Annual Meeting Program Highlights

The San Diego Convention Center (SDCC) will house the Public Health Expo, Registration, the Opening General Session, Poster Sessions as well as hundreds of scientific sessions, social hours and business meetings. Scientific sessions have also been scheduled at two nearby hotels. Discounted APHA hotel rates will be available at 15 downtown hotels. The Guide to the Location of Sections, SPIGs and Caucuses will provide a snapshot of where sessions for each subgroup will take place. Check the Final Program to determine the location of specific events. 

• Advance Registration and Housing will open May 27, 2008.
• 2008 Online Program will be available on May 27, 2008. Check here for comprehensive session details!  
• Opening General Session - Will take place on Sunday, October 26th from 12:00pm to 2:00pm at the San Diego Convention Center.

• Poster Sessions on Sunday - An educational component has been added to Sunday’s schedule.  Visual presentations of scientific research will be presented in two new poster session time slots, from 2:30pm-3:30pm and from 4:30pm-5:30pm, immediately following the Opening General Session. 

• A Right to Care - An Evening with Sarah Jones  - a special performance by Tony® Award Winning Actress, Sarah Jones will take place on Sunday, October 26 from 6:30pm-7:30pm.
• Special Sessions - Now on Monday from 8:30am-10:00am as well as Tuesday and Wednesday from 10:30am-12:00pm. 
• Closing General Session: A View from the Surgeons General - The Closing General session will take place on Wednesday, October 29th at its new earlier time- 2:30pm to 4:00pm.

Highlights of the Meeting

The APHA Annual Meeting theme "Public Health Without Borders" will explore transnational public health, and will provide a forum to address a diversity of topics including immigrant and refugee health; water and land rights; coordinating disease surveillance and epidemiologic response activities across borders; air and water pollution management across borders; and the international transmission of socio-cultural behaviors with adverse health implications. This Annual Meeting provides an opportunity for a better understanding of the aspects of growing multiculturalism that promote healthy living and even to highlight and foster science based and traditional practices that may serve to protect minority populations as they enter new environments.

• Scientific Sessions - The Annual Meeting consists of more than 900 scientific sessions, roundtables, poster sessions, institutes and panel discussions at which over 4,000 scientific papers will be presented. View the Online Program for details. Presenter acceptance emails will be sent on June 1, check the status of your abstract after that date.
• Special Sessions - Cutting edge educational programming presented by prominent Public Health experts will be featured. Special Sessions will be held on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, (October 27, 28 & 29) from 10:30 am to 12:00 noon.
• APHA Learning Institutes - Full and half-day educational programs designed to provide an in-depth learning experience in the latest public health trends and topics. They are held on Satuday and Sunday (Oct. 25-26, 2008) immediately prior to the start of the APHA Annual Meeting & Exposition.
• Continuing Education Credits- Complete on-line evaluation and receive your CE certificate by email.
• APHA Public Health Expo - APHA Booths and Exhibit Hall Events: Everything APHA, Public Health CareerMart, electronic message center, Virtual Expo 
• E-ssentialLearning - Online scientific session presentation recordings

• Annual Meeting Blog - With hundreds of events to choose from, stay up-to-date and help keep the conversation going by checking out the daily APHA Annual Meeting blog! Postings begin shortly before the Annual Meeting begins and go throughout the meeting, covering scientific sessions, social events and more. Subscribe after May 27th to the blog for free and receive updates in your e-mail.

• Mix & Mingle Lounge
• Public Health Awards Reception and Ceremony
• Environmental Initiatives and the APHA Annual Meeting