The Minnesota Public Health Association (MPHA)’s 2023 Annual Conference was held May 22-23, 2023 in-person at Concordia College in Moorhead, MN. The conference ran for two half days: Monday, May 22 from 12:30 -6:00 pm and Tuesday, May 23 from 7:30 am - 1:00 pm. A virtual component for attendees to view keynote, plenary, and concurrent sessions was available. Presenters were in person; the poster symposium consisted of live poster presentations and some virtual pre-recorded posters.

View the full Program

Visit the Poster Hall

Conference Presentations

MPHA greatly subsidizes the attendee cost of the conference and relies upon sponsors to help keep the conference accessible and affordable for all who wish to attend. Conference sponsorships and exhibitor tables have been filled. If interested in supporting MPHA, please view general MPHA sponsorships and organizational memberships. 

Thank you to our Silver + Level Sponsors!

Thank you to our Exhibitors!

The conference theme “Raising the Public's Health: Becoming Better Ancestors through History, Hope, and Action” will examine how public health professionals are acting on some of the most urgent challenges of our time. We are here because of our ancestors' thoughtful planning and efforts to increase our opportunities for healthier lives. As public health encompasses nearly every part of our communities, it is our charge to ensure future generations will be stronger because of what we are doing now.

What lessons have we learned as we are living through the double pandemics of Covid-19 and structural racism? How are we identifying unmet needs at local and state levels? What solutions does public health offer? And how will we be prepared to act differently in the future to strengthen our communities, thus assuring their health and wellbeing? Addressing these challenges requires us all to learn from each other, share our wisdom, and commit to bold action. Early interventions, prevention strategies, health in all policies, and equitable long-term funding of our civil societies are just some possibilities.

Plenary speakers include Lori New Breast (Blackfeet/Pikuni), Dr. Tracie Newman, Dr. Gwen Wagstrom Halaas, and Jan Malcolm. 

Moorhead Mayor Shelly Carlson will also give a welcome at the conference.

Twelve concurrent presentations on the conference focus areas, a poster symposium, exhibitor and networking time round out the learning.

Continuing education credits for up to 7 CPH Recertification Credits, Nursing, and general CEU certificates are available for this event. 

An application has been submitted to award Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES) and/or Master Certified Health Education Specialists (MCHES) to receive up to 7.0 total Category I Continuing Education Contact Hours (CECH). Maximum Entry-level Continuing Education Contact Hours available are 7.0 and maximum 2.0 Advanced-level credits. SOPHE, including its chapters, is a designated provider of Continuing Education Contact Hours (CECH) in health education by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc.

Upon conclusion of the conference, attendees will:

The MPHA annual meeting gathers public health professionals at every level – students, mid-career professionals, retired experts – from around the state to exchange information and create a healthier Minnesota through effective public health practice and engaged citizens.

Dedicated public health professionals and interested community members who want to connect with peers, pick up new ideas, and gain skills to bring back to their workplace or community are encouraged to attend. 

Parking at Concordia Campus

It's been awhile since we've gathered in person! Please allow extra time for parking and saying hello to public health friends so you don't miss the start of sessions.

• View parking lots circled in red on Concordia College Moorhead campus map
• Please use the KC lots West of the Knutson Campus Center to park.
• Can also park in the MH/O and TS lots to the North of the KC lots if needed.

Lodging

MPHA has a room block at The Courtyard by Marriott Fargo-Moorhead located at 1080 28th Ave S, Moorhead, MN 56560. MPHA attendees receive a 15% discount, for a rate of $129/night (tax not included) for King or Queen/Queen rooms.

Reservations must be made by individual attendees directly with Courtyard by Marriott Fargo-Moorhead reservations at (218) 284-1000. Please reference the MNPHA Conference 2023. The room block is available until May 10, 2023.

Update 5/3: the room block is currently full;  alternate lodging suggestions include the Radisson Blu or the Jasper hotel. A little more on the economy side there is a Microtel Inn and Suites just south of the Marriott in Moorhead. (MPHA does not have a room block at these locations.)

 The hotel is about two miles from the conference site at Concordia College. The local bus route servicing the area is MATBUS - Route 01.

If you are interested in finding a roommate, and/or carpooling to Moorhead, MPHA will create information sharing forms. Please stay tuned for these forms. Attendees will be responsible for managing their own logistics, but MPHA will help as much as able.

Tourism information, including other lodging options, entertainment, and local information for the Fargo-Moorhead area is available.

What Covid-19 precautions will be in place for this conference? Public health workers commit tirelessly to ensure the safety of individual and community health, and MPHA prioritizes the same goal—preserving your health and safety.

Update May 15th:

In light of the recent expiration of the pandemic emergency status, and based on CDC guidance given the current low level in Clay County, masking and distancing decisions will be left up to the individual for this year's conference. 

While masking will not be required, we warmly support your decision to mask and will have a limited number available at the registration table. Conference seating will be spaced out as much as possible. Read more about how to protect yourself and others on the CDC website.

We ask that if you are feeling ill or experiencing COVID-19 symptoms please do not attend in person, but email admin@mpha.net to join virtually instead. 

MPHA strives to make conference attendance possible for all interested participants. Based on the amount of scholarship sponsors received, MPHA will offer a limited number of need-based scholarships to defray registration costs.

Eligibility: MPHA is committed to ensuring that conference participants from priority populations including people of color and American Indians, LGBTQ+ communities, persons with disabilities, and public health students attend and participate in our annual conference.

Based on the amount of scholarship fundraising, MPHA will have a limited number of scholarships for registration for attendees who identify themselves with one of these priority populations, or for those that have a special interest in advancing healthy equity in any one of these populations. In addition, a limited number of scholarships are available through a lottery who work for an agency with a general operating budget of less than $50,000.

To apply for a scholarship, please email admin@mpha.net. There is no description of need required.

Applications are now being received on a rolling basis and awarded according to the donations in our scholarship fund.

Students: if your school is assisting in registration costs, please fill out the name of your school and department/program on the registration form. MPHA will connect you to your schools' resources. 

To fund a scholarship:

The planning committee has developed a program that recognizes the need to engage many stakeholders to help address public health problems. With your support, we hope to provide need-based access to individuals who might not otherwise attend and participate in this conversation. Individuals are invited to make a contribution in any amount, and will receive recognition on the conference registration website, in the program, and in a letter to all attendees receiving a full or partial registration scholarship.

Contributions may be made online at MPHA's donation page (check "scholarship support" and write "annual conference" in the Special Instructions) or, mailed to MPHA at: PO Box 14415, Minneapolis, MN 55414. MPHA is a 501(c)(3) organization.

MPHA is committed to making the Annual Conference accessible to the widest range of people possible. If you need assistance for your participation in the meeting, please submit a request by May 1, 2023 outlining specific type of assistance required.

The hybrid conference will be held in-person at Concordia College in Moorhead, MN and virtually. Keynote and concurrent sessions will be recorded and photos will be taken at the conference. By attending this event, you acknowledge these activities and grant MPHA permission to use your participation for Association publications, website, and marketing materials. You waive all claims against MPHA for any liability resulting from these uses.

Registrations may be canceled and a refund issued, transferred to another attendee, or donated to the MPHA Scholarship Fund, if the request is received in writing to admin@mpha.net by May 8, 2023.

You may also change between an in-person and virtual registration until May 8 and will be billed for any price difference.

After May 8, no refunds will be issued. 

Please note memberships included with conference registrations and donations that have been charged are nonrefundable.