The International Health Section welcomes abstracts for the 2017 APHA Annual Meeting. This year we seek a broad range of entries on International Health related to the session topics listed below, as well as entries related to the overall meeting theme.

General Instructions: All submissions must be in electronic format for the conference. Although we do not offer separate tracks for them, we welcome abstracts on both research-based and program-based work. Abstracts should be limited to 250 words. Abstracts should: 1) state the purpose of the work/research problem, purpose and/or hypothesis, 2) explain the data or information used 3) describe the methods used (as applicable) 4) present results 5) offer discussion, including recommendations (and/or policy implications).  Abstracts will only be accepted within the topic areas listed. 

Questions to consider when addressing each component of abstract (University of California, Berkeley, 2000):
1) Motivation/problem statement: Why do we care about the problem? What practical, scientific/theoretical gap is your research or community based intervention filling?
2) Methods/procedure/approach: What did you actually do to get your results? (e.g., analyzed 3 novels, completed a series of 5 oil paintings, interviewed 17 students)
3) Results/findings/product: As a result of completing the above procedure, what did you learn, invent, create, observe?Was there enhanced knowledge, increased participation, self efficacy, etc.?
4) Conclusion/implications: What are the larger implications of your findings, especially for the problem/gap identified in step 1?

Note that as part of the International Health program, all submissions should relate to: 
(1) description of and/or interventions for health problems and issues in countries outside the US; 
(2) how health problems and issues and/or related interventions outside the United States affect the US or can provide lessons for the US, including problems faced by migrant and immigrant populations living in the US; or
(3) innovations, new methods, resources, and tools that advance practice and research in the field of international health. 

APHA is the premier forum for scientific presentation and discussion of global public health issues. The International Health Section maintains very high standards for quality and content. Please read the specific instructions for submission on the APHA site and follow the format and process carefully. Abstracts that do not follow the exact format of the submission process will not necessarily be rejected, but will be marked down. If accepted for presentation, the author (or designate) will be expected to register and attend the conference.

There is no financial aid or assistance available for travel or registration. Individuals who may have difficulty attending the APHA annual meeting should identify a co-author that will be able to attend and participate in the program. Members from developing countries are encouraged to submit abstracts. Unfortunately, APHA cannot offer travel or meeting scholarships, but participants are encouraged to seek funding for travel through other government and non-government organizations.

Process for review:

Individual Presentations: All submitted abstracts will be peer reviewed for consideration of inclusion in the program. Indicate your preferences for presentation format on your abstract form. You may submit your abstract with the designation “oral only”, “poster only”, or “no preference”.

Poster Sessions: There are 10 posters per poster session; this year we anticipate 10 poster sessions on a variety of IH topics. Please indicate your preference on the submission form.

Note: Special attention will be given to abstracts submitted by developing country nationals and students, therefore, these individuals should note their status on the abstract form.

Student Presenters: 1-2 of the section's oral panels are designated for presentations by students (topic: Student Panel). Please submit your abstract under this topic if you wish to compete in the peer-review process for these openings. Should there be more abstracts that qualify for acceptance than space available, those abstracts will be considered for placement elsewhere in the peer-reviewed program.
• To submit as a student, one should be enrolled in a full-time degree program.
• To submit as a developing country national, one should hold a passport of a non-OECD country AND not be a permanent resident of the United States or other OECD country.

Topics:

• Advocacy in Global Health
  
• Child Survival & Child Health
  
• Climate Change and Vulnerable Populations
  
• Climate Change: Building Resilience into Programs and Health ​Workforce Development
  
• Community Based Primary Health Care
  
• Displaced Populations & Refugee Health
  
• Emerging & Neglected Tropical Diseases
  
• HIV/AIDS - Global Issues
  
• Innovations In International Health
  
• International Health & Human Rights
  
• International Health Issues In Behavior Change Communication
  
• International Health Programs & Policy- Related Issues
  
• International Urban Health Issues
  
• Malaria & Vector-Borne Diseases
  
• Maternal & Child Health
  
• Mental Health - Global Issues
  
• Monitoring, Evaluation & Quality Improvement
  
• Nutrition & Malnutrition
  
• Reproductive Health & Family Planning
  
• Social Determinants of Health
  
• Strengthening Health Systems In Developing Settings
  
• Student Panel - International Health Issues
  
• Systems Thinking
  
• Training, Human Resource Development and International Workforce Issues
  
• Women's Health
  

Reminder - All presenters are responsible for their own travel, lodging, APHA membership fee, and meeting registration fee.

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, panelist, discussant, and/or faculty must provide:
1) an abstract free of trade and/or commercial product names;
2) at least one MEASURABLE SINGLE outcome (“to understand” or “to learn” are not measurable outcomes and compound outcomes are not acceptable). Use ONLY the following Measurable Action Verbs: 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; Example of Acceptable Biographical Qualification Statement: (I have been the principal or co-principal of multiple federally funded grants focusing on the epidemiology of drug abuse, HIV prevention and co-occurring mental and drug use disorders. Among my scientific interests has been the development of strategies for preventing HIV and STDs in out-of-treatment drug users.) Please note that I am the Principle Investigator of this study is NOT an acceptable qualification statement.
4) All continuing education learning content must be of sound science or professional practice and serve to maintain, develop, or increase the knowledge, skills and professional competence of the health professional. Learning content should be evidence-based if available. A list of over 30 areas will be provided online for you to choose from. You will be asked to choose at least one or up to 6 areas that your presentation will address.

Thank you for your assistance in making your session credit worthy. Contact Mighty Fine at mighty.fine@apha.org if you have any questions concerning continuing education. For program questions, contact the program planner listed below.

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Ready?

Program Planner Contact Information:

Jirair Ratevosian, MPH
Gilead Sciences, Inc.
333 Lakeside Dr.
Foster City, CA 94404
Phone: 818-620-3171
jratevosian@gmail.com

and
Padmini Murthy, MD, MPH, MS
School of Health Sciences and Practice
New York Medical College
school of health sciences
School of Health Sciences and Practice
Valhalla, NY 10595
Phone: 914-594-3717
minimurthy@aol.com