NEHA 2024 AEC Wrap-Up
Educational Kickoff Session, Wednesday, July 17 When Disasters Strike: Lessons Learned From the Food Industry Quintin Eason, executive vice president of higher education for American Dining Creations, joined by moderator Dr. Maureen Lichtveld, dean of the School of Public Health at the University of Pittsburgh, spoke on how their organizations operate and respond to consumer needs during times of crisis. They discussed how our communities are impacted by extreme weather events and natu- ral disasters such as wildfires, drought, heat waves, floods, earth - quakes, and hurricanes, and how the public depends on the retail food industry for safe drinking water, safe food, and emergency supplies. The participants of this panel shared their perspectives and experiences in emergency planning, including employee train- ing, strategic planning, and collaboration with state and local health agencies before disasters strike. Other panelists in this engaging session included Jaymin J. Patel, food safety director of Global Safety and Risk Solutions at Aramark, and Andrew Greene, national procurement manager at Chartwells Higher Education Dining Services. This session was sponsored by the NEHA Business & Industry Affiliate.
NEHA Executive Director and CEO Dr. David Dyjack (far right) introduces the panel for Wednesday’s Grand Educational Session Kickoff.
The panel for Wednesday’s Grand Educational Session Kickoff shared important lessons learned from the food industry about disaster readiness.
Sound Check, Wednesday, July 17 Sound Check: Lessons in Leadership
NSF President Pedro Sancha, Washington State Secretary of Health Dr. Umair Shah, and NEHA Executive Director and CEO Dr. David Dyjack conducted a roundtable discussion centered on the attributes of effective global environmental health leadership in the post-COVID-19 pandemic era. The panelists answered ques- tions from attendees and spoke openly on issues regarding the modern workplace, priority realignment, and value creation. Closing Session, Thursday, July 18 Bringing Environmental Health to the Public Health Main Stage With Wastewater Surveillance Dr. Amy Kirby, chief science officer in the Rapid Response Research and Surveillance Branch and the National Wastewater Surveillance System at CDC, presented the closing session at the 2024 AEC. She provided an engaging presentation and shared her career journey that led to an interest in leveraging environ- mental microbiology methods to measure pathogens, antibi- otic resistant genes, and other health indicators in natural and human-made water and wastewater systems. Dr. Kirby elegantly demonstrated the personal connections made within science and the importance of wastewater surveillance to protect the health of our communities.
Our popular Sound Check Session delved into effective leadership through the lived experiences and insights of Dr. David Dyjack (left), Pedro Sancha (middle), and Dr. Umair Shah (right).
The 2024 AEC came to a close with Dr. Amy Kirby exploring the importance of wastewater surveillance on the health and safety of the communities we protect.
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Volume 87 • Number 4
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