Plenary Sessions
The 2025 ASPPH Annual Meeting for Academic Public Health featured three plenary sessions. These sessions serve as the cornerstone of collaborative engagement, bringing together diverse stakeholders, experts, and thought leaders. As focal points of the annual meeting, our plenary sessions aim to inspire, inform, and unite participants, setting the tone for productive collaboration and the pursuit of common goals throughout the event and beyond.
Thursday Opening Plenary Session
March 20, 9:00 AM – 10:15 AM ET
The Role of Policies in Structural Determinants of Health
Policies, socioeconomic factors, and systemic inequities contribute to health disparities across populations. This session will highlight exemplars of interventions and/or actions that have worked to bridge the gap. We are pleased to have our esteemed colleagues at this session.
Daniel E. Dawes, JD
Founding Dean, School of Global Health and Senior Vice President, Global Health
Meharry Medical College
Anne Zink, MD
Lecturer and Senior Fellow
Yale School of Public Health
Megan Ranney, MD, MPH, FACEP
Dean
Yale School of Public Health
Moderator
Friday Morning Plenary Session
March 21, 9:15 AM – 10:15 AM ET
Expanding the Scope of Environmental Public Health to Tackle Growing Public Health Crises
From climate change and pollutant exposure to shifts in land use and biodiversity loss, major public health crises increasingly stem from environmental determinants. These challenges disproportionately affect the most vulnerable among us, whether in urban neighborhoods or rural communities. Our panelists will explore how expanding the scope of environmental public health can empower the public health workforce and enable true primary prevention, fostering equitable health outcomes for all.
Edward Maibach, PhD, MPH
Distinguished University Professor and, Director, Center for Climate Change Communication
George Mason University College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Raina Plowright, PhD, MS, BVSc
Rudolf J. and Katharine L. Steffen Professor of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability
Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine
Kristi Pullen Fedinick, PhD
Associate Research Professor
George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health
Alexander J. Travis, VMD, PhD
Director and Professor
Cornell University Public Health Program
Moderator
Friday Afternoon Closing Plenary Session
March 21, 2:15 PM – 3:30 PM ET
Building Trust in Public Health and Science: A Call to Action
As our nation continues to grapple with challenges in health equity, misinformation, and scientific literacy, this session will provide actionable strategies for strengthening the bonds between public health professionals and the communities they serve. Insights from this session are sure to inspire and equip attendees with the tools needed to foster trust and advance health for all.
Reed Tuckson, MD, FACP
Managing Director
Tuckson Health Connections, LLC
Thomas A. LaVeist, PhD
Dean and Weatherhead Presidential Chair in Health Equity
Tulane University Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine
Moderator and ASPPH Board Chair