COVID-19 a major theme at APHA 2020

Not surprisingly, COVID-19 will be a top focus of this year’s APHA Annual Meeting and Expo, with daily sessions and events highlighting evolving science and practice, as well as how the novel coronavirus is worsening disparities and inequities.

“People need to be informed, but not afraid,” said APHA Executive Director Georges Benjamin, MD, who continues to be a go-to source for journalists looking for expert perspectives on the pandemic. Countering the “infodemic” of misinformation about COVID-19 has been a key APHA role all year.

COVID-19 sessions at APHA 2020 will cover a wide array of topics. Just a few examples of what’s in store:

• Conversations with the World Health Organization and Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network partners on the COVID-19 experience” will feature global perspectives on the pandemic response, with a keynote address from Ibrahima Socé Fall, assistant director-general for emergency response at WHO
• “COVID-19: A case study in health inequities” will discuss actions at the local, state and national levels to address the pandemic’s disparate impacts on communities of color. Speakers include past APHA President Camara Jones, a leading researcher and outspoken advocate on the link between racism and health, and Nancy Kreiger, professor of social epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
• “COVID-19 and the impact on violence, mental health and substance abuse” will offer presentations on the pandemic’s impact on vulnerable populations in the Americas, featuring remarks from Gerry Eijkemans, unit chief for health promotion and social determinants at the Pan American Health Organization.
• “Exploring the challenges of the COVID-19 infodemic in a post-digital era” will feature discussions on misinformation and how to confront it with a diverse group of speakers, including Aleksandra Kuzmanovic, social media officer at WHO. 

Visit the APHA 2020 online program for a full listing of COVID-19 sessions.