Opening Keynote:

The Ohio Society for Public Health Education (OSOPHE) is pleased to welcome Dr. Amy Thompson, 

Ph.D., FESG, CHES, Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost at Oakland University and

2026 Distinguished Fellow, SOPHE, as our Keynote speaker.

Meeting the Moment: Leading Change During the Make America Healthy Again Movement

The Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement has sparked public discourse around chronic disease, nutrition, environmental health, prevention, and the overall health of Americans. Although many public health professionals have expressed concerns regarding aspects of the movement's messaging, interpretation of scientific evidence, and policy proposals, the heightened national focus on health presents a significant opportunity for the public health community that may get overlooked.

For decades, public health has championed prevention, healthy communities, health equity, and evidence- based policies designed to improve population health. Today, many of these priorities have entered the national conversation in unprecedented ways. Rather than viewing this moment solely through a political lens, public health leaders have an opportunity to engage constructively, provide leadership, and help shape policies that improve health outcomes while maintaining the profession's commitment to evidence, ethics, and public trust. Simply put, a perceived public health boondoggle could be a hidden opportunity.

This keynote challenges attendees to move beyond polarization and recognize the strategic opportunities created by the current national dialogue around health. Participants will examine where the goals of the MAHA movement intersect with longstanding public health priorities, identify areas requiring continued leadership, and explore strategies for advocating and communicating effectively across political and ideological differences. The session will provide practical approaches for strengthening partnerships, influencing policy, and positioning public health professionals as trusted leaders during a pivotal moment for the profession.

As the nation places renewed emphasis on prevention and healthier communities, public health has an opportunity to lead the conversation with evidence, credibility, and optimism. The greatest impact may come not from resisting the moment, but from helping shape it through advocacy.

ABOUT AMY: 

Dr. Amy Thompson has 20 years of higher education experience and 10 years of progressively advanced administrative leadership experience. As OU’s chief academic officer, she oversees academic affairs initiatives and programs, including student success, community engagement, grant funding, and program accreditation and assessment. Dr. Thompson has demonstrated the ability to lead teams collaboratively toward success in all these areas.

Before joining OU, Dr. Thompson was Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs at Wright State University (WSU). She oversaw its six colleges and units, including the Boonshoft School of Medicine, the Lake Campus in Celina, the University Libraries, Research and Sponsored Programs, and Counseling and Wellness Services. Dr. Thompson was also Professor of Public Health at the Boonshoft School of Medicine. At WSU, she oversaw efforts to increase grant funding, secured millions of dollars in grants to fund student completion scholarships, collaborated with WSU’s enrollment management team to increase new student enrollment, created committees to improve first-year retention rates, and implemented an array of student success measures to decrease failing grades.

Before her tenure at WSU, she served as Senior Vice Provost of Academic Affairs and Acting Dean of the College of Graduate Studies at the University of Toledo (UT/Ohio). She was also a faculty member at Mississippi State University and Kent State University. She has published over 80 peer-reviewed journal articles, secured over $1.7 million in grant funding, and published and presented her scholarship nationally and internationally. She earned her B.S. in Public Health from Central Michigan University, and an M.S.Ed. in Public Health and a Ph.D. in Health Education from the University of Toledo.