Call for Abstracts | 79th OPHA Annual Conference & Meeting

Abstract submissions are closed. Come back next year!

Abstract Submission Guidelines

PRESENTATION FORMATS
SELECTION CRITERIA
DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS
RESOURCES
CONFERENCE FAQ

The Oregon Public Health Association invites proposals for the 79th OPHA Annual Conference & Meeting. Abstract submissions will be accepted May 1 - June 14, 2023.  Abstracts addressing all public health topics are welcome and we encourage presenters to make connections between research, policy, and practice.

OPHA values diversity, equity, inclusion and social justice. We seek a diversity of abstract submissions that will provide learning opportunities from not only our academic and governmental colleagues, but also individuals from an array of racial and ethnic backgrounds, those with disabilities, and with lived experience. We invite abstracts that will support improved public health practice.

Breakout sessions and the poster session, which form the majority of the conference program, are developed entirely through OPHA’s abstract submission process. OPHA’s process is modeled after the American Public Health Association (APHA) process.

Types of Abstract Submission Formats: 

Breakout sessions are 75 minutes in length allowing time for questions, answers, and audience discussion. Space for individual oral presentations and panel discussions is limited.

  • Individual Oral Presentation: Oral presentations are 10-12 minutes in length. Three presentations, grouped by themes, will be delivered in each breakout session. Additional time will be allotted by a session moderator for Q&A and discussion. Oral presentations should appeal to a wide public health audience and preference is given to abstracts that include results/outcomes with public health implications.
  • Poster: Posters are visual presentations displayed on 8’ x 4’ bulletin boards. The poster session is scheduled for Monday, October 16. Student posters will be entered in the Student Poster Contest* and the winner will be announced on Tuesday, October 17 as part of the Awards Presentations. Poster presentations create opportunity for dialogue, feedback, and shared learning between the presenter(s) and attendees. Posters also give attendees time to learn at their own pace.

*The Student Poster Contest is open to current students and students who submitted abstracts prior to graduation and are now new professionals (graduated within 6 months of conference). 

  • Panel Discussion: A panel discussion (75-minute program session) includes a moderator and/or discussant and up to three panelists/presentations (maximum four presenters). Due to time constraints, only a limited number of panel discussions will be accepted. Submit an overview abstract describing the overall purpose/theme of the panel and a minimum of three separate abstracts, one for each panelist. NOTE: Panel submissions will only be considered if an overview abstract AND separate abstracts for each presentation are submitted. Panel discussions will be selected if sufficiently distinct content is provided by each presenter to justify a full panel discussion.

SELECTION CRITERIA 

Abstracts will be peer reviewed and accepted on the basis of the following criteria:

  • Overall Merit – Abstract clearly describes the background, significance and innovation of the
    work, and the relevance to emerging public health research/practice in Oregon
  • Programmatic/Policy Significance – Implications of the work for policies, programs, and practice to improve the public’s health in Oregon and beyond
  • Objective Content – content is objective, free from bias and promotion, no use of commercial
    entities, products, services, logos, or brand names
  • Complete submission – the submission includes all requested information and conforms to the stated instructions described below.

INSTRUCTIONS 

  • Application

All sections of the Abstract Submission Form must be fully completed for consideration. You will not be able to save and return to the form, so please save your submission text and contact information elsewhere in case you cannot complete the submission in one sitting or experience technical issues.

Please be prepared to provide the following information:

  1. Preferred Presentation Format (see options above)
  2. Title
  3. Presenter(s): Please provide contact information for all presenters. If you have more than one presenter, please designate a Primary Contact for your abstract submission. This person will be responsible for all communications regarding your abstract. 
  4. Brief Abstract (<200 words): Provide a description of your proposed presentation and include the following: 1) Background, context, significance of the public health problem; 2) Purpose of the work/study including aims or research questions if relevant; 3) methods or approach to solving the problem/answering the study questions; 4) outcomes/results/and implications of the work for policies, programs, and practice to improve the public’s health in Oregon and beyond
  5. Learning Objective(s): Provide at least one measurable and concrete learning objective and start each sentence with one of these verbs: Define, List, Describe, Discuss, Explain, Identify, Demonstrate, Differentiate, Compare, Design, Formulate, Evaluate, Assess, Name, Analyze. Learning objectives must be written from the learner's perspective. What will the learner be able to do after hearing your presentation? *NOTE: Do not start learning objective(s) with a number, bullet, asterisk or any other special characters.
  • Abstract Deadline: Complete abstract submissions are due June 14, 2023 at 11:59pm. No abstracts will be accepted after this date. Presenters will be notified in August.
  • Program Schedule: All presenters must be available to present at any time during the two days of the conference.
  • AV Needs: Presenters will be responsible for their own presentation slides and handouts. The standard audiovisual equipment provided in all sessions includes: a projector, computer, and screen. Microphones will be made available in all large session rooms. The AV guidelines for the LaSells Steward Center can be found HERE.

Resources for writing abstracts: 

***Please note that you do not need to be a member of OPHA to present at the conference. However, all presenters must register, including paying registration fees. No exceptions will be made. REGISTRATION IS OPEN!

Poster Development Tips (Provided by APHA)

  • Posters must fit on mounted stands that are 4 feet tall by 8 feet wide.
  • Keep accessibility in mind when designing your poster. Checkout our guidelines for accessible presentations.
  • The material should be well labeled and legible from a distance of 10 to 15 feet away. Lettering should be bold. Use a large sans serif font such as Veranda.
  • Consider the Better Research Poster design for an easy-to-digest poster design.

Questions? See our conference FAQ. For more information, contact OPHA Program Committee Chair, Marie Harvey.