2024 GPHA Call for Abstracts – Instructions

Submission Deadline Extended! New Deadline: Friday, Dec. 8, 2023 at 5 p.m.

The 2024 Georgia Public Health Association Conference Planning Committee welcomes your abstracts for oral presentations and scientific posters. An abstract submission is required regardless of the presentation format or learning method.  The abstract submission period is October 1, 2023- December 8, 2023. All submissions must be submitted through the Digital Commons portal at the link below:

Abstract Submission Link: https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/gapha-conference/

Abstracts

You will receive notification of the status of your abstract no later than February 1, 2024.  Should your abstract be accepted for presentation at the conference, you will receive additional directions at that time. Questions may be directed to Angie Peden, planner@gapha.org.

All abstract authors must be listed in the author section.  However, Presenter Bio Data/COI Forms must be completed ONLY by on-site presenters, including poster presenters.  The number of on-site presenters is limited to two for all workshops. There is no limit on the number of co-authors who may be listed for either format.

Theme: Lighting the Way to a Healthier Georgia

Purpose

The goal of the 2024 Georgia Public Health Association (GPHA) Annual Meeting & Conference is to assemble public health professionals, students, County Board of Health members, and stakeholders for networking and educational opportunities to support the mission and vision of GPHA- to advocate for conditions in which all people and communities can be healthy; to promote the scientific foundation of public health practice and policy; and to assure a continuous voice broadly representing public health in Georgia. In particular, learners will gain knowledge of current research and practice from around the state of Georgia and will participate in discussions related to the conference theme, “Lighting the Way to a Healthier Georgia.”  Participants will receive information, resources, and access to exhibitors to allow them to engage with others in the public health workforce, explore avenues to protect and promote the health of all people in all communities, promote efforts to achieve equity, and promote policies, systems, and overall community conditions that enable optimal health for all.

Educational Objectives

  • Objective #1: To examine methods for strengthening public health departments, programs, and community infrastructures to care for our citizens across Georgia.
  • Objective #2: To provide networking opportunities to light the way to a healthier Georgia.
  • Objective #3: To connect participants with researchers focused on public health concerns and promote collaboration.
  • Objective #4: To improve the competencies of public health practitioners through skill building.

Logistics

  • Acceptance notifications will be made by February 1, 2024.
  • Presenting author must confirm acceptance to present.
  • If author is not an active GPHA member, the author is expected to renew or join GPHA upon confirmation.  
  • Authors are encouraged to apply now for any approvals needed for conference attendance.
  • ALL presenters are expected to register for the conference for a minimum of the day of their presentation.
  • Presenting authors are responsible for registration, travel, and hotel costs.

Abstract Submission Portal Instructions:

Please see below for submission details when you enter the Digital Commons Portal at https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/gapha-conference/. Please carefully review these details and prepare your submission ahead of time.

Be aware that you will need to create a Digital Commons Account if you do not have one already.

Submission Options

  • Poster: MUST present poster on Wednesday, May 1st
  • Student Poster: MUST present poster on Wednesday, May 1st. Primary author and presenter must be a currently enrolled student.
  • Section Speaker: BY INVITATION ONLY. Section meetings will be held on Wednesday, May 1st, 60 minutes including 10 minute Q&A
  • Keynote Speaker: BY INVITATION ONLY, 40 minutes including 10 minute Q&A
  • 30 Minute Workshop: available ONLY on Thursday, May 2nd, 30 minutes including 5 minute Q&A, limit 2 presenters
  • 30 Minute Roundtable Workshop: available ONLY on Thursday, May 2nd. Please note that Roundtable Workshops will have separate rooms to present this year with added seating.
  • 60 Minute Workshop: available ONLY on Friday May 3rd, 60 minutes including 10 minute Q&A, limit 2 presenters

Title of Session/Abstract (15 words or less)

Presenter(s) Information

  •  Name, Institution/Affiliation, Email Address, and Degree/Credentials

Additional Non-Presenting Co-Author(s) Information

  • Name, Institution/Affiliation, Email Address, and Degree/Credentials

Brief Program Description (35-65 words)

Write an informative and interesting description of your presentation in 35 to 65 words. (If accepted, this description will be used in the conference program.)

Abstract (300 words or less)

Suggested components: Background, methods, results or anticipated results, conclusion, keywords (up to 7). Do not include any self-identifying information. Acceptable abstracts can have a research, practice, program, or policy focus.

