POTSDAM – The Northern Area Health Education Center (NAHEC), the Seaway Valley Prevention Council (SVPC), and the Public Health programs at SUNY Potsdam are partnering to host the fourth annual Public Health Day. The event will be held on Thursday, October 29, at the Barrington Student Union on the SUNY Potsdam campus.

This year’s theme, “Health Equity: Challenges & Opportunities in the North Country,” will explore the challenges of community-based work in rural areas while highlighting opportunities to address and improve health outcomes across the region.

Registration begins at 8:30 a.m., with the event concluding at 2 p.m. The day features keynote presentations, student presentations, a mentorship roundtable, interactive breakout sessions, and opportunities to connect with local public health professionals.

Keynote speaker Tina Kim, MSPH, Deputy Commissioner for the Office of Health Equity and Human Rights at the New York State Department of Health, will highlight her work developing, shaping, and implementing policies and programs that advance health equity and address diversity, equity, and inclusion.

The conference will also feature a screening and discussion of the California Newsreel series Becoming American, exploring the impact of social determinants of health on disease outcomes.

A major focus of the day will be the event’s interactive breakout sessions, which will give participants an opportunity to explore public health issues through simulations, games, and hands-on activities.

NAHEC will offer Dementia Reality VR Training, an immersive experience designed to build empathy and understanding for people living with dementia. NAHEC will also present In Their Shoes: Teen Dating and Relationship Violence, a classroom-based simulation that allows participants to explore the experiences of six teens facing relationship violence. 

Other breakout sessions will include GardenShare’s “The Game of Life: Food Security in St. Lawrence County” and “Humans Don’t Hibernate” from the St. Lawrence County Department of Public Health.

The event will also include an Agency Roundtable Discussion, facilitated by the SUNY Potsdam Public Health Department and NAHEC. Local public health professionals, organizations, and behavioral health partners will discuss how agencies can share knowledge, resources, and best practices while strengthening prevention strategies related to mental health.

Students are encouraged to participate in the mentorship roundtable, where they can connect with professionals and gain insight into careers in public health and behavioral health.

Public Health Day is open to high school and college students, faculty, community members, and professionals interested in public and community health. Registration is free and open through October 14.

More information can be found at: https://sites.google.com/view/potsdampublichealthday26/home?authuser=0