2026 MