timeline, a plain-language reporting checklist, and reflection prompts for applying this approach in Colorado's rural and frontier context.

Speakers

Heidi Berthoud

Thursday September 24, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am MDT
Crestone 2

Behavioral & Mental Health

9:15am MDT

Suicide in Colorado: An Overview

Thursday September 24, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am MDT

Torreys 3 & 4

This session will both inform and assist public health practitioners and professionals regarding the current status of suicide rates in Colorado and assess the effectiveness of current programs to decrease its incidence. In this interactive presentation, attendees will be invited to participate in the conversation about suicide and how it is more prevalent among certain professions and occupations. QPR Training will be embedded in the presentation, providing attendees information they can use on both a personal and professional level.

Speakers

Jon Geller, DVM, DABVP emeritus, MPH

Public Health Veterinarian

Thursday September 24, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am MDT
Torreys 3 & 4

Behavioral & Mental Health

9:15am MDT

Beyond Modernization: Connecting Data, Programs, and Communities

Thursday September 24, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am MDT

Grays Peak II

Background/Purpose: Following its establishment in 2023, the Adams County Health Department (ACHD) inherited fragmented systems, siloed workflows, and inconsistent data practices that limited coordination, efficiency, and timely decision-making. To build a more resilient and connected public health infrastructure, ACHD launched a Data and Technology Strategic Plan focused on modernizing how data are collected, managed, analyzed, and used across all six divisions of the department.

Methods: ACHD conducted a department-wide assessment to inventory systems, map workflows, and identify opportunities for integration. Through collaboration among internal program staff, community partners, and leadership, ACHD implemented an Integrated Data System, enterprise GIS, standardized governance, automated data pipelines, analytics solutions, and user-centered web applications and data collection tools designed to support diverse public health functions.

Results: Since implementation began, ACHD has developed and modernized more than 1,000 web-based applications and data collection tools supporting operations, epidemiology and data science, nursing, nutrition and family health, strategic health initiatives, and environmental health. Since 2024, the department has fulfilled more than 300 data requests and expanded systems that strengthen surveillance, service coordination, referral management, field operations, reporting, program evaluation, and community health assessment. These efforts have improved operational efficiency, increased access to timely information, strengthened cross-division collaboration, and supported equity-focused, data-driven decision-making.

Implications: ACHD's experience demonstrates how data modernization can strengthen public health by connecting people, programs, and information. Building shared infrastructure, governance, and workforce capacity creates a foundation for stronger collaboration, improved service delivery, and greater organizational resilience.

60-Minute Session Justification: Additional time will support demonstrations of modernization strategies and facilitated discussion on governance, change management, workforce development, and implementation lessons. Participants will identify practical approaches for advancing data modernization and cross-program collaboration within their own organizations.

Speakers

Gabriela Reyes

Thursday September 24, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am MDT
Grays Peak II

Chronic & Infectious Disease

9:15am MDT

EMS Readiness and Financial Sustainability: Challenges and Innovations

Thursday September 24, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am MDT

Grays Peak III

Background/Purpose: EMS readiness requires financial sustainability and predictability. Yet EMS organizations face a fundamental financing problem: they are reimbursed only for transports, creating perverse incentives misaligned with community health needs and emerging evidence on optimal care delivery. This financing structure threatens EMS readiness by limiting innovation and sustainable operations. Communities increasingly seek alternatives, such as treatment-in-place, integration with other health care facilities or community paramedicine, but financing barriers often prevent implementation. Understanding this landscape is essential for public health professionals partnering with EMS to find solutions for strengthening community readiness and access to care.

Methods: This session combines a landscape-setting presentation (15 minutes) with a facilitated panel discussion (40 minutes). The presentation will describe: how current EMS reimbursement undermine readiness; variation in community preferences for service types; and policy solutions emerging at local, state and federal levels. The panel then features EMS leaders implementing real-world alternatives that strengthen readiness and improve health care access while also requiring different payment approaches: treatment-in-place payment pilots, partnering with healthcare facilities, and community paramedicine programs. Audience Q&A and discussion follow.

Results/Key Findings: Participants will understand how financing structures directly affect EMS readiness; barriers to sustainable service delivery and health equity; concrete examples of alternative models that enhance readiness; and policy pathways forward.

Implications: "Stronger Together" requires public health professionals to understand EMS financing as central to readiness and policy solutions that align incentives with community health goals.

This structure requires 60 minutes to accomplish three goals: (1) establish a shared understanding of how financing impacts EMS readiness through a focused presentation; (2) showcase real-world solutions that strengthen readiness through panelist dialogue; and (3) enable meaningful audience engagement. This sequencing maximizes learning and interactive discussion. Dr. Buttorff will moderate the panel discussion and facilitate the audience Q&A.

Speakers

Amy Downs

Results Count Consulting Group

Amy Downs is the founder and president of Results Count Consulting Group, which supports non-profit, public sector and community-based organizations in the health and social sectors with policy analysis and development; program design and implementation; community and stakeholder... Read More →

Christine Buttorff

Thursday September 24, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am MDT
Grays Peak III

Community Planning & Policy Development

9:15am MDT

Resilient but Unequal: Sex, Race, Household Coverage Gaps in U.S. 2019–2023

Thursday September 24, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am MDT

Torreys 1 & 2

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic triggered unprecedented job losses, placing millions of working-age Americans at risk of losing employer-sponsored insurance (ESI). Despite growing evidence of overall coverage disruptions, little is known about how losses and recovery varied simultaneously by gender, race/ethnicity, marital status, education, and income using a comprehensive intersectional framework extending through 2024. This study addresses that gap by examining how ten distinct insurance coverage types changed across demographic groups during and after the pandemic.

Methods: This study uses American Community Survey (ACS) 1-year samples from IPUMS covering 2020–2024, providing nationally representative data on adults aged 18–64 (n=9,407,269). Ten insurance outcomes are examined: any coverage (HCOVANY), private coverage (HCOVPRIV), employer-sponsored (HINSEMP), direct purchase (HINSPUR), TRICARE (HINSTRI), any public coverage (HCOVPUB), Medicaid (HINSCAID), Medicare (HINSCARE), VA (HINSVA), and Indian Health Service (HINSIHS). Analyses include survey-weighted descriptive statistics, logistic regression, interaction models testing whether sex effects differ by race/ethnicity, age group, and income, and difference-in-differences models comparing expansion versus non-expansion states. All analyses apply person-level survey weights for nationally representative estimates.

Results: Overall, uninsurance declined from 13.2% in 2020 to 11.3% in 2023 but rebounded to 11.6% in 2024, likely reflecting Medicaid unwinding. Women were consistently 35% less likely to be uninsured than men. Black and American Indian and Alaska Native women showed the highest Medicaid dependence and largest gender gaps in uninsurance. The female ESI advantage grew significantly with income while the Medicaid advantage weakened at higher income levels.

