Deadline for submitting abstracts to the 2018 APHA Annual Meeting quickly approaching

There are few better places to showcase your public health research than the APHA Annual Meeting and Expo. Not only does the Annual Meeting welcome thousands of public health professionals from around the world, this year’s meeting will gather in sunny downtown San Diego, just a short jaunt to the blue waters of the Pacific.

However, the window for presenting your research at this year’s gathering is quickly closing — the deadlines for submitting abstracts for the 2018 Annual Meeting are Feb. 19-23, with the exact date depending on the APHA member group to which you’re submitting. Every year, more than 5,000 abstracts are accepted and presented at the Annual Meeting, with many reflecting the meeting’s overall theme. And while we definitely encourage abstracts that explore this year’s meeting theme of “Creating the Healthiest Nation: Health Equity Now,” abstracts on every and all public health topics are welcome.

Here’s a quick rundown of the process: Each of APHA’s member groups — Sections, Special Primary Interest Groups, Caucuses, Forums and the Student Assembly — has their own call for abstracts. A single abstract can only be submitted to one group for consideration. Be sure to read the submission instructions carefully, as each member group has its own process. If you want a better idea of the kinds of research and presentations that take place at the APHA Annual Meeting, check out the online program from our 2017 meeting in Atlanta.

The next question you’re probably wondering is: Can I submit an abstract if I’m not an APHA member? Absolutely! But, if your abstract is accepted, the presenting author must join APHA as an individual member and register for the Annual Meeting. (And with that membership, comes all the benefits of joining one of the country’s premier public health organizations.) You’ll be notified via email about whether your abstract is accepted by June 4.

For all the information you need on submitting an abstract for this year’s Annual Meeting, which will gather Nov. 10-14 at the San Diego Convention Center, visit APHA’s abstract submission page or email [email protected].