Learning Objective:

Each presenter must have one measurable learning objective. This objective must have only one action verb. Begin the sentence with one of these objective verbs (Define, List, Describe, Discuss, Explain, Identify, Demonstrate, Differentiate, Compare, Design, Formulate, Evaluate, Assess, Name, Analyze). Do not use the terms learn or understand—they are not measurable. Learning outcomes must be written from the learner’s perspective. What will the learner be able to do after hearing your presentation?

If you need more assistance, please visit: https://apha.confex.com/apha/learningobjectives.htm

At the end of this presentation, learners will be able to:

Knowledge or Performance Statement:

“My presentation will increase public health practitioners’ knowledge of OR performance in the following competency area(s).”

Please choose either knowledge of OR performance in and list the competency area(s). See examples below.

Knowledge of…

Performance in…

List of Gaps in Public Health Competencies:

Gaps are based on core public health competencies for public health professionals, nursing, medicine, and health education.  

Choose from the list below (source:  NBPHE, ANCC, ACCME, and NCHEC)

  • Basic medical science applied in public health
  • Biostatistics, economics 
  • Chronic disease management and prevention 
  • Clinical medicine applied in public health
  • Communication and informatics 
  • Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
  • Diversity and culture 
  • Environmental health sciences 
  • Epidemiology 
  • Ethics, professional and legal requirements 
  • Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs 
  • Occupational health and safety
  • Other professions or practice related to public health 
  • Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs 
  • Program planning
  • Protection of the public, related to communicable diseases including prevention or control 
  • Provision of health care to the public 
  • Public health administration or related administration 
  • Public health biology 
  • Public health or related education 
  • Public health or related laws, regulations, standards, or guidelines 
  • Public health or related nursing 
  • Public health or related organizational policy, standards, or other guidelines 
  • Public health or related public policy
  • Public health or related research 
  • Social and behavioral sciences 
  • Systems thinking models (conceptual and theoretical models), applications related to public health

Section Interest:  

Indicate GPHA section(s) that would find this abstract of particular interest (choose ALL that are relevant).

  • Academic
  • Administration
  • Boards of Health
  • Career Development
  • Communications
  • Environmental Health
  • Epidemiology
  • Health Education and Promotion
  • Health Information/Information Technology
  • Laboratory
  • Maternal and Child Health
  • Medical/Dental
  • Nursing
  • Nutrition
  • Rural Health/Primary Care
  • Safety and Health Preparedness

Conflict of Interest Form:

Each presenter must complete a Bio Data/COI Form and submit it in the portal. NO ABSTRACT WILL BE REVIEWED WITHOUT A COMPLETED COI FORM FOR THE MAIN PRESENTER. A downloadable copy will be available in the Digital Commons Portal (on the very first page under the Submit Abstract Button) as well as on the GPHA website.

Review of Submissions

Your abstract submission will be evaluated by a panel of public health professionals on the following criteria:

  • Importance to multiple sectors/disciplines/areas or public health issues: 
  • Does the abstract present information about an important public health issue or evidence of an emerging public health issue? 
  • Will the presentation contribute to improving public health practice? 
  • Is the topic compelling? 
  • Does the abstract address one or more of the 10 Essential Public Health Services?  
  • Originality of the work/innovation:  
  • Does the abstract add new information (research/program/policy) to the field? 
  • Does the abstract describe a new approach, or new application to the topic? Or, does the abstract cover a new topic in the field?  
  • Does the abstract present a fresh perspective on existing knowledge?
  • Defined objectives/Purpose of the work:  
  • Is the purpose of the study, policy, or program clearly described? 
  • Are the presentation objectives appropriate and feasible in the time permitted?
  • Methodology:  
    • Research Abstract: 
      • Is the approach and/or methodology described? 
      • Is the methodological framework consistent with the study questions of concern? 
      • Is the study design sound? 
      • Are the methods appropriate? 
      • Does the abstract provide any supporting data?
    • Practice/Policy/Program Abstract: 
      • Is the underlying philosophy or conceptual model sound?  
      • Is the program or policy consistent with the practical questions of concern? 
      • Are new scientifically grounded issues raised for debate?
  • Conclusions/Recommendations:
    • Are the findings and conclusion presented?  
    • Are they understandable and consistent with the objectives, design and findings of the study? 
    • Are the results presented measurable? 
    • Does the abstract offer scope for debate or discussion? 
    • For practice workshops, are the teaching objectives likely to provide useful recommendations to practitioners? 

Please ensure that your abstract addresses not only the data you have collected or your own program’s experience, but also lessons learned that will be useful to other programs or communities in Georgia rather than global research and findings.