Implications: Coverage inequities by gender, race/ethnicity, and income persisted throughout the pandemic and recovery without closing. Public health professionals should advocate for policies that strengthen Medicaid, expand outreach to vulnerable populations, and decouple health insurance from employment to advance equitable access to care across Colorado and the nation.

Speakers

Mina Ghobadi

PhD Student, University of Denver

Mina is a PhD student in the Research Methods and Statistics (RMS) program at the University of Denver. Her master's is in Public Policy from the University of Utah. She is interested in public health policy.

Thursday September 24, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am MDT
Torreys 1 & 2

Health Education Promotion

9:15am MDT

Smokeless: Tobacco/Nicotine Use from the 2025 Weld Community Health Survey

Thursday September 24, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am MDT

Crestone 1

In 2025, the Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment conducted its triennial Community Health Survey (CHS) to identify local health trends and inform public health programming. A random, mail-based survey was distributed across Weld County, and 2,802 completed responses were weighted to represent the county population.

Findings revealed an increase in smokeless tobacco/nicotine use and highlighted disparities in tobacco/nicotine use across Weld County. In 2025, 7.5% of residents reported using smokeless tobacco/nicotine products (chew, pouches), double the rate reported in the 2022 CHS. Higher rates of smokeless tobacco/nicotine use were reported among residents aged 18–34 (12.4%) compared to residents aged 35–54 (7.9%) and residents aged 55 and older (3.1%). Additionally, smokeless tobacco/nicotine use among young adults aged 18–34 nearly quadrupled from 3.4% in the 2022 CHS to 12.4% in 2025. Smokeless tobacco/nicotine use among men in Weld County was double the statewide rate reported in the 2024 BRFSS. The survey further identified significantly higher cigarette and e-cigarette use among Hispanic/Latino residents and residents living at or below 138% of the FPL.

These findings directly informed Weld County Tobacco Education and Prevention Program (WCTEPP) strategies and program planning. In response, WCTEPP expanded culturally responsive cessation outreach, increased in-school education efforts focused on emerging nicotine products for ages 9 and older, and developed new initiatives to address alternative-to-suspension needs in school and community settings in partnership with law enforcement, parents/trusted adults, and youth.

This presentation will explore how local survey data was translated into tobacco prevention and cessation programming in Weld County, a community that includes both rural and urban municipalities. Participants will have the opportunity to model an alternative-to-suspension approach in response to local county data trends.

Speakers

Maya Swanson

MPH, Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment

Maya Swanson, MPH, is a Health Data Analyst at the Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment, where she has worked for just over a year. She received her Master of Public Health from the Colorado School of Public Health and holds a B.S. in Sociology and a B.S. in Cell... Read More →

Giovanna Castro

Thursday September 24, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am MDT
Crestone 1

Substance Use & Injury Control

9:15am MDT

Public Health Nurse Leadership Skill Builder

Thursday September 24, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am MDT

Crestone 3

To support professional development and practical readiness, we propose an interactive, skill-building session designed specifically for public health nurses (PHNs). We will focus on strengthening nurse leadership skills at all employment levels. This session will include a panel discussion from public health nurse leaders and peer-to-peer education. Topics have yet to be finalized based on feedback from the PHN section members on their most pressing needs. Topics under discussion include: public health policy, partnership building, navigating funding challenges, and fostering public health nurse leadership in changing times. This session will provide participants with both theoretical frameworks for thinking about leadership and specific techniques that can be applied to their local practice. It will also facilitate connections between public health nurses at a variety of levels of practice and across jurisdictions.

Speakers

Rebecca Miles

Arapahoe County Public Health

Becca Miles, BSN, RN is a Public Health Nurse at Arapahoe County Public Health, where she serves as the Clinical Standards Coordinator and supports both immunization services and clinical education. With more than 20 years of nursing experience, she is honored to lead the Public Health... Read More →

Thursday September 24, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am MDT
Crestone 3

Workforce & Professional Development

10:30am MDT

Geographic Expansion of a Medically Tailored Meal Delivery Program

Thursday September 24, 2026 10:30am - 11:00am MDT

Crestone 2

Diet-related chronic health conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, and cancer, are the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in the United States. Food is Medicine (FIM) interventions have emerged as a crucial component of state and federal strategies to address the root causes of chronic disease and the complications of severe and complex conditions, as well as rising healthcare costs and other multifaceted priorities. FIM interventions encompass a spectrum of nutrition services, including medically tailored meals, medically tailored groceries, and produce prescriptions, which are tailored to patient needs and integrated into the healthcare system through referrals from medical providers.

Founded in Denver, Project Angel Heart has been preparing and delivering medically tailored meals to Coloradans living with severe illnesses for over 30 years. As part of our FY2021-FY2025 Strategic Plan, the organization undertook an ambitious geographic expansion, tripling our service area to encompass 17 counties and over 85% of Colorado’s population. This session will reflect on the strategies and tactics that led to the success of the geographic expansion, and share lessons learned during its implementation.

Speakers

Kate Johnston

Chief Program Strategy Officer, Project Angel Heart

Kate Johnston joined Project Angel Heart as its chief operating officer in 2022 and now serves as chief program strategy officer. Before this, she spent 10 years in health care, building and leading community-based efforts to improve health for children and families. This experience... Read More →

Thursday September 24, 2026 10:30am - 11:00am MDT
Crestone 2

Behavioral & Mental Health

10:30am MDT

No-Code AI Forecasting for Influenza in Local Public Health

Thursday September 24, 2026 10:30am - 11:00am MDT

Grays Peak II

Background/Purpose:
Local health departments are increasingly expected to make rapid, data-informed decisions, yet adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) tools remains limited due to workforce training gaps and technical barriers. This study examined whether structured AI education improves public health professionals’ confidence and readiness to use no-code forecasting tools. The research addressed two questions: (1) How does AI-focused training influence knowledge and attitudes toward AI in disease forecasting? and (2) Can a no-code platform (Akkio) generate feasible county-level influenza forecasts using weather variables?

Methods:
A quantitative pre–post design was implemented with public health professionals from Douglas and Jefferson Counties, Colorado (n=8). Participants completed a 20-item Likert-scale survey assessing AI literacy, readiness, and trust before and after two structured training sessions. During the sessions, attendees applied historical influenza and weather data within the Akkio no-code AI platform to generate 90-day forecasts. Paired t-tests were used to evaluate changes in survey responses, and forecasting outputs were reviewed for practical interpretability.

Results:
Post-training scores increased across all survey domains. Familiarity with AI-driven forecasting tools increased from a mean of 1.25 (strongly disagree) to 3.75 (agree). Participants reported greater confidence in interpreting AI-generated forecasts and stronger agreement that public health professionals should receive AI training. Forecasting outputs demonstrated feasible short-term influenza projections using temperature-based variables, with higher predicted case trends observed in the 65+ population.

Implications:
No-code AI platforms can reduce technical barriers while enhancing workforce readiness for predictive surveillance. Structured AI education improves confidence and supports responsible integration of forecasting tools into routine public health practice. Expanding AI literacy initiatives may strengthen local preparedness and data-driven decision-making nationwide.

