CALL FOR ABSTRACTS — APHA 2026 Annual Meeting and Expo
Epidemiology
Meeting theme: "Together We Thrive: Health Across the Lifespan"
Submission Deadline: Tuesday, March 31, 2026
The mission of the APHA Epidemiology Section is to foster epidemiologic research and science-based public health practice and to serve as a conduit between the epidemiologic research community and users of scientific information for the development, implementation, and evaluation of policies and programs affecting the public's health.
The Epidemiology Section invites abstract submissions and Special Session proposals to present results of scientific research and programs related to epidemiology during the 2026 APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition from November 1-4 in San Antonio, Texas. Topics of interest for the 2026 meeting are listed below:
2026 Meeting Theme: Together We Thrive - Health Across the Lifespan
Chronic (Non-Communicable) Disease Epidemiology
Clinical Epidemiology
Communicable and Infectious Disease Epidemiology
Environmental and Climate Epidemiology Epidemiologic research on the impact of environmental and climate-related exposures on human health. These factors may occur naturally or be introduced into environments where people live, work, or play.
Epidemiology Methods and Data Science
Epidemiology in Law and Policy
Epidemiology of Health-Related Behaviors
Epidemiology of Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders
Implementation Science and Translational Epidemiology The role of epidemiology in:
The study of the methods and strategies that facilitate the uptake of evidence-based practice and research into regular use, and
The role of epidemiology in: Translating scientific discoveries into population health impact (e.g., disease control programs, policy development, clinical practice, education, other interventions, etc.).
Injury Epidemiology
Maternal and Child Health Epidemiology
Nutritional Epidemiology
OTHER Topics in Epidemiology
Social Epidemiology Epidemiology of the social, societal, and structural factors that impact health and health equity across the life course.
Spatial Epidemiology Epidemiologic analysis of the geographic or spatial distribution of health-related risk and protective factors and assessment of the impact of place and space on health-related interventions and outcomes.
Student Abstract Awards
GUIDELINES
Individuals should submit material only if they, or a designee, are committed to registering for the conference and presenting their paper or poster in person. Scientific program presenters are responsible for the costs of registration, housing, and travel to the Annual Meeting, which can be substantial. Please register and secure housing early (e.g., June) to help minimize these costs.
ABSTRACT FORMAT
Abstract text must be limited to 250 words. Abstracts must include the following elements (please include these section headings in your abstract text):
Background: description of the issue/problem
Study objective(s) and hypothesis(es)
Methods: description of study design, participants, data sources, dates of data collection; statistical analyses and measures
Results: include statistics, if generated
Conclusion: description of study outcomes, importance of work to public health
The following are a sample of resources for assistance with writing your abstract:
Abstract submissions must include at least one measurable learning objective. Guidelines for writing learning objectives can be found in the Continuing Education Credits section below.
ADDITIONAL ABSTRACT INFORMATION
Submit your abstract to the topic area that most closely aligns with the work described in your abstract.
When submitting your abstract, you will be asked to identify which type of presentation format you prefer: Oral only, oral preferred, poster, or no preference.
Oral presentations are generally 10-15 minutes in length, depending upon the number of presentations per session. An additional 3-5 minutes per presentation will be available for discussion and questions from the audience.
Presenters at poster sessions display their work alongside other posters and should be available to answer questions throughout the scheduled 60-minute session.
The program planning committee reserves the right to make all final decisions in designating abstracts as oral or poster presentations.
Individual presentations must be given in-person during the Annual Meeting.
Abstracts reporting on data that have not yet been collected and/or analyzed as of the abstract deadline may be rejected.
Abstracts must not have been presented or published prior to the APHA Annual Meeting.
All selected presenters must be individual members of APHA, register for and attend the meeting, and complete a Conflict-of-Interest disclosure in advance of the Annual Meeting.
CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS
APHA values the ability to provide continuing education credit at its annual meeting to those certified in public health as well as physicians, nurses, health educators, and social workers. These credits are necessary for members to keep their licenses and credentials.
When submitting your abstract or Special Session proposals, please complete all required information needed for your presentation to be considered for Continuing Education credit. This information includes:
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).
At least ONE measurable learning outcome.
DO NOT USE “to understand” or “to learn” as they are not measurable.
A signed web-based Conflict of Interest (Disclosure) form.
Relevant Qualification Statement.
A relevant qualification statement is a valid statement of your qualification(s) to present the material in your abstract. Please add sufficient and appropriate information about your experience, expertise and background.
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.
Example of an acceptable 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 contact education@apha.org if you have any questions concerning continuing education credit. Please contact the program planners (aphaepiprogram@gmail.com) for all other questions.
SPECIAL SESSION PROPOSALS
The Epidemiology Section invites the submission of preliminary proposals for Special Sessions that will highlight important topics in Epidemiology research and practice, especially those related to the meeting theme.
The 90-minute Special Sessions must include at least three presentations.
In a Special Session, it is possible to use pre-recorded video presentations for those presenters who are unable to attend the Annual Meeting in person.
If you are interested in organizing a Special Session, please submit a preliminary Session proposal for review to aphaepiprogram@gmail.com by 11:59 pm (PST) on Tuesday, March 31, 2026. This short proposal (no more than two pages in length) should include:
Name and complete contact information for key contact (organizer) for Special Session
Tentative title for the overall Session
Proposed Session objective(s)
Tentative Session description
Description of the epidemiologic relevance of the proposed Session
Tentative description of each proposed Session presentation, including:
Presenter name and contact information
Title of presentation (should match title of submitted abstract)
Summary of presentation content
Time allocated for presentation
Time allocated for any discussion
Presentation order
Name and complete contact information for presider(s) and/or and discussant(s) (if any)
If you submit any of the Special Session presentations as an individual abstract during the main APHA electronic abstract submission process, please do the following:
In the "Comments to Organizers" box for each independent abstract submission, please indicate that the abstract is to be considered as part of the Special Session (provide Session title).
In the presentation descriptions above, include the abstract number assigned to the presentation during the independent abstract submission process.
Notification of status of preliminary proposals will be sent via email to the Special Session key contact (organizer) by Friday, April 10, 2026. If your preliminary proposal is approved, this email also will include instructions for submission of a full Special Session proposal.
STUDENT ABSTRACT AWARDS
NOTE: This award is NOT listed under the “Award Opportunities” feature on the abstract submission website.
All students who submit an abstract for possible presentation at the annual meeting in the Epidemiology Section scientific program are eligible to apply for an Epidemiology Student Abstract Award.
Winners will have their meeting registration paid for by the Epidemiology Section and will receive a commendation during the Section Awards session. Student Award winners also will present their work in a dedicated oral session.
To be considered for the Epidemiology Section Student Abstract Award, please:
Submit your abstract to the “Student Abstract Awards” topic
Under the “Title” tab, please select the box to indicate that you are a student at the time of your abstract submission
Under the “Title” tab, please include the following information in the “Comments to Organizers” section:
Your degree level at the time of abstract submission (e.g., undergraduate, graduate-Master’s, graduate-Doctoral, graduate-Professional, etc.)
Identify your program of study (e.g., public health, nursing, medicine, public policy, etc.)
Brief description (1-2 sentences) of your research and/or practice interests
Choose either the oral only, oral preferred, or no preference presentation format.
Award winners will be notified during summer 2026 and will be required to present their work orally and in-person at the APHA meeting in November 2026.
Please contact aphaepiprogram@gmail.com with questions about the information presented in this Call for Abstracts or related issues. For questions about a specific abstract, please include the abstract number assigned by the APHA on-line system in your email.
Thank you for considering the APHA Epidemiology Section!
