The American Public Health Association (APHA) Epidemiology Section is now accepting abstracts for late breaker sessions for the APHA 147th Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, PA from November 2-6, 2019.

The submission deadline for late breaker abstracts is 11:59 pm (PST) on Friday, July 19, 2019. Notification of abstract status will be e-mailed in mid-August, 2019.

Late breaker sessions are a forum for presenting research findings and programs that have been completed or transpired since the submission deadline for the initial call for abstracts (February 2019). This is a particularly appropriate venue for students to present recently completed thesis and dissertation work, and for all those that have new and exciting results!

General Guidelines

• All abstract submitters are invited to submit research that aligns with the main Conference theme, “For Science, for Action, for Health” however, all areas of Epidemiology will be considered.

• Abstracts describing data that have not yet been collected and/or analyzed as of the abstract deadline will be rejected. 

• Abstracts must be limited to 250 words and include the following elements:
  • Background
  • Objectives
  • Methods
  • Results
  • Conclusion

• At least two clear, and measurable learning objectives must be included with your abstract submission.

• Detailed instructions for writing learning objectives, including a list of acceptable measurable action words, can be found on the abstract submission page. Learning objectives are not included in the abstract word count.

• Individuals should submit material only if they, or a designee, are committed to registering for and attending the conference to present the paper or poster.

• Submissions will be reviewed and scored by independent reviewers to ensure high quality scientific submissions are selected for presentation at the meeting. The following criteria will be used to score submissions:
  • Significance of the abstract for Epidemiology and Public Health,
  • Innovativeness of ideas, methods and or approach,
  • Rigor of methods and approach (analytical design for research, systematic approach for practice and/or policy),
  • Presentation of empirical findings (not applicable if abstract does not present empirical research),
  • Implications identified for future research, practice and/or policy, and
  • Clarity of writing. 

Continuing Education Credits

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 (example: state “a major urban health care provider” rather than naming a for-profit business or its products. However, in the methods section you can name the statistical software package that was used for the analysis);

2) at least one measurable single objective (“to understand” or “to learn” are not measurable objectives and compound objectives 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 investigator of federally funded grants focusing on the epidemiology of chronic diseases. Among my scientific interests has been the development of strategies for preventing cardiovascular disease and the assessment of novel methods in the prevention of cardiovascular disease and diabetes).

Please note that stating “I am a Principal Investigator/Project Coordinator of this project.” is not sufficient since it only gives the submitter's job title or position. Please add sufficient and appropriate information about your experience, expertise and background. Failure to submit this information on time may cause your abstract to be excluded as it will jeopardize the accreditation of the entire session for which it was scheduled.

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 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.

• EPI Late Breakers
  

Although membership in the APHA Epidemiology Section is not required for presentation of your work in our program, we invite all interested presenters and attendees to become members of the Epidemiology Section, and welcome all new, returning and continuing members to submit abstracts for our Annual Meeting program!

Thank you for considering the APHA Epidemiology Section!

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Ready?

Program Planner Contact Information:

Kesha Baptiste-Roberts, PhD, MPH
School of Community Health & Policy, Department of Public Health Analysis
Morgan State University
4530 Portage Ave Campus, Rm 212
1700 E Cold Spring Lane
Baltimore, MD 21251
Phone: 443-885-4013
baptika@gmail.com

and
Siobhan Maty, PhD, CPH
Helfgott Research Institute
National University of Natural Medicine
2220 SW 1st Avenue
Portland, OR 97201
Phone: 503-552-1753
siobhanmaty@gmail.com