Pre-Conference
April 9, 2026 | Washington Hilton
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!
Register for a Pre-Conference Workshop
Review and register for sessions of interest below!
Additional workshops will be added as the program is finalized.
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 crowded information landscape, great research needs more than publication—it requires communication. This interactive workshop equips global health academics with practical tools to amplify their work and translate evidence into impact. Participants will learn how to craft clear, compelling messages for diverse audiences—including policymakers, practitioners, and the public—and how to strategically use digital, visual, and social media platforms to extend their reach. Through hands-on exercises and real-world examples, attendees will gain confidence in sharing their science beyond academia, strengthening their ability to influence global health dialogue, policy, and action. Transform your research into a story that matters.
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.
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.
The future of global health depends on a robust public health workforce, and one of the strategies to evolve such a workforce is through adopting a mentoring / coaching approach. This interactive workshop focuses on disseminating the learnings and mentoring skills from the Indian experience of running a nationwide large-level virtual mentoring for 20,000 Community Health Officers (CHOs) working in Health & Wellness Centres (HWCs) across the country. Skills for provision of personal and professional mentorship to various cadres public health workforce through harnessing digital avenues will be unpacked.
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.
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.