The Open Forum Next Generation (NxGen) provides public health practitioners an opportunity to learn and engage with peers around critical topics currently facing both the public health workforce and the healthcare workforce. Through robust content and design, NxGen establishes a learning continuum that strengthens the capacity for practitioners to respond to future public health needs, as well as providing skills and resources to bolster the new generation of public health workers.

NxGen proposes to offer three (3) learning tracks: 1) Infection Prevention and Control; 2) Vaccine Access and Distribution Across the Life Course; and 3) Improving the Public Health Infrastructure. Each track is described in turn below: 

Infection Prevention and Control 

Infection prevention and control has moved to the forefront of public health surveillance, education, and outreach efforts due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This track will explore the role and influence that public health has in the prevention and control of healthcare-associated infections including lessons learned, quality improvement, and building stronger connections with healthcare.  

Vaccine Access and Distribution Across the Life Course 

This track will offer sessions focused on the various aspects of the monitoring and evaluation of vaccination programs including how to improve program targets, monitor vaccination across the life-course, routinely monitor issues related to equity, and will discuss the importance of vaccination not only during a pandemic, but throughout life. 

Public Health Infrastructure 

This track is focused on innovations to support a capable and qualified workforce, up-to-date data and information systems, and agencies that can assess and respond to public health needs. Sessions in this track will offer specific tips, tools, and techniques that public health departments can use to strengthen capacity, performance, and effectiveness. 

Cross-cutting Topics 

Each track will feature sessions focused on (5) five cross-cutting topics relevant to public health post-COVID:

1. Health and racial equity;
2. Workforce development for the next generation of the public health workforce;
3. Public health law and policy;
4. Performance management and quality improvement (PM/QI); and 
5. Emerging issues or hot topics.  

For more information about the Open Forum NxGen, sign up for updates via our mailing list or contact us at convenings@nnphi.org.