The University of Alabama at Birmingham’s School of Public Health (SOPH) made a significant impact at the American Public Health Association (APHA) Annual Meeting & Expo. SOPH faculty, researchers, students, and staff joined over 10,000 fellow public health professionals at the annual flagship event, held on November 1-4, 2026, at the Henry B. González Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas.
SOPH utilized the gathering to advance impactful research across a broad spectrum of public health topics, to strengthen connections with alumni and friends, and highlight the opportunities the school offers to prospective faculty, researchers, and students.
Spotlighting SOPH Research
SOPH researchers made the most of the gathering of fellow public health professionals by showcasing their research. Faculty, dedicated research staff, and students alike contributed to the learning and discourse at APHA 2026, helping to advance knowledge across the public health field.
Several high-impact presentations focused on topics such as personalized diabetes self-management education and support interventions, navigating the academic-practice partnerships, malaria prevention barriers and facilitators in Cameroon, and multiple studies addressing public health challenges in Kenya.
SOPH contributed numerous posters advancing research across the public health landscape, covering topics as diverse as remote patient monitoring in Guam, health care access for military spouses in Okinawa, building a sustainable public health workforce through academic-practice partnerships, and identifying gaps between ethical training, competencies, and the Public Health Code of Ethics.
As Alabama’s only accredited school of public health, SOPH also presented many posters focused on advancing public health within the Yellowhammer State. These included studies evaluating outcomes of the Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) Gatekeeper training in Alabama, identifying gaps and opportunities across the HIV care continuum in Alabama, assessing cross-sector preparedness for H5N1 avian influenza, and testing the acceptability of the Pre-pregnancy and Interpregnancy Engagement for Alabama’s Cardiovascular Health (PEACH) intervention.
Strengthening the SOPH Family
With SOPH alumni spread across the country and around the world, APHA 2026 provided an opportunity for the SOPH family to gather and reconnect. The event allowed attendees to reaffirm long-standing relationships while expanding the SOPH network through new connections. Multiple opportunities throughout APHA 2026, both organized and spontaneous, helped to facilitate interactions.
On the evening of November 2, SOPH held its annual Alumni & Friends Reception, bringing together individuals who represent the best of SOPH across the globe.
This gathering provided a relaxed and convivial environment for attendees to connect and reconnect during what could be a busy and intense few days of public health learning and discussion.
Showcasing SOPH to the Public Health World
Beyond learning and networking, APHA 2026 also provided an opportunity to showcase SOPH as a destination for prospective students, researchers, and faculty. From its well-located exhibit booth in the expo hall, SOPH staff, alongside attending leadership and faculty, highlighted the advantages and opportunities offered by SOPH as a top-ranked school of public health.
Prospective students at every stage of their academic journey learned about the school’s degree programs, as well as its research, experiential learning, service learning, and global health opportunities. Thank you to everyone who stopped by the booth. We look forward to welcoming many of you as new members of the SOPH family in the future.
Blazing Towards the Future
As APHA 2026 concluded, attendees departed San Antonio with memories of three days well spent learning, networking, and collaborating. The more than 10,000 public health professionals who gathered at APHA 2026 left with a strong impression of SOPH’s research excellence and educational opportunities. SOPH alumni and friends departed with strengthened relationships and new connections that will help advance their careers. Most importantly, attendees left with an even greater determination to advance public health through their work.
Until Philadelphia and APHA 2027!