Seth Arends Kate Beasley Kristie Denbrock Soni Fink Heather Folker Angelica Ledezma
NEHA 2024 AEC Wrap-Up
Kristen Ruby-Cisneros Michéle Samarya-Timm Jordan Strahle National Environmental Health Association
attendees, exhibitors, and speakers con- nected over beverages, dinner, and stunning views of the Alleghany River and Pittsburgh cityscape. Our AEC came to an end on Thursday, July 18, with the Closing Session—Bring - ing Environmental Health to the Public Health Main Stage With Wastewater Surveillance. Dr. Amy Kirby from the Cen- ters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) elaborated on the role wastewater surveillance has played in recent years to plan and prepare communities for disease outbreaks and emerging pathogens. The 2024 AEC featured nearly 300 edu- cational sessions, preconference work- shops, and meetings. Over the 4 days of the conference, more than 400 speak- ers shared their expertise, knowledge, and research. The Exhibit Hall hosted 46 exhibitors from various industries who showcased their innovative products and services aimed to enhance the job func- tions and performance of environmental health professionals. For the fourth consecutive year, we offered a virtual component to the AEC, with attendees participating from 31 states. Many attendees praised the ease of accessing educational content remotely in times of limited travel budgets. Virtual participants had access to 68 educational sessions throughout the conference. One attendee remarked, “Being in a remote location, virtual is essential for my sur- vival. Having access to this level of envi- ronmental health expertise without hours of travel and time away from my commu- nity is a blessing.” We thank our attendees, members, board, technical advisors, speakers, exhibitors, sponsors, and staff who par- ticipated and contributed to the success of the 2024 AEC. We hope to see you next year in Phoenix, Arizona, at the 2025 AEC. Check out the promotion for the 2025 AEC on page 67.
Crossing the Bridge Into the Future
The National Environmental Health Asso- ciation’s (NEHA) 87th Annual Educational Conference (AEC) & Exhibition upheld our tradition of delivering innovative content to meet the diverse needs of our attend- ees through both in-person and virtual formats. The theme of the conference was, “New Horizons: Building Bridges to Shape the Environmental Health Future.” The 2024 AEC, held in Pittsburgh, Penn- sylvania, from July 15–18, attracted over 1,100 in-person participants and almost 200 virtual attendees, each contributing to shaping the future of the environmen- tal health profession. The event provided a platform for sharing expertise, discuss- ing best practices, and showcasing the latest innovations and research in envi- ronmental health. Dr. Lucy Houghton—a researcher in courage and well-being, registered nurse, and expert strategist in organizational thriving—opened the conference on Mon- day, July 15. Dr. Houghton explored the profound effects of authentic connections on personal satisfaction, professional engagement, productivity, and overall well-being. Attendees were inspired by a call to action to cultivate and sustain meaningful connections both within and beyond the environmental health com- munity to avoid burnout. Following the Keynote Address, attendees mixed and mingled with each other and our exhibi- tors at the Exhibition Grand Opening. Day two of the conference on Tuesday, July 16, began with the first Grand Educa - tional Session Kickoff. Dr. Aaron Bernstein, director of the National Center for Envi- ronmental Health and Agency for Toxic
Substances and Disease Registry (NCEH/ ATSDR), provided an in-depth overview of the daily operations of these agencies and discussed the current and future chal- lenges. The session concluded with an open dialogue that allowed attendees to ask questions regarding the future direc- tion of NCEH/ATSDR and public health more broadly. After a full day of educational ses- sion breakouts, networking, and visit- ing the Exhibit Hall, the day closed with another Keynote Address between NEHA President Tom Butts and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Assistant Com - missioner Erik Mettler. The discussion focused on the future direction of retail food safety under the new FDA Human Foods Program. Day three of the conference on Wednesday, July 17, started with the second Grand Educational Session Kick- off—When Disasters Strike: Lessons Learned From the Food Industry. Dr. Maureen Lichtveld, dean of the School of Public Health at the University of Pitts- burgh, moderated this insightful panel on how industry responds in the wake of a natural disaster. During the lunch hour, NEHA Executive Director and CEO Dr. David Dyjack led an exciting con- versation about leadership in the post- COVID-19 era with NSF President Pedro Sancha and Washington State Secretary of Health Dr. Umair Shah. The day ended with our annual Networking Event where
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Volume 87 • Number 4
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