Speakers

Dr. Todd Hall

Thursday September 24, 2026 10:30am - 11:00am MDT
Grays Peak II

Chronic & Infectious Disease

10:30am MDT

Using AI to Understand Community Engagement Data

Thursday September 24, 2026 10:30am - 11:00am MDT

Grays Peak III

Community Engagement is the most important, yet often the most under resourced work for Local Public Health Agencies. Eagle County Public Health and Environment (ECPHE) has been exploring how AI can build department wide infrastructure to support Community Engagement work. Two use cases have been implemented at ECPHE: qualitative coding of community gathered data in Gemini and the creation of an AI toolkit in NotebookLM.

In 2023 ECPHE involved hundreds of Eagle County residents in the creation of the Public Health Improvement Plan and performed a qualitative analysis to identify key codes present in the data. This process was done manually, involving 25 staff and taking hundreds of people hours to complete. In 2025 ECPHE replicated this coding process by using a Gemini Gem to categorize community statements. The AI results were substantially similar to the results from human coding and were provided in a fraction of the time. This process is being used in ECPHE’s planning processes such as the recent Aging Well Roadmap. In 2025 ECPHE created a community engagement toolkit in NotebookLM, incorporating a community engagement model, information from the ‘Community Toolbox’ and data on Eagle County, the toolbox is being used by staff as a planning aide for Community Engagement activities. These tools are not intended to replace human relationships or the relational nature of community engagement. Rather, they are designed to strengthen this work by adding a layer of support that allows staff to better understand, organize, and act on community voice.

Speakers

Jeff Corn

Data Equity Strategist, Eagle County Public Health and Environment

Thursday September 24, 2026 10:30am - 11:00am MDT
Grays Peak III

Community Planning & Policy Development

10:30am MDT

Associations between Influenza Subtype and Warmer Temperatures in Colorado

Thursday September 24, 2026 10:30am - 11:00am MDT

Grays Peak I

Background

Influenza virus activity is associated with climate; however, less is known about how climate affects influenza subtype activity. Using population-level influenza-associated hospitalization surveillance data, we assessed the relationship between predominant influenza subtype and average temperature in Colorado.

Methods

We analyzed laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated hospitalizations reported between October 1, 2009 - March 28, 2026*, excluding the 2020-2021 respiratory virus season due to minimal flu activity. We calculated Colorado weekly average temperatures and 30-year climate normals using National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration data. Temperature anomaly was defined as the difference between average temperature and climate normals. Predominant seasonal subtype was defined as having more than a 10-percentage point difference in the proportion of subtyped influenza specimens. Spearman rank tests estimated the correlation between temperatures (weekly and anomaly) and influenza hospitalization rates and counts (overall and subtyped).

*Through May 2026 at presentation

Results

Between 2009 and 2026, nine influenza seasons were H3N2-predominant and six were H1N1-predominant. Of the H3N2-predominant seasons, five (55.55%) occurred during hotter-than-average seasons; three H1N1-predominant seasons (50.00%) occurred within colder-than-average seasons. Average weekly temperature showed a significant negative correlation with both H1N1 rates (⍴ = -0.342, p

Speakers

Kelly Bergstrom

Carter McCabe

Mackenzie Owen

Thursday September 24, 2026 10:30am - 11:00am MDT
Grays Peak I

Environmental Health

10:30am MDT

Delivering Diabetes Prevention & Management Programming through Telehealth

Thursday September 24, 2026 10:30am - 11:00am MDT

Torreys 1 & 2

Diabetes prevention and management are key public health priorities in Colorado. The National Diabetes Prevention Program (National DPP) and Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) services are national, evidence-based programs for individuals living with diabetes or prediabetes. Approximately 44 DSMES programs and 23 National DPP programs exist throughout Colorado. However, programming is limited, particularly in rural areas of the state with dispersed populations, with the majority of National DPP and DSMES programs concentrated in urban areas in the middle of the state. In fact, 81% of rural and rural resort counties do not have a local National DPP, and 75% of rural and rural resort counties do not have local DSMES services. This reality makes telehealth and virtual program delivery options necessary for individuals living with diabetes or at risk for diabetes who have barriers to in-person programming. Research shows that program outcomes between in-person and virtual programming are similar. However, program providers and participants alike face barriers to telehealth programming. This presentation will clearly outline the successes, challenges, and lessons learned from diabetes prevention and management programs, gleaned from working directly with telehealth providers since 2021, as well as surveys conducted in early 2026. Creative solutions taking place in Colorado will be shared, and attendees will walk away with tangible examples of how to effectively deliver telehealth programming by increasing engagement, addressing digital literacy, investing in staff training, and adjusting workflows to best meet the needs of participants and program providers.

Speakers

Lisa Bentley

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

MS, RDN, CPH Lisa Bentley is a Diabetes Management Coordinator with the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment. A Registered Dietitian and public health professional, she supports programs focused on diabetes education, prevention, and management, including telehealth-enabled... Read More →

Monica Thompson

Thursday September 24, 2026 10:30am - 11:00am MDT
Torreys 1 & 2

Health Education Promotion

10:30am MDT

Evaluating Health Disparities Among African American Populations Across Colorado

Thursday September 24, 2026 10:30am - 11:00am MDT

Torreys 3 & 4

Learning Objective:
To assess differences in health care utilization, documented social needs, and spending among Black populations in Colorado using Colorado All Payer Claims Database (CO APCD) data.

Background/Purpose:
Black populations in Colorado continue to experience disparities in health outcomes and health care utilization. This study evaluated differences in emergency department (ED) use, inpatient admissions, readmissions, follow-up care, documented social needs, and spending across insurance types and Black population subgroups.

Methods:
Researchers conducted a retrospective claims-based analysis using CO APCD data from 2018–2025 across commercial, Medicaid, Medicare Advantage, and Traditional Medicare populations. Outcomes included ED visits, inpatient admissions, 30-day readmissions, 7-day follow-up visits, ICD-10 Z-code utilization, and total health care spending. Measures were standardized as rates per member per year (PMPY).

Results:
The largest differences were observed in ED utilization. In Traditional Medicare, Black, Hispanic or Latino members experienced 1.99 ED visits PMPY compared to 0.74 among All Other Public Health Fields Race populations. Similar patterns were observed across Medicaid, Medicare Advantage, and commercial coverage. Inpatient admissions were also higher among Black populations, reaching 0.21 PMPY in Traditional Medicare compared to 0.14 among All Other Public Health Fields Race populations. Thirty-day readmission rates reached 0.09 PMPY among Black, Hispanic or Latino members compared to 0.03 among All Other Public Health Fields Race populations. Documented social needs, measured using ICD-10 Z-codes, were consistently higher among Black populations across insurance types.

Implications:
Findings highlight consistent, system-wide differences in health care utilization across Black populations in Colorado and support collaborative, community-based outreach, care navigation, and prevention strategies to advance health equity statewide.

