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2026 HEI Agenda At a Glance

From Challenge to Change: Cultivating Resilience in Public Health

(Agenda is subject to change)

Wednesday, October 14, 2026

1:00 pm

Opening Remarks:

Megan Folkerth, MPH, CHES, Ohio SOPHE President, Interact for Health

Ashely Miller, BS, CHES, Ohio SOPHE HEI Conference Co-Chair, Nationwide Children's Hospital                                                       

1:30 pm

Keynote: Meeting the Moment: Leading Change During the Make America Healthy Again Movement 
Amy Thompson, PhD, Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, Oakland University

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2:50 pm

Concurrent Session I:

A. Closer Than You Think: Bridging Perspectives to Cultivate Cohesive Teams

Jen Morel, MPH, MCHES, Managing Director, Ohio University, Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service

B. Driven by Date, Defined by Community: Collaborative and Participatory Models for Local Health Impact

Operation BRIDGE: Integrating Public Health and Public Safety to Improve Access to Care

Megan Baker, BS, OCPSA, Health Educator, Fairfield County Health Department

Dennis Lowe, BS, Drug Task Forces Liaison, Ohio Department of Public Safety

Sorriah Wilson, MPH, CHES, OCPSA, Health Educator, Licking County Health Department

HEAL Photovoice Project

Rachel Belvin, BS, Health Educator, Portage County Health District

Kim Plough, MS, CHES, Health Educator,Portage County Health District

C. Thinking Outside the Circle: Creative Collaborations That Transform Communities

Tasha Catron, BS, CHES, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Specialist/Health Educator, Stark County Health Department

Kay Conley, MPA, CHES, Director of Administration & Support Services, Stark County Health Department

Nicole Dorsey, MCHES, Health Educator, Stark County Health Department

Keeley Horning, CHES, Grant Support Specialist, Stark County Health Department

Amanda Kelly, MPA, CHES, Health Promotion & Planning Manager, Stark County Health Department

Kelly Potkay, BS, CHES, Health Educator, Stark County Health Department

4:10 pm

Concurrent Session II:

A. Mentoring – Another Tool for Professional Development

Tasha Catron, BS, CHES, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Specialist/Health Educator, Stark County Health Department

Kathy Luhn, MS, MCHES, RDN, LD, CHP, CLL, CHWC, NBC-HWC, Health Educator/Health Coach, Health Improv-ment Partners, LLC, Contractor, Ohio SOPHE Workforce Development Grant

B. Voices. Prevention, and Partnership: Health Education at Work

Ashely Miller, BS, CHES, Health Education Project Coordinator, Nationwide Children's Hospital

C. Building Independence, Preventing Falls: Physical Activity and Vision Strategies for Healthy Aging

Vision and Fall Prevention

Fred LaFauci, MS, Public Health Vision Consultant, Ohio Department of Health - Bureau of Maternal, Child, and Family Health

SAIL in Action: Building and Growing an Evidence-Based Physical Activity Program for Older Adults 

Rachel Belvin, BS, Health Educator, Portage County Health District

Kylee McCracken, BS, Health Educator, Portage County Health District

Kim Plough, MS, CHES, Health Educator, Portage County Health District

5:30 pm

Dinner & Plenary I: Creating Hope: Prevention Across Education, Healthcare, and Communities 
Derek Lee, PhD, CRC, LPCC-S, Founder, The Hope Institute

7:00 pm

Networking Activities:

  • Ohio SOPHE Student Meet and Greet
  • Bingo!

Thursday, October 15, 2026

8:00-8:30 am

Wellness Activity: Walk and Talk

Led by: Heather Flattery and Bri Perkins

7:30 am

Breakfast

Exhibits Open                                                                                                                                       

9:00 am

Plenary II: Creative Confidence 
Megan Hysell, MA, Senior Organizational Development Consultant, Nationwide Children’s Hospital

10:20 am

Concurrent Session III

A. Stack Your Strengths: Turning Your Skills Into Career Momentum

Katie Southwood, MS, Senior Associate Director of Career Development, Miami University

Michael Turner, MEd, Director of External Relations and Engagement, Bowling Green State University

B. Using Results-Based Accountability (RBA) and Clear Impact Scorecards to Strengthen Health Education Grant Performance

Greg Chumney, MPH, REHS, Performance Manager, Ohio Department of Health

C. Making the Case: Advocacy Skills for Public Health Educators (or Professionals)

Susan Jagers, JD, Executive Director, Association for Ohio Health Commissioners (AOHC)

11:40 am Poster Sessions & Exhibits: Lessons from the Field

Ashely Miller, BS, CHES, Ohio SOPHE HEI Conference Co-Chair, Nationwide Children's Hospital

12:45 pm

Lunch & Networking

2:00 pm

Concurrent Session IV:

A. From Purpose to Practice: Cultivating Leadership Through the Power of Mentoring

Shayna Smith, MA, Director of Regional Career Services & Work Based Learning, Miami University

B. Play, Practice, Protect: Innovative Approaches to Health Education

Serious Games in Health Education

Joe Macisco, PhD, MPH, Assistant Professor, Wright State University

Infectious Disease Response in Practice: How Health Education Shaped a Rapid Response to Pertussis in a Rural Amish Community

Sara Casper, BS, CHES, Health Education Specialist, Williams County Health Department

Nathan Hoffer, BSN, Director of Nursing, Williams County Health Department 

Katie Lantzsch, MPH, CHES, CPST, Director of Health Education and Preparedness Williams County Health Department

C. Student Smackdown Brain Battle 2 - The Sequel! (Student-focused Session)

Rob Braun, PhD, Professor of Public Health Education, Otterbein University

3:20 pm

Plenary III: How Ohio's Public Health Infrastructure Adapts, Evaluates, and Keeps Serving Through Disruption

Anne Trinh, MPH, Director of Programs and Strategic Initiatives, Ohio State University, Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Evaluation Studies (HOPES) 

5:30 pm

Dinner & Ohio SOPHE Awards

Megan Folkerth, MPH, CHES, Ohio SOPHE President, Interact for Health 

7:00 pm





Networking Activities: 

  • Talent Show
  • Spelling Bee Competition

Friday, October 16, 2026

7:30-8:00 am

Wellness Activity: 

Led by: Emma Whitacre

 

Wellness Activity: 

Led by: Shamaye Dixon

7:30 am

Breakfast                                                                                                                                           

9:00 am

- 12:00 pm

Plenary IV: The Leadership Shift: Increasing Your Influence and Impact

Sheila Eason, SHRM-SCP, SPHR, MOD, Founder & CEO, Elevate People Solutions

12:00 pm

Closing Remarks and Evaluation

Megan Folkerth, MPH, CHES, Ohio SOPHE President, Interact for Health 

Ashely Miller, BS, CHES, Ohio SOPHE HEI Conference Co-Chair, Nationwide Children's Hospital               



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