The 2024 Florida Public Health Association Education Conference, held in Kissimmee July 30-31, brought together a diverse array of public health professionals and scholars. The conference covered critical topics such as sexual health education in Florida, HIV care for Haitian immigrants in South Florida, youth empowerment through community based-work and more.
The event featured speakers and panelists from multiple disciplines, such as Berthline Isma, Ph.D., M.P.H., FPHA’s immediate past president, and Beth Virnig, Ph.D., M.P.H., dean of the University of Florida College of Public Health and Health Professions.
Among the attendees was Victoria Seraphin, a second-year UF Master of Public Health student with a concentration in social and behavioral sciences, who had the opportunity to participate in the conference through the Suwannee River AHEC Scholar Program. This free and unique program, known for providing students with interdisciplinary learning opportunities focused on building the skills and competencies needed to help transform primary care and improve patient care, provided valuable exposure to current public health challenges and innovative solutions discussed at the conference. The experience was particularly eye-opening, Seraphin said, and emphasized the importance of collaboration and innovation in addressing current public health issues.