Blue background with capitol building

Arlington, VA and Digitally | June 9-10 (with optional Hill Day June 11)

The Policy Action Institute convenes public health professionals to learn how to navigate funding cuts, find common ground among MAHA, and interpret the implications of the midterm elections. 

Register

All times are in the Eastern Time Zone.

Tuesday, June 9, 2026

9:00-9:30 a.m. Registration Open & Breakfast 
9:30-10:00 a.m.Meet your fellow Attendees 
10:00-10:05 a.m.

Welcome

  • Georges C. Benjamin, MD, CEO, American Public Health Association
10:05-10:15 a.m.

Overview of Event 

  • Brinda Adhikari, Co-Creator and Co-Host, "Why Should I Trust You?" Podcast
  • Maggie L. Bartlett, PhD, Co-Creator and Co-Host, "Why Should I Trust You?" Podcast
  • Tom Johnson, Co-Creator and Co-Host, "Why Should I Trust You?" Podcast
10:15-11:00 a.m.The State of Public Health  
Get a firsthand look at the current state of public health from elected leaders. This session will provide critical context on today’s challenges and opportunities, helping you understand the forces shaping public health policy right now. 
11:00-11:45 a.m.

What Has This Year Wrought?
From legal battles to shifting policies, this session unpacks the biggest challenges public health has faced this year in local and federal policymaking as well in the courts and how leaders are responding. Walk away with a clearer understanding of the current landscape and what it means for your work moving forward.

Moderator: Tom Johnson, Co-Creator and Co-Host, "Why Should I Trust You?" Podcast

  • Alison Barkoff JD, Hirsh Health Law & Policy Associate Professor and Director of the Hirsh Health Law & Policy Program, George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health
  • Don Hoppert, Director of Government Relations, American Public Health Association
  • Hemi Tewarson, JD, MPH, Executive Director, NASHP
11:45 a.m.-12:00 p.m.Making Public Health Personal - Robert's Story
Through his lived experience as a former prisoner in Sing Sing, two-time kidney transplant recipient and kidney cancer survivor, Robert Sanchez demonstrates how personal stories can drive advocacy and reshape systems that often overlook patient voices. Walk away with a deeper understanding of how your own story can be a powerful tool to influence policy and advance health equity. 
  • Robert Sanchez, Senior Social Interviewer, Albert Einstein College of Medicine at Montefiore Medical Center
12:00-12:45 p.m.

Lunch

12:45-2:00 p.m.

How to be an Effective Advocate: A Crash Course
​​​​​Move beyond data alone and learn how to advocate in ways that truly resonate. This session will equip you with practical strategies to use your own voice, experience and perspective to influence policy and drive meaningful change. 

  • Shelley Hearne, DrPH, MPH, Director, Lerner Center for Public Health Advocacy
2:00-2:30 p.m.Networking Break
2:30-4:00 p.m.

How to Sell Your Ask 
Learn how to turn your message into action by crafting compelling, story-driven asks that resonate with decisionmakers. This session will show you how to combine data with personal narrative to capture attention, build connection and increase your impact in today’s policy environment.

  • Tesfa Alexander, PhD, MA, Deputy Director, Lerner Center for Public Health Advocacy
4:00-4:45 p.m.

Working with Community
​​​​​Learn what it truly means to center community in public health work and why it matters for lasting impact. This session will challenge you to rethink your approach and walk away with a deeper understanding of how to build trust, elevate community voices and create more equitable, people-centered solutions. 

  • Denise Octavia Smith, CHW PN, MBA, Head of Workforce Innovation, Pear Suite
5:30-7:00 p.m.Reception at Lucky Strike Bowling 
Located at 320 South 23rd St. S. in Arlington, VA
Open to attendees who registered for event before June 5

 

Wednesday, June 10, 2026

8:00-9:00 a.m.Registration Open & Breakfast 
9:00-9:05 a.m.

Welcome & Intro

9:05-9:45 a.m.

Understanding a MAHA Perspective
Gain insight into the MAHA movement and how it is shaping today’s public health conversations. This plenary will help you better understand one mother’s journey and how you can engage more effectively, navigate differences and identify opportunities for productive dialogue.

  • Jacqueline Capriotti, Founder, Victory Garden Alliance Foundation; CEO, Health Revolution USA
9:45-10:45 a.m.

Finding Common Ground
​​​​​Explore how public health, philanthropy and differing perspectives can come together to address today’s most pressing challenges. This session will highlight the role of dialogue when perspectives diverge and the role of  democracy and collaboration in identifying shared priorities and moving solutions forward. 

Moderator: Brinda Adhikari, Co-Creator and Co-Host, "Why Should I Trust You?" Podcast

  • Jacqueline Capriotti, Founder, Victory Garden Alliance Foundation; CEO, Health Revolution USA
  • Avenel Joseph, PhD, Vice President for Policy, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
  • Jennifer Messenger, BA, SEVP, Public Health Lead, Metropolitan Group 
10:45-11:00 a.m.Short Break
11:00-11:15 a.m.

Making Public Health Personal - Almeta's Story
Drawing on decades of experience in health justice and climate advocacy, Almeta E. Cooper shows how storytelling can connect complex issues to real people and inspire action. Walk away with a clearer understanding of how to use your own voice to make health equity and environmental issues more personal and impactful.

  • Almeta E. Cooper, National Manager for Health Equity, Moms Clean Air Force
11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.Organizing in the Community 
Learn how to turn community engagement into real policy change by building strong coalitions and mobilizing around shared goals. This session will break down what effective organizing looks like in practice and how to talk to community members with differing perspectives including what works, what doesn’t and how to strengthen your impact at the local level.  

Moderator: Maggie L. Bartlett, PhD, Co-Creator and Co-Host, "Why Should I Trust You?" Podcast​
  • Lacey Connelly, Organizing Team Coordinator, Defend Public Health
  • Derek Schmitz, A.A.S., Lead Advocate, Derek Schmitz: Advocacy 
12:15-1:00 p.m.Lunch
1:00-2:00 p.m.

Looking Toward the Future
Hear from emerging public health leaders as they share their vision for the future and the changes they want to see in the field. This session will highlight the priorities of the next generation and inspire you to think differently about where public health is headed.

Moderator: Maggie L. Bartlett, PhD, Co-Creator and Co-Host, "Why Should I Trust You?" Podcast

  • Athina Amanor, BS, 3rd Year Medical Student, Howard University College of Medicine
  • Emma Courtney, Co-Founder and President, Science for Good
  • Lara Hicks, Impact Specialist, Protect Democracy
2:00-2:15 p.m.

Making Public Health Personal - Alexa's Story
​​​​​After resigning from the National Institutes of Health in protest of attacks on scientific integrity, Alexa R. Romberg shares how personal conviction can shape powerful advocacy. Walk away with a deeper understanding of how your own experiences and values can drive meaningful change. 

  • Alexa R. Romberg, PhD, Former Deputy Branch Chief, NIDA, NIH
2:15-3:15 p.m.Counting More Than Votes: What the Midterms Really Mean for the Public’s Health 
Go beyond the headlines to understand what the upcoming midterm elections could mean for public health policy. This session will break down key issues, political dynamics and what to watch so you can better anticipate and respond to what’s ahead. 
  • Mark Mioduski, Co-founder, Cornerstone Government Affairs
  • Hyma Moore, Former Director for the Office of Jaime Harrison, Chairman of Democratic National Committee; Principal, Cornerstone Government Affairs
  • Mike Reed, Principal, Cornerstone Government Affairs
  • Kirsten West, Former Communications Director for Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Deputy Chief of Staff for Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-IL); Managing Principal, Cornerstone Government Affairs
3:15-3:30 p.m.Closing and Break
3:30-4:30 p.m.How to Talk to Congress: The Issues of the Moment (for those participating in Hill Day)
​​​​​Prepare for effective advocacy on Capitol Hill by learning how to communicate your message clearly and confidently. Especially helpful for Hill Day participants, this session will walk you through key issues, messaging strategies and what to expect so you can make the most of your conversations with policymakers.

Moderator: Susan Polan, PhD, Associate Executive Director, Public Affairs and Advocacy, American Public Health Association ​
  • Don Hoppert, Director of Government Relations, American Public Health Association
  • Jordan Wolfe, Manager, American Public Health Association

Thursday, June 11, 2026

Optional Hill Day Visit

We will have two informational webinars. Details and Zoom links will be emailed after you register for the event and indicate your participation in the Hill Day.

Extend your impact beyond the event by participating in an optional Hill Day visit where you'll have the opportunity to meet directly with policymakers and their staff and advocate for public health priorities. APHA will provide a range of resources to help you make the most of your visit including advance training on how to schedule and prepare for a Hill visit and dedicated time on the second day of the Policy Action Institute. 

Please note that the exact timing of your Hill Day visit will be determined by the availability of your legislator or their staff, and APHA does not control the scheduling. Participants should plan their travel accordingly and expect a late afternoon departure on the final day.

Make your voice heard where it matters most—on Capitol Hill.