CALL FOR ABSTRACTS — APHA 2017 Annual Meeting & Expo

Black Caucus of Health Workers

Meeting theme: Creating the Healthiest Nation: Climate Changes Health

Submission Deadline: Friday, March 3, 2017

The Black Caucus of Health Workers (BCHW) of the American Public Health Association invites abstracts from Public Health professionals, students and other individuals in related fields to present results of scientific research, program evaluation, policy analysis, and lessons learned from research or practice during the Public Health Association's 2017 Annual Meeting and Exposition to be held November 4 - November 8, 2017 in Atlanta, GA. BCHW strongly encourages the abstract submission of topics related to the overall APHA theme "Creating the Healthiest Nation: Climate Changes Health" as well as focusing on socioeconomics within impoverished communities and equitable health care/practices,  as it relates to people of the African Diaspora. Individuals with local, national and international research experience are encouraged to submit, as well as, new investigators and students. This Call for Abstracts for the scientific sessions, request papers relevant to people of the African Diaspora in the following topic areas:
  • African Americans and Vector-Borne Diseases: Lyme, Dengue Fever, West Nile, Zika and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
  • American Water Crisis: Contamination of Drinking Water Issues
  • Asthma and Allergens: The Effects on African American Children and Adolescents
  • Behavioral Health: Anxiety and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Following Natural Disasters
  • Black Caucus of Health Workers Annual Hildrus Poindexter Dinner and Awards Ceremony
  • Challenges and Uncertainty in a Climate of New Presidential Administration
  • Climate Change and Its Impact on African Americans with Chronic Diseases
  • Climate Changes Health: Effects on Food and Water Resources within the African Diaspora
  • Community Preparedness for Climate Change: Strategies to Address the Potential Impacts Based on Their Unique Geography
  • Creating the Healthiest Nation: African American Women's Health Across the Life Span (Collaboration with the APHA Women’s Health Section)
  • Emerging Trends in Environmental Research
  • Environmental Justice Policies & Public Health
  • Food Insecurity and Environmental Factors
  • The Health Status of African American Farmers and Agriculture Workers
  • Training the Next Generation of African American Environmental Professionals
All abstracts will be reviewed on independent merit according to a standardized process by abstract reviewers. Abstracts should address the 2017 Annual Theme: "Creating the Healthiest Nation: Climate Changes Health". All abstracts must follow on of the two formats below;

Structured Abstract Format: Abstracts should be submitted in a structured format. Please use one of the following two formats:

  • Background: Study objectives, hypothesis, or a description of the problem;
  • Methodology: Study design, including a description of participants, procedures, measures, and appropriate statistical analyses;
  • Results: Specific results in summary form; and
  • Conclusions: Description of the main outcome of the study or the intended with supporting data.

An alternative format, suited for abstracts about policy, programs, interventions, and other types of research evaluations, may be used:

  • Issues: A summary of the issue(s) addressed;
  • Description: Description of the project, experience, service, or advocacy program;
  • Lessons Learned: A brief description of the results of the project; and
  • Recommendations: A brief statement of next steps.

In addition please clearly state whether a supplemental summary is to be considered;

Please indicate if your abstract submission is directly related to an abstract submitted by another author and the intent is for the two abstracts to be presented during the same session;

Make sure work is original and not previously presented;

Follow proper protocol for APHA abstract submission;

No use of brand names or organizations is permitted;

All abstracts are to be submitted electronically through the APHA on-line electronic abstract submission website.

Abstracts should be 250 words and must include clear and concise learning objectives.

NO EXTENSIONS WILL BE GRANTED BEYOND  February 23, 2017. Incomplete abstracts will not be considered.

Continuing Education Credit
APHA values the ability to provide continuing education credit to physicians, nurses, health educators and those certified in public health at its annual meeting. Please complete all required information when submitting an abstract so members can claim credit for attending your session. These credits are necessary for members to keep their licenses and credentials.

For a session to be eligible for Continuing Education Credit, each presenter must provide:

1) an abstract free of trade and/or commercial product names
2) at least one MEASURABLE objective (DO NOT USE understand or to learn as objectives, they are not measurable).
Examples of Acceptable Measurable Action Words:
Explain, Demonstrate, Analyze, Formulate, Discuss, Compare, Differentiate, Describe, Name, Assess, Evaluate, Identify, Design, Define or List.

3) A signed Conflict of Interest (Disclosure) form with a relevant Qualification Statement. See an example of an acceptable Qualification Statement on the online Disclosure form. Thank you for your assistance in making your session credit worthy. Contact Annette Ferebee at annette.ferebee@apha.org if you have any questions concerning continuing education credit. Contact the program planner for all other questions.

Linked-Abstract and Panel Session Details
Scientific program sessions are 90-minutes and typically hold four to five abstracts within a similar theme. If you are interested in linking abstracts to be presented in the same scientific session, please be sure to link all submitted abstracts together. You MUST link each abstract within the APHA on-line abstract submission program. Further, you must notify either Jill Dingle -jill.dingle@health.ny.gov or George R. Smith, Jr. - georgersmithjr@yahoo.com, that these abstracts are a collection. Please be aware, however, that all abstracts are scored on their individual merit. It is possible that not all linked abstracts will be selected. If you are assembling a panel presentation for review, please be aware that a full abstract submission including speakers must be included at the time of the abstract submission. It is highly recommended that any person(s) submitting for a panel presentation, provide supplemental information to the BCHW as previously indicated. The panel will be reviewed based on individual merit and anticipated presenters, topic area, and how it relates to both the APHA theme and the BCHW’s mission.

BCHW Student Poster Session

The BCHW is actively seeking posters for presentation by Graduate Students (Masters / Doctoral) at accredited graduate schools. Student status must be stated at the point of abstract submission. Student status including anticipated graduation date will be verified prior to abstracts being accepted for presentation. All presentations must be original work that has not been previously presented, in-press, or published. Student posters should follow the conference theme and/or BCHW focus areas as well as meet all appropriate eligibility requirements including but not limited to, membership to BCHW and/or APHA. For additional information, please email BCHW Program Planners 
 Jill W. Dingle at jill.dingle@health.ny.gov or George R. Smith, Jr. at georgersmithjr@yahoo.com.

BCHW is interested in individuals who can present on original, basic, advanced or applied research that addresses public health research, programs and policies impacting the health and quality of life of African Americans and related, vulnerable populations. Please email Jill Dingle, jill.dingle@health.ny.gov or George R. Smith, Jr. , georgersmithjr@yahoo.com regarding instructions for full session proposals and/or any questions.


Ready?

Program Planner Contact Information:

George Smith, EdD, MPH
College of Health Sciences
Chicago State University
9501 South King Drive/BHS 201
Chicago, IL 60628
Phone: 773-995-2046
Fax: 773-995-4484
georgersmithjr@yahoo.com

and
Jill Dingle, MPH
Division of HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis
NYSDOH- AIDS Institute
90 Church Street, 13th floor
New York, NY 10007
Phone: 212 417-4531
jill.dingle@health.ny.gov