Speakers

Alan Harmon

Center for African American Health

As Director of Programs at the Center for African American Health (CAAH), Alan Harmon leads a dynamic and diverse team committed to advancing wellness and equity in the community. With over seven years of experience developing and facilitating Parenting Education Programs, Alan has... Read More →

Kimi Landry

Thursday September 24, 2026 10:30am - 11:00am MDT
Torreys 3 & 4

Rural Communities & Underserved Populations

10:30am MDT

Nicotine Use in the Mountain West: The Impact of Regional Context

Thursday September 24, 2026 10:30am - 11:00am MDT

Crestone 1

Nicotine use is still the leading preventable contributor to disease and death in the United States. States in the Mountain West share many, but not all, patterns and trends in nicotine use.

This session presents findings from surveys on adult nicotine use conducted by WYSAC in the region, highlighting Colorado's neighbors to the north and south. WYSAC has conducted similar surveys in seven states. We will share how we develop survey instruments tailored to each state's needs, how we field surveys, and how we weight and analyze data to obtain accurate estimates of nicotine-related behaviors and opinions.

Our findings show broadly that:

* Smoking rates have declined while vaping rates have increased, so that vaping now matches or exceeds smoking among adults.
* Young adults, people experiencing poverty, and people with behavioral health challenges are disproportionately likely to vape.
* Poverty and behavioral health are significant predictors of cigarette smoking.
* In New Mexico, most smokers and vapers intend to quit within the next six months. In Wyoming, roughly a third of smokers tried to quit in the last year
* In New Mexico, people living in multi-unit housing are significantly more likely to be exposed to secondhand smoke in their homes.
* Substantial majorities of adults support cigarette tax increases and tax increases on other nicotine products.

We will present maps showing state- and county-level variations and graphs detailing variations across demographics and other population characteristics.

States in the Mountain West share in national trends in nicotine use and behaviors, but also differ in important ways. There are strong associations between social determinants of health and nicotine use and behaviors, but these determinants vary across our region. Placing local data in a regional context enables public health professionals to see both what we share and how we differ.

Speakers

Humphrey Costello

WYSAC, University of Wyoming

Humphrey Costello is a senior research scientist at WYSAC at the University of Wyoming. He is PI on a project providing comprehensive evaluation services to the New Mexico Nicotine Use Prevention and Control Program. Humphrey is part of WYSAC's research and evaluation group, which... Read More →

Thursday September 24, 2026 10:30am - 11:00am MDT
Crestone 1

Substance Use & Injury Control

10:30am MDT

Expanding Reproductive Access in Rural Areas

Thursday September 24, 2026 10:30am - 11:00am MDT

Crestone 3

Access to comprehensive, person-centered contraceptive care remains limited in rural and underserved communities, where workforce shortages and restricted clinical scope impede timely service delivery. The Full Scope Forward (FSF) RN Nexplanon Training is a program innovation designed to expand rural registered nurse (RN) capacity to provide evidence-based contraceptive care, including etonogestrel implant (Nexplanon) insertion and removal, within Title X and public health settings.

This hybrid training model integrates asynchronous and synchronous learning using the Podia learning management system and Vimeo for delivery of eight videos, complemented by twelve competency-based job aids. The curriculum emphasizes application of national clinical guidelines, including the U.S. Medical Eligibility Criteria and Selected Practice Recommendations, alongside structured approaches to person-centered contraceptive counseling. Eight Colorado RNs serving rural communities are currently enrolled, with a focus on building clinical confidence, procedural competency, and workflow integration. RNs must complete Nexplanon REMS certification and Organon’s Nexplanon training prior to provision of Nexplanon.

The FSF Training Hub aligns directly with CPHA's strategic plan and objectives, as well as the PHiR conference mission by: (1) strengthening application of evidence-based guidelines to improve contraceptive care outcomes; (2) integrating person-centered counseling frameworks that support reproductive autonomy and informed decision-making; and (3) advancing innovative workforce models by expanding RN scope of practice and leveraging digital tools to increase access and efficiency in low-resource settings.

Preliminary outcomes include increased RN knowledge, improved readiness to provide implant services, and enhanced clinic capacity to offer same-day contraceptive care in rural clinics. Ongoing evaluation will assess competency attainment, service uptake, and patient experience.

CORE would like to demonstrate how collaborative, technology enabled training models can transform the SRH workforce and improve equitable access to high quality contraceptive care.

Speakers

Angie Fellers LeMire

MS, BSN, CORE

Angie is the Principal and Cofounder of CORE, bringing over two decades of contraceptive access, clinical, public health, and health systems expertise. She began her career in 1998 at Denver Health Medical Center and holds a Master of Science in Nursing with a Women’s Health focus... Read More →

Thursday September 24, 2026 10:30am - 11:00am MDT
Crestone 3

Workforce & Professional Development

11:15am MDT

Disconnect to Re-connect?!?!

Thursday September 24, 2026 11:15am - 11:45am MDT

Outdoors - TBD

Connection is the antidote to loneliness | Belonging is the antidote to social isolation.

We know that we have an epidemic of lonliness and social isolation. This session is designed to encourage attendees to drop the surface level small talk and engage more deeply with their peers and colleagues. Think of it as a way to step up your networking into something more meaningful that leads to real connection, collaboration and opportunities to partner.

It's a gift to be given permission to leave the devices behind and focus on real connection with others. And it works best when we're outside. Nature is a great connector.

This session is a two-fer: an opportunity for attendees to recharge their emotional/mental health being outside and new ramped up skills for networking in a device free environmental.

Attendees will be provided with samples of better questions to use, hands on activities to engage with one another, guided conversation and reflection, a note card to record lessons learned and ann opportunity to create a nature art project.

Speakers

Jo Burns

MS, CTRS, Jo Burns Consulting LLC

Jo Burns, MS, CTRS, is a recognized leader in parks and recreation with a strong focus on public health collaboration and community impact. As co-founder of the Colorado Public Health/Parks & Recreation Collaborative, she connects diverse professionals to create innovative, evidence-based... Read More →

Thursday September 24, 2026 11:15am - 11:45am MDT
Outdoors - TBD

All Other Public Health Fields

11:15am MDT

The Public Health Paradox: Why Change Feels So Hard

Thursday September 24, 2026 11:15am - 11:45am MDT

Crestone 2

Public health is built on systems thinking - so why does changing our own systems feel so hard?

This interactive session explores the tension between public health’s desire for innovation and the organizational cultures that often reward caution, compliance, consensus, and risk avoidance. Rather than offering polished success stories, this session creates space for an honest conversation about the realities many practitioners, leaders, educators, and students are already navigating.

Drawing from experiences in workforce development, leadership, epidemiology, teaching, innovation, and community practice, the presenters will explore how organizational culture shapes whose ideas move forward, how change is experienced by teams, and why even well-intentioned systems can struggle to adapt. Participants will reflect on the human cost of constant adaptation, the challenges of leading through uncertainty, and the paradox of asking burned-out systems to continuously transform.

This session is designed to be thoughtful, practical, and interactive. Participants should expect candid discussion, audience engagement, shared reflection, and concrete strategies for navigating change in ways that are more adaptive, relational, and sustainable.

Speakers

Molly Gutilla

DrPH, Colorado School of Public Health

Molly Gutilla is Associate Professor in the Department of Health and Exercise Science at Colorado State University and the Department of Epidemiology at the Colorado School of Public Health, where she also serves as Director of the Rural Public Health Initiative. Her work focuses... Read More →

Sarah Lampe

President and CEO, Prime Health

Sarah Lampe, MPH is President & CEO of Prime Health and former President & Executive Director of Trailhead Institute. She is a Colorado public health leader with expertise in workforce development, organizational change, cross-sector collaboration, and innovation in health systems... Read More →

Thursday September 24, 2026 11:15am - 11:45am MDT
Crestone 2

Behavioral & Mental Health

11:15am MDT

Beyond Tables: A User-Centered Dashboard for Newborn Hearing Screening

Thursday September 24, 2026 11:15am - 11:45am MDT

Grays Peak II

Background/Purpose: Colorado’s newborn hearing screening program works with birthing facilities, audiologists, and other providers to collect data on infant hearing screening and follow-up. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) sends follow-up letters for infants who missed screening or did not pass and require rescreening or additional evaluation. Before this dashboard was completed, quarterly reporting required manual calculation of facility-level and statewide measures, making it time-intensive to present screening performance, follow-up outcomes, timeliness and benchmarking results to both birth facility staff and the Colorado Infant Hearing Advisory Committee (CIHAC). This project aimed to create a more user-friendly system for monitoring newborn hearing screening performance across Colorado.

Methods: As part of CDPHE’s Informatics work, we began the dashboard by writing a stored procedure, designing dashboard tabs, and improving how measures were organized and displayed. Although CIHAC initially requested detailed numeric tables, we recognized that tables alone would not provide a complete picture of statewide performance. The final reporting structure combined tables with visualizations to better communicate trends, outcomes, timeliness, and facility comparisons. This enables users to access the detailed numbers they needed while also observing clearer trends and outcomes. A map-based tool is also being developed to help families identify local hearing screening sites.

Results: The dashboard reduced reliance on manual quarterly preparation, enabled secure access to state and facility-level reports, and improved transparency around facility categorization and comparison to statewide coverages. Denver Health highlighted the dashboard’s accuracy and its value for real-time monitoring. It generated productive conversations with professionals from other states at the 2026 EHDI conference.

Implications: This work shows that user-centered dashboards can reduce reporting burden while making data more actionable. Key takeaways are that combining required tables with visualizations strengthens oversight, supports quality improvement, and improves communication with facilities, program leaders, and advisory stakeholders.

Speakers

Amandeep Bhardwaj

Data Manager, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE)

I work as a Data Manager with the Informatics team at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). I support reporting, application enhancements, and visualization for the newborn hearing screening program and Colorado responds for children with special needs... Read More →

Steven Bromby

Data Management Supervisor, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE)

My role is as the data management supervisor within the Public Health Informatics (PHI) unit of the Health Information Systems Branch (HISB) that is part of the Center for Health and Environmental Data (CHED) division at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE... Read More →

Thursday September 24, 2026 11:15am - 11:45am MDT
Grays Peak II

Chronic & Infectious Disease

11:15am MDT

Impact of Continuous Medicaid and CHP+ Enrollment on Children in Colorado

Thursday September 24, 2026 11:15am - 11:45am MDT

Grays Peak III

Background / Purpose: Coverage gaps in Medicaid and CHP+ disproportionately harm children of color and low-income families. Continuous enrollment (CE) strengthens coverage stability by eliminating reapplication requirements until a designated age. During the COVID 19 Public Health Emergency, suspended eligibility redeterminations expanded stable coverage, followed by sharp enrollment declines after April 2023. These shifts highlight how coverage continuity influences health care utilization and costs, informing policy decisions on expanding CE for young children.

Methods: Researchers conducted a cross sectional analysis of Colorado All Payer Claims Database data (2018–2024). Children ages 0–6 with Medicaid or CHP+ coverage were stratified by enrollment status (CE: ≥11 months/year; non-CE:

Speakers

Megha Jha

Senior Evaluation, Innovation, and Research Analyst, Center for Improving Value in Health Care (CIVHC)

Megha Jha, BDS, MPH, is a Senior Evaluation, Innovation & Research Analyst at the Center for Improving Value in Health Care (CIVHC), where she leads and supports advanced evaluation and analytic initiatives using the Colorado All Payer Claims Database (CO APCD). Her research focuses... Read More →

Leah Caputo

Director of Advocacy and Community Engagement, Colorado Children's Campaign

Thursday September 24, 2026 11:15am - 11:45am MDT
Grays Peak III

Community Planning & Policy Development

11:15am MDT

Reviewing Colorado air toxics rules through the lens of human health

Thursday September 24, 2026 11:15am - 11:45am MDT

Grays Peak I

In June 2022, House Bill 22-1244: The Public Protections From Toxic Air Contaminants Act was signed into state law. This talk will focus on how fundamental concepts in toxicology and human health risk assessment were integrated into several aspects of the implementation of this law. This talk will include an overview of the air toxics law and will provide in-depth discussion on the elements most directly tied to human health. We will review how health risk estimates informed the selection of the priority toxic air contaminants: formaldehyde, benzene, hexavalent chromium, ethylene oxide, and hydrogen sulfide. We will discuss the approach and health basis of ambient air benchmarks and emission reporting thresholds. Finally we will review how health risk estimates were used in the most recent emission control regulations adopted for formaldehyde. Taken together, this talk will provide participants with an update on Colorado’s progress related to the regulation of air toxics. This talk will provide a case study in how fundamental concepts in toxicology and human health risk assessment can inform regulations. Finally, participants will learn about ways to stay informed and involved in future activities related to air toxics.

Speakers

Tara Webster

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

Tara is the Air Quality and Health Unit Supervisor in the Division of Environmental Health and Sustainability at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

Amanda Damweber

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

Amanda leads the Regulations Unit in the Air Pollution Control Division at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

Thursday September 24, 2026 11:15am - 11:45am MDT
Grays Peak I

Environmental Health

11:15am MDT

Advancing High‑Quality Asthma Care Through Statewide School Partnerships

Thursday September 24, 2026 11:15am - 11:45am MDT

Torreys 1 & 2

Background

Asthma affects 8-10% of school aged children in the United States and is a leading cause of both healthcare utilization and school absenteeism in this age group. Enhancing school-based asthma care is a key strategy to meet children and families where they are and improve asthma outcomes. To this end, Colorado Asthma Friendly Schools initiative was created to both recognize schools and school nurses providing appropriate asthma care in schools, as well as encourage ongoing improvements in holistic school-based asthma care.

Methods:

We adapted the American Lung Associations’ Asthma Friendly Schools Framework to address local contexts and created a self-assessment tool to evaluate schools’ performance in 4 key areas: maximizing delivery of school health services, building asthma education, providing a healthy school environment, and managing physical education and activity. Nurses indicated which strategies they were implementing in a few key areas. After a small first year pilot involving 13 schools, invitations to apply for recognition were distributed across a statewide listserv.

Results:

Nurses (n=137) providing care at 221 schools and 24 districts were recognized. Schools covered 126,043 students, which is approximately 14% of all students in Colorado. Two large school districts received special recognition due to their districtwide asthma-friendly efforts. Highly implemented strategies included protocols and training to manage asthma symptoms and emergencies, following care plans, and infrastructure such as integrated pest management plans, and HVAC improvements. Minimal implementation areas included targeted coordination for high-risk students, WSCC model integrations, EPA walkthroughs and idling policies, and integration with physical education (PE) teachers and activities

Implications:

There was high statewide interest in an initiative to recognize high quality asthma care in schools. While treatment of emergencies in schools was a priority, improving integration with physical education teachers and implementing more evidence based environmental mitigation strategies remain areas of opportunity.

Speakers

Melanie Gleason

Physician Assistant, Children's Hospital Colorado

Melanie Gleason, MS, PA-C, Associate Director, AsthmaCOMP Program Children's Hospital Colorado
Heather De Keyser, MD, Director, AsthmaCOMP Program, Children's Hospital Colorado
Arthur McFarlane, MS, AsthmaCOMP Program Evaluator
Christy Haas-Howard, MPH, BSN, AE-C, School Nurse A... Read More →

Thursday September 24, 2026 11:15am - 11:45am MDT
Torreys 1 & 2

Health Education Promotion

11:15am MDT

Leveraging digital messengers to reach teens in a public health campaign

Thursday September 24, 2026 11:15am - 11:45am MDT

Torreys 3 & 4

Background: Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentrations in recreational cannabis have risen dramatically with some products routinely exceeding 72% THC. Evidence links use of today’s THC products among adolescents to increased risks for cannabis use disorder, psychosis, and neurodevelopmental harm. Traditional public health channels are less likely to reach young people. To close the gap, Tea on THC, a cannabis-focused public health education campaign, developed a unique strategy to provide authentic messages through trusted teen and young adult messengers on social media.

Methods: Tea on THC deployed a multi-channel social media strategy across TikTok, Snapchat, Meta, YouTube and Twitch. This approach combined authentic youth voices and vetted influencer partnerships. Research was translated into creative assets, with messaging optimized using real-time performance data. Evaluation tracked reach, engagement, sentiment, and awareness using real-time metrics.

Results: Preliminary findings indicated that a diversified strategy combining authentic youth voices, influencer partnerships, and campaign content extended prevention messaging to young people, particularly teens aged 13 – 17 years old. Sentiment analysis revealed favorable reception of creator-driven content. Final reach, engagement, and awareness data will be presented. Using TikTok in Year 2 has generated over 8.4 million impressions just in 2026, driving engagement amongst 13-18 year olds. In February 2026, Tea on THC expanded to new platforms to reach more youth: Snapchat, Twitch, and Reddit, already generating over 5 million impressions. These metrics represent a significant change over previous year.

Implications: Effective youth cannabis prevention requires more complex approaches, especially given the contemporary social media environment. . By combining authentic youth voices and digital creators together with evidence-based content across multiple social media platforms, the Tea on THC campaign expanded youth access to prevention information, . This model offers a novel, replicable framework for multi-channel youth health communication.

Speakers

Ann Collier

James Corbett

Daphna Rubin

Elizabeth Sexton

Thursday September 24, 2026 11:15am - 11:45am MDT
Torreys 3 & 4

Rural Communities & Underserved Populations

11:15am MDT

Stronger Together: Co-Designing Tobacco Cessation in Healthcare

Thursday September 24, 2026 11:15am - 11:45am MDT

Crestone 1

Background/Purpose: Tobacco use remains a leading preventable cause of disease and death, with persistent disparities among Black/African American individuals, LGBTQ+ individuals, individuals with behavioral or mental health conditions, and individuals receiving healthcare assistance. As Colorado's largest safety-net system, Denver Health serves nearly one in four Denver residents annually. With funding from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment's Amendment 35 program, Denver Health partnered with patients and providers to identify barriers and co-design strategies to reduce tobacco treatment disparities among these priority populations.

Methods: We used a participatory mixed-methods design across 12 clinical sites. Data included dot-voting with 275 clinical staff, surveys of 59 patients and 27 providers, four focus groups (n=28), and nine provider interviews. Qualitative data were thematically coded; quantitative data summarized descriptively. Findings were synthesized into candidate interventions, prioritized through clinic engagement, then piloted and integrated into workflows. Evaluation included website analytics, QR-code tracking, EHR-based outreach, and pre/post cessation indicators.

Results: Patients identified stress, withdrawal symptoms, social environments, and low motivation as primary barriers; providers added co-occurring mental health conditions, visit time constraints, and cost. Both groups identified nicotine replacement therapy, pharmacotherapy, and one-on-one counseling as most effective. Qualitative themes emphasized non-judgmental communication, follow-up, and clearer cost information. Over 20 interventions were implemented across five domains: provider and patient education (department lectures, patient stories, formulary tip sheet); patient-facing digital outreach (redesigned Tobacco Cessation website, MyChart campaign, banner, resource link, After-Visit Summary education); reducing stigmatizing language (Words Matter preference list, free-text tracking); clinic-based materials (bilingual posters, Gemba boards); and follow-up workflows (STC and TCC call lists). Monthly website views rose, scheduled cessation appointments increased, and smoking prevalence among priority populations declined.

Implications: Patient-centered, non-judgmental engagement supports cessation. Workflow integration determines uptake. Addressing the structural barriers of cost, access, navigation is essential for equitable outcomes.

Thursday September 24, 2026 11:15am - 11:45am MDT
Crestone 1

Substance Use & Injury Control

11:15am MDT

The Syndemic Gap in Federally-Funded Breast Cancer Clinical Trials

Thursday September 24, 2026 11:15am - 11:45pm MDT

Crestone 3

Background / Purpose: Breast cancer mortality in the United States falls unevenly across racial and ethnic lines. Black women have a 38% higher breast cancer mortality rate than White women despite a 5% lower incidence, and they carry significantly higher prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and obesity, comorbidities that interact syndemically with breast cancer to worsen outcomes. Federally-funded clinical trials shape the evidence base for breast cancer care, yet the extent to which they account for these metabolic comorbidities in trial design has not been systematically examined.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 90 completed NIH- and other federal agency-funded female breast cancer clinical trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov as of July 2023. Three parallel evaluation methods were applied: systematic review of inclusion and exclusion criteria; pharmacologic analysis of FDA-labeled and off-label drug indications for every intervention, conducted by credentialed pharmacology team members; and AI-assisted keyword recognition across protocol texts, with human adjudication. Trials were stratified into pharmacological and device interventions (n=72) and behavioral interventions (n=18).

Results: Fewer than 15% of trials explicitly addressed T2D in eligibility criteria; only one trial explicitly addressed obesity. Approximately 75% made no mention of diabetes, and over 90% made no mention of obesity. Only five trials considered both comorbidities together. Behavioral interventions targeting diet, exercise, and weight management failed almost universally to screen for or stratify by metabolic status.

Implications: Federally-funded breast cancer research remains predominantly reductionist in design, overlooking the metabolic and syndemic realities that shape outcomes for Black women, Latina, South Asian, and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander women. Future NIH funding should prioritize trial designs that integrate metabolic comorbidities into eligibility, stratification, and analytic frameworks to advance equity in cancer research.

Speakers

Hridith Sudev

Thursday September 24, 2026 11:15am - 11:45pm MDT
Crestone 3

Workforce & Professional Development

12:00pm MDT

Designing Connected and Equitable Health Systems Through Visioning

Thursday September 24, 2026 12:00pm - 12:30pm MDT

Crestone 2

Public health systems and healthcare organizations are facing increasing pressures from workforce shortages, fragmented care coordination, rising behavioral health needs, and inequitable access to care. At the same time, many healthcare facilities continue to be planned using siloed approaches that separate operations, infrastructure, technology, and patient experience planning.

This session explores how “digital visioning” and ecosystem-based planning can support stronger, more connected, and more equitable healthcare systems before construction and implementation begin.

Using real-world healthcare planning initiatives, this presentation demonstrates how collaborative planning approaches can strengthen public health infrastructure by aligning clinicians, operations leaders, public health professionals, facilities teams, architects, engineers, and technology strategists around shared community health goals.

Topics include:

* Hybrid and virtual care ecosystems
* Smart patient environments supporting workforce resilience
* Operational coordination and communication strategies
* Digitally enabled patient navigation and engagement
* Future-ready infrastructure supporting adaptability and sustainability
* Cross-disciplinary planning models that reduce fragmentation and improve connectedness

Methods include interdisciplinary workshops, future-state operational mapping, capability assessments, and collaborative planning exercises focused on equitable and resilient healthcare delivery.

Emerging outcomes demonstrate improved organizational alignment, stronger workforce support strategies, enhanced patient access pathways, and increased readiness for future healthcare challenges.

Participants will leave with practical strategies for integrating health equity, connectedness, collaboration, and long-term resilience into healthcare planning initiatives that support healthier communities across Colorado and beyond.

Speakers

Cathy Junda

Thursday September 24, 2026 12:00pm - 12:30pm MDT
Crestone 2

Behavioral & Mental Health

12:00pm MDT

The first year of Congenital Cytomegalovirus Surveillance in Colorado

Thursday September 24, 2026 12:00pm - 12:30pm MDT

Grays Peak II

Background: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a ubiquitous virus that generally causes minor disease. Congenital CMV (cCMV) causes birth defects in about 20% of infected infants & is the leading non-genetic cause of pediatric hearing loss. Colorado added cCMV as a reportable condition in January 2025.

Methods: Retrospective review of cCMV cases reported to Colorado public health between January 2025-January 2026. We collected data through electronic lab reporting & provider reports, then matched records to vital statistics. We excluded out-of-state records.

Results: 60 reported cases met definition for either confirmed cCMV infection (n=54) or disease (n=6). Females were overrepresented (61.7%). The ethnic distribution of cases mirrored the Colorado population (23% Hispanic, 73% not Hispanic, and 3% unknown). Case racial distribution was 61.7% White, 20% other, 13.3% Black, 3% unknown, & 1.7% Asian.

Discussion: Ten percent of cases presented with signs visible at birth, aligning with reported U.S. rates. While race and ethnicity largely reflected DOLA 2024 population data, we observed a slight under-representation of non-Hispanic White (61.7% vs. 65%) & Asian (1.7% vs. 3.9%) infants, alongside over-representation of Black infants (13.3% vs. 4.3%). Surveillance case rates were 0.94 per 100,000 in the five-county Denver metro area, & 1.08 per 100,000 outside the metro; both figures remain significantly below the national estimate of 4.5 per 1,000 live births, in screening data.

Implications: Colorado’s early cCMV epidemiology for race, ethnicity, & rate of disease at birth is similar to national trends. Our rates overall and female preponderance are different from national estimates.These findings likely indicate a combination of variable testing practices, variation related to the first year of a newly reportable condition, & variation due to a small sample size. Regional epidemiologic differences or changing epidemiology over time may also be factors.

Speakers

Jacqueline Denning

Briana Sprague

Thursday September 24, 2026 12:00pm - 12:30pm MDT
Grays Peak II

Chronic & Infectious Disease

12:00pm MDT

Trusted Messengers, Better Outcomes: A Community Ambassador Model

Thursday September 24, 2026 12:00pm - 12:30pm MDT

Grays Peak III

Background/Purpose: As H.R. 1 threatens significant Medicaid and ACA cuts, low-income and immigrant communities in Colorado face compounding barriers to maintaining health coverage: language access gaps, institutional distrust, and rapidly shifting eligibility rules. Safety-net clinics serving these populations need outreach models that can meet communities where they are; in trusted settings, in their language, with accurate information, rather than waiting for community members to navigate complex systems alone.

Methods: Doctors Care, a free safety-net clinic in the Denver metro area, developed a structured Community Ambassador program delivered through subcontracted community-based organizations using a promotora model. Ambassadors are recruited from within the communities they serve and trained using bilingual curriculum materials covering Colorado's health coverage landscape, referral consent workflows, and plain-language responses to emerging community concerns, including federal data-sharing proposals affecting Medicaid and Cover All Coloradans enrollees. Education sessions are conducted in trusted settings including the Mexican Consulate's Ventanilla de Salud program.

Results: Program implementation is ongoing. Qualitative outcomes include increased community awareness of coverage options, strengthened referral pathways between community settings and clinic-based coverage specialists, and ambassador capacity to provide accurate, non-alarmist information on data privacy questions that are actively deterring enrollment.

Implications: Safety-net organizations can build resilient, equity-centered outreach infrastructure by investing in trusted community members as health coverage navigators. This session will equip attendees to describe a replicable ambassador referral model, identify curriculum components for training trusted messengers, and explain how to address data privacy concerns with plain-language health coverage information. In a volatile policy environment, community relationships are both the strategy and the buffer.

Speakers

Laura-Elena Porras-Holguin

Thursday September 24, 2026 12:00pm - 12:30pm MDT
Grays Peak III

Community Planning & Policy Development

12:00pm MDT

Well Water Use, Safety and Stewardship in Northern Colorado

Thursday September 24, 2026 12:00pm - 12:30pm MDT

Grays Peak I

Approximately 10% of Colorado households rely on private well water. Without connection to municipal water treatment, these users are solely responsible for ensuring the safety of their drinking water. Important to note, lack of existing frameworks and coordinated support systems for private well users in Colorado has created a gap in both service provision and understanding behaviors related around well water testing. As this population is widely distributed throughout the state, and sources their water from individual wells, little is known about water quality, testing frequency and treatment of these vital water supplies. Additionally, less is known about the motivations and barriers to adequate testing and treatment.

This project began with a focus on Boulder County, intending to characterize these elements of water supply for well users in that area. Our initial survey revealed opportunities for community engagement which drove the design of a series of in-person workshops held in the county to increase knowledge and access to resources for residents reliant on well water. Feedback from interviews and workshops allowed us to expand our materials to include concerns around wildfire risk, drought, drying of aquifers, and other sources of potential contamination such as septic systems and flood events.

The project has expanded in geographic scope, allowing us to further assess well stewardship in a broader region. Additional data has been collected from these areas, allowing us to share a fuller picture. We partnered with Local Public Health Agencies in Boulder County, Weld County and Larimer County and expanded outreach to renters and low-income residents through collaboration with CSU Extension, Nederland Food Pantry, and other community partners. We are engaged in feasibility work to create an online statewide toolkit for well users.

Speakers

Kelly DeBie

Legal Epidemiologist, Researcher & Lecturer, Colorado State University

Ian McKinzey

Thursday September 24, 2026 12:00pm - 12:30pm MDT
Grays Peak I

Environmental Health

12:00pm MDT

Partners in Prevention: DoL and CDE Support Vaping Prevention and Education

Thursday September 24, 2026 12:00pm - 12:30pm MDT

Torreys 1 & 2

Following a 2023 nationwide settlement the Colorado Attorney General’s Office secured against Juul Labs, Inc. on behalf of Coloradans because the company targeted young people in their marketing and misrepresented the health risks posed by their vaping products, $11.4 million in grant funds was awarded through the Vaping Prevention Education Grant (VPEG) to 28 school districts, charter schools, BOCES, and facility schools statewide. The Colorado Attorney General’s Office and the Colorado Department of Education partnered on the VPEG grant opportunity, a comprehensive, multifaceted approach combining education, prevention, and treatment – that now supports K–12 education providers across Colorado with funding and technical assistance in their efforts to combat youth vaping.

Aligning with Public Health in the Rockies focal areas related to prevention and health promotion, policy and systems change, health equity, and community-engaged public health practice, this presentation will provide an overview of the VPEG program structure, required grant components, equitable selection criteria, and implementation strategies from select grantees.

By highlighting current school-based initiatives supported by VPEG funding, we hope to demonstrate how education providers can act as valuable partners in supporting equitable, prevention-oriented, and community-engaged public health strategies

Speakers

Sara Diedrich

MPH, RDN, Colorado Attorney General's Office

Sara Diedrich, MPH, RDN, serves as the Public Health Grant Manager for the Colorado Attorney General’s Office, managing an extensive grant portfolio focused on strengthening youth mental health, reducing youth vaping and other substance use, and preventing youth suicide across Colorado... Read More →

Amanda Jacobs

Thursday September 24, 2026 12:00pm - 12:30pm MDT
Torreys 1 & 2

Health Education Promotion

12:00pm MDT

Emerging Products and Differential Policy: Rural Tobacco at a Crossroads

Thursday September 24, 2026 12:00pm - 12:30pm MDT

Torreys 3 & 4

Background / Purpose
Rural populations carry a disproportionate tobacco burden, and recent surveillance data suggest the gap is widening. Declines in rural tobacco use have slowed markedly relative to urban populations; among rural women, the decline has stalled entirely. This presentation argues the moment is critical: as a policy penetration gaps limit rural progress, evidence indicates the tobacco industry is intensifying its focus on rural communities through retail channel expansion and targeted product development.

MethodsT
his presentation synthesizes peer-reviewed literature and national surveillance data (NSDUH, BRFSS, PATH) to examine: (1) rural–urban tobacco prevalence disparities and their trajectory; (2) the role of differential policy penetration in explaining diverging trends; (3) tobacco industry retail channel expansion into rural markets; and (4) nicotine pouch use patterns disaggregated by sex, geography, and smokeless tobacco history.

Results
Rural tobacco prevalence remains substantially higher than urban rates across most product categories. Among rural women, use declines have stalled entirely. Nicotine pouch use, while low in overall national prevalence, is concentrated among young rural men with smokeless tobacco histories — consistent with deliberate industry positioning. The tobacco industry's expansion into discount retail has structurally amplified rural tobacco access: a 2023 study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine analyzing FDA inspection data from 2015–2020 found Family Dollar had the highest rate of tobacco sales to minors among major retailers studied, at 12.1% of inspections, a pattern reflecting lax enforcement in the outlet formats most prevalent in rural communities.

Implications
Rural tobacco control is at an inflection point. Stalling declines, industry retail targeting, and the emergence of smokeless-adjacent nicotine products in rural male markets demand a coordinated public health response. Attendees will leave with a framework for understanding who is most at risk and what evidence-based policy and cessation responses are available.

Speakers

Derek Noland

James Pavlik

Thursday September 24, 2026 12:00pm - 12:30pm MDT
Torreys 3 & 4

Rural Communities & Underserved Populations

12:00pm MDT

Cultivating Calm: Mindfulness for Community and Workforce Wellbeing

Thursday September 24, 2026 12:00pm - 12:30pm MDT

Crestone 3

Mental health challenges—including stress, burnout, and emotional fatigue—continue to rise across populations, underscoring the need for accessible, preventive strategies that support wellbeing at both individual and community levels. Mindfulness has emerged as an evidence-informed, low-cost intervention that can enhance emotional regulation, resilience, and overall mental health across diverse settings.

This interactive session introduces mindfulness as a scalable public health approach to promote mental well-being and resilience. Grounded in research from public health, neuroscience, and behavioral health, participants will explore practical, accessible mindfulness techniques that can be integrated into clinical, educational, workplace, and community-based environments. Emphasis will be placed on prevention, early intervention, and health promotion across populations.

Participants will engage in guided mindfulness practices, reflective activities, and group dialogue to better understand how these strategies can reduce stress and support psychological resilience. The session will also highlight approaches for embedding mindfulness into existing systems and programs, including community health initiatives, interprofessional education, and organizational wellness efforts.

Audience polling will be used to capture shifts in participant awareness and perceived stress before and after practice. Attendees will receive curated resources—including digital tools and implementation strategies—to support dissemination and sustainability in their own settings.

By the end of the session, participants will be equipped with actionable, evidence-informed strategies to promote mental well-being, foster supportive environments, and contribute to a culture of health within their communities.

Speakers

Michelle Colarelli

MA, University of Colorado Center for Interprofessional Practice & Education

Michelle Colarelli, MA, is an Instructional Designer and Curriculum Manager at the University of Colorado’s Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education, where she develops programs that advance collaborative, workforce-ready approaches to patient-centered care. With a background... Read More →

Thursday September 24, 2026 12:00pm - 12:30pm MDT
Crestone 3

Workforce & Professional Development

12:30pm MDT

Lunch Buffet

Thursday September 24, 2026 12:30pm - 1:45pm MDT

Columbine Ballroom

Thursday September 24, 2026 12:30pm - 1:45pm MDT
Columbine Ballroom

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