The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) Health Caucus is seeking abstracts for presentations in its scientific sessions at the Annual Meeting of the American Public Health Association in San Francisco, October 24-28, 2020. Abstracts focused on any aspect of LGBTQ public health will be considered. 

We are always interested in receiving abstracts that reflect the full diversity of the LGBTQ community in terms of of race/ethnicity, socioeconomic position, and immigrant status, among other factors. This year, abstracts are especially welcome related to activism/community organizing and LGBTQ health; the health of Indigenous and Two-Spirit LGBTQ people; the health of LGBTQ people of color; the impact of social policies and political climates on LGBTQ health; LGBTQ health and healthcare in San Francisco, CA; methodological issues in LGBTQ health research; and the reproductive health of LGBTQ people.

When submitting an abstract, please identify it as falling into one of the following priority areas:

• Activism/Community Organizing and LGBTQ Health
  
• Health of Indigenous and Two-Spirit LGBTQ People
  
• Health of LGBTQ People of Color
  
• Impact of Social Policies and Political Climates on LGBTQ Health
  
• LGBTQ Health and Healthcare in San Francisco, CA
  
• Methodological Issues in LGBTQ Health Research
  
• Reproductive Health of LGBTQ People
  
• Sexual Minority Men’s Health
  
• Sexual Minority Women’s Health
  
• Transgender and Gender Expansive People's Health
  

Scientific Session Formats

The LGBTQ Health Caucus accepts abstracts both through this open call as well as following the invitation of solicited abstracts. Scientific session formats include:

1. Individual poster presentation
2. Individual oral presentation
3. Panel – Panels must be led by an organizer and may have up to five speakers. Speakers must submit individual abstracts for their presentation. Additionally, the organizer must submit a panel abstract via email to the Program Chair by the abstract deadline. Panels may be invited sessions by the LGBTQ Health Caucus but any group is also welcome to propose a panel during the open Call for Abstracts.

Abstract Requirements

Abstracts should be no more than 250 words and may not be presented at any other meeting or published before October 28, 2020.

APHA Membership and Meeting Registration Requirements

Presenters do not have to be a member to submit an abstract. However, if the abstract is accepted for presentation, the presenting author MUST become an APHA member and register for the Annual Meeting by the pre-registration deadline.

Presenters who fail to show up for their scheduled presentations without notifying the program planner of cancellation will not be permitted to present at any APHA-sponsored meeting for two years. Presenters whose abstracts were accepted for presentation but subsequently withdrawn two or more times within the last five years will not be considered for inclusion in the program.

Abstract Review and Selection

All abstracts undergo blinded, peer review; reviews will not be provided to abstract authors. Abstracts that address one of this year’s priority areas will take precedence over those that do not.

Continuing Education Credit

APHA values the ability to provide continuing education credit to physicians, nurses, health educators, veterinarians, 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:

• An abstract free of trade and/or commercial product names;
• At least one measurable outcome;
  • Examples of measurable outcomes: Explain, Demonstrate, Analyze, Formulate, Discuss, Compare, Differentiate, Describe, Name, Access, Evaluate, Identify, Design, Define and List). DO NOT USE “To understand” or “To learn” since they are not measurable.
• A signed Conflict of Interest (Disclosure) form with a relevant Qualification Statement.
• Qualification Statements must be specific to the abstract and describe the presenter’s qualification and areas of expertise as it relates to the topic.
• An example of an acceptable Qualification Statement: “I have been the Principal Investigator of multiple federally funded grants focused on healthcare access in the transgender community. My primary scientific focus is on improving healthcare access for transgender individuals, particularly using community based participatory research methods.”
• Please note that the following are NOT acceptable Qualification Statements: “I am the Principal Investigator of this study” or “I am qualified because I am a Professor at XYZ University.”

The LGBTQ Health Caucus will not accept abstracts that do not adhere to these requirements. Contact Mighty Fine at mighty.fine@apha.org if you have any questions concerning continuing education credit. Please contact the program planner for all other questions.

Walter J. Lear Outstanding Student Research Award

The Walter J. Lear Outstanding Student Research Award recognizes exceptional student work on LGBTQ health research. The award is given to the student with the highest scoring abstract and includes a year-long LGBTQ Health Caucus membership as well as a stipend to attend the annual meeting. Please indicate student status when submitting the abstract to be considered for the award. The winner will be notified via email by June 2, 2020.

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Ready?

Program Planner Contact Information:

Madina Agénor, ScD, MPH
Department of Community Health
Tufts University
574 Boston Avenue, Suite 211
Medford, MA 02155
Phone: 617-627-5744
madina.agenor@tufts.edu

and
Brittany Charlton, ScD
Harvard Medical School and Boston Children's Hospital
300 Longwood Avenue
Boston, MA 02115
Phone: 857-218-5463
bcharlton@mail.harvard.edu