Pre-Conference
April 9, 2026 | Washington Hilton
Register for a Pre-Conference Workshop
Review and register for sessions of interest below! Pre-registration necessary.
Free and open to the public. Click on 'Register Here' to see the detailed program for each Pre-Conference Workshop.
Join an interactive, game-based workshop where policymakers, clinicians, educators, researchers, and youth tackle real-world challenges in mental health policy. This workshop introduces an interactive policy simulation game on data investment and use. Using simulated country scenarios, participants must balance limited budgets, prioritize data collection, respond to crises, and make evidence-based investment decisions. This hands-on “serious game” transforms abstract data into concrete action—revealing how different choices shape services, funding, and advocacy for child and adolescent mental health around the world. Experience collaboration, debate, and discovery as you learn how better data can drive smarter, more equitable global mental-health decisions.
In today’s complex information landscape, great research needs more than publication—it requires communication. This interactive workshop, led by the CUGH Research Committee, the Pulitzer Center, and Global Health NOW, equips global health scientists, researchers, and students with practical skills to amplify their work and translate evidence into impact. Panel discussions among leading journalists, communicators, and academics will deepen participants’ understanding of current communication challenges. Workshops will teach attendees how to craft clear, compelling messages targeting policymakers, practitioners, and the public via op-eds, media interviews, social media, podcasts, newsletters, etc. Hands-on exercises, immediate feedback, and real-world examples will boost attendees’ ability to influence global health dialogue, policy, and action. Transform your research into a story that matters.
*Attendees will gain the most out of this workshop if they join for the full day, but they are invited to drop in for half of a day to make time for other programming.
Join fellow global health trainees and early-career professionals for a hands-on policy advocacy workshop focused on practical strategies for advancing policy change. Global health professionals are increasingly called upon to engage in policy spaces, yet many lack formal training in how to translate evidence, lived experience, and professional expertise into effective advocacy. This pre-conference workshop will provide participants with concrete tools for engaging policymakers, crafting compelling policy messages, and navigating advocacy pathways at the local, national, and global levels. Through interactive discussion and applied exercises, participants will have the opportunity to learn from peers, share experiences, and explore how advocacy can be integrated into diverse professional roles and contexts. This workshop is organized and facilitated by the CUGH Trainee Advisory Committee.
The annual GHECo (“gecko”) workshop will use active learning techniques to explore emerging themes in global health education. All are welcome to join us for a morning of collaboration, creativity, and productive engagement with practical tools for teaching in this turbulent time. The Global Health Educators Community (GHECo) provides professional development and networking opportunities for everyone who teaches global health courses, leads experiential learning programs in global health, mentors global health students and trainees, or administers global health degree programs.
While this interactive workshop will be in-person only, there are many other ways to engage with GHECo through monthly virtual meetings, webinars, and other activities. Sign up for the GHECo mailing list. This workshop will be co-sponsored by Teach Global Health.
Maternal and child oral health represents a critical yet often overlooked component of comprehensive MCH healthcare delivery. This interactive workshop aims to foster collaborative dialogue among the professionals and those in training to design MCOH policies, programs, and advocacy campaigns to improve oral health outcomes for mothers and children in specific contexts. The session combines evidence-based knowledge sharing with hands-on design thinking to address the multifaceted challenges in MCOH implementation.
How can the global health community co-design digital tools and leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to advance health equity? Explore the various categories of AI and machine learning, the differences between types of models, and how to shape AI effectively for communities worldwide. Hear from experienced guest speakers with practical insights from diverse roles, followed by an interactive session. Attendees will gain exposure to digital tool co-design and immerse themselves in realistic case studies. This workshop is suitable for students and professionals at all levels from any discipline, from medicine to public health to computer science to art and design.
Giving Voice to Values (GVV) is an innovative program designed to empower individuals with practical strategies to act on their values when facing real-world ethical dilemmas. Rather than asking “What is the right thing to do?”, GVV reframes the question as “How do we get the right thing done?”. Through preparation, practice, and the building of “moral muscle memory,” participants gain the skills to respond to ethical challenges with confidence and clarity. Originally developed in industry, this action-oriented approach has since demonstrated impact across sectors, equipping professionals to translate values into effective, principled action.
As global health challenges grow increasingly complex, shaped by changes in governance, national priorities, global health risks, and geopolitical uncertainty, operational strategies must evolve beyond siloed and traditional approaches. The next decade will demand stronger, more agile partnerships that bridge academia, government, multilateral organizations, private sector, and community actors. This session will explore how cross-sector collaboration can drive innovation, resilience, and sustainability in global health operations. Panelists will share lessons learned and emerging models of partnership, highlighting both barriers and opportunities to scale impact. Together, we will consider what operational shifts are most critical in the next 5–10 years post the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)-era to ensure global health efforts move from intent to lasting impact.
The Subcommittee on Masters and Undergraduate Degrees in Global Health (SMUDGH) invites participants to join us for an interactive (hybrid) workshop focused on the current challenges and future directions of global health education and training. As institutions navigate shifting funding landscapes, evolving workforce demands, and increasing calls for equity and impact, educators are being asked to rethink and justify how we prepare students for meaningful and successful careers in global health. Participants will leave with concrete ideas, resources, and connections to support students, programs, and institutions in an evolving global health landscape.
Hosted by the Subcommittee on Masters and Undergraduate Degrees in Global Health.
This workshop will open with the discussion of several critical One Health projects that pertain to global food security, safety and public health, followed by a brief film screening on current methods of addressing food security in East and South Africa. The afternoon session will be a discussion of how public-private partnerships can help with the implementation of One Health programs and other global initiatives.
By 2040, the majority of new cancer cases and deaths will occur in low- and middle-income countries. International research collaborations drive advances in cancer science by leveraging unique resources, talent, and populations worldwide. Training early-career investigators (ECIs) to lead and foster these partnerships is crucial. NIH’s international career development (K) awards support ECIs in developing research skills, finding mentors, and progressing toward independent research careers. This interactive session outlines the K award process and outcomes in global cancer research, featuring NIH staff, grantees, and grant experts. Participants can share and receive peer feedback on their specific aims during breakout discussions.
Held the day before the main conference, the Pre-Conference features a series of workshops that are free and open to the public. These interactive, half- or full-day sessions are designed to provide a platform to explore key topics, build skills, and promote collaboration and action planning around urgent issues in global health.
Interested in holding a workshop? Limited space is still available!