Tennessee Public Health Association 2026 Conference
Together We Thrive: Every Age, Every Stage
The conference will be held September 23-25, 2026 at Embassy Suites in Murfreesboro, TN.
Registration Closes September 2
Conference Agenda Under Construction
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Pre-Conference Workshops
Wednesday, September 23, 10:30 am - Noon
Exploring Death, Dying, and Grief One LEGO® at a Time: A Hands-On Tool for Reflection, Engagement and Learning
Erin Mauck, PhD, East Tennessee State University
Although “play” is often viewed as non-serious or purely recreational, serious play, through LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® (LSP), has purposeful, strategic value because the hands-on nature enhances engagement, reflection, and communication. The LSP method is grounded in two complementary learning theories; constructivism which emphasizes that people build knowledge through experience and active interaction, and constructionism which adds that learning is deepened when individuals physically construct models of their understanding. The LSP method applies these principles by enabling people to express ideas through hands-on building, making concepts more concrete, visual, and easier to understand.
This experiential workshop introduces participants to LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® (LSP), where they will engage in two sample LEGO® builds that demonstrate how the method encourages storytelling, metaphor, and meaning making; powerful tools for teaching, learning, and sparking conversation. They will then have the opportunity to share their builds with each other. In addition, participants will explore how LSP can support inclusivity, engagement, and intentional reflection in the field of thanatology. No LEGO® experience needed—just curiosity and a willingness to build and share.
From Process to Practice: Building Effective SOPs in Public Health
Jennifer Sanchez, Director of Business & Grants Management, Tennessee Department of Health
Public health relies on clear, consistent processes to support compliance, continuity, and effective daily operations. Yet many important functions are still carried out through informal knowledge, inconsistent handoffs, and unwritten expectations. When processes are not standardized, staff may experience avoidable rework, training gaps, documentation inconsistencies, delayed decisions, and increased risk during staff turnover. Standard operating procedures (SOPs) are a practical tool for reducing these challenges, but many teams are unsure where to begin or how to create SOPs that are both clear and usable.
This interactive workshop will guide participants through a practical, step-by-step approach to developing effective SOPs in public health settings. Rather than focusing on SOPs as static compliance documents, this session will position them as living tools that improve role clarity, operational consistency, accountability, and resilience. Participants will learn how to identify processes that are good candidates for standardization, define the purpose and scope of an SOP, map workflow steps, identify decision points, assign responsibilities, and determine what documentation and quality checks should be included.
Through guided activities, participants will work through a simple SOP-building framework that they can apply in their own organizations. Attendees will practice breaking down a process into core steps, identifying where confusion or breakdowns typically occur, and translating those steps into a draft SOP structure. The workshop will also address common pitfalls, such as writing overly complex procedures, failing to engage staff, or creating documents that are difficult to use in real operations.
Getting Started with Vision Loss: A Primer
Pris Rogers, PhD, American Foundation for the Blind
Older people experiencing age-related vision loss are often overlooked and even left out of the aging network. The specialized services available to teach them the skills to continue independent lives are not part aging services, which makes connection difficult. Further, they may not identify with having a disability and are often not included or perceive themselves to be included in services that are “for people with disabilities.” Although they have vision loss, the terms “legal blindness,” “low vision,” or “blindness” often do not resonate. Thus, they may not know about or try to access services with names like “services for the blind,” although most programs are available to them, depending on the degree of vision loss.
Carrying out daily activities is greatly affected by vision loss, and they often experience emotional distress, depression, and social isolation. Getting transportation even to doctors can be difficult, depending on the location. Using technology to access services may be difficult or impossible without appropriate training and adaptations. Another major concern is falling. Older people who have vision problems are almost twice as likely to fall as other older people. Falls can have a significant impact, including being able to remain at home, and the costs can be exorbitant. CDC identifies vision loss as a major public health problem requiring coordination between health, aging, and rehabilitation systems. It is critical that public health recognizes the importance of understanding the issues confronted by older people who are new to vision problems as well as what can be done to mitigate the issues.
Discovering the Tennessee Department of Health's Public Health Resource
Kendra Middlebrook, MPH, and Sonal Thorat, MPH, Tennessee Department of Health
The Tennessee Department of Health's Data Portal, also known as the health data website, is a valuable resource for public health professionals, students, and all Tennesseans to utilize to understand community health. With the capability to build custom data visualizations, interact with historical and near-real-time data, and view and download reports created by TDH, our health data website is designed to be a one-stop shop for all. Learn more about how the health data website can assist with your work across Tennessee, suggest new data topics to share, and discuss how to potentially share your data products with a wider audience in our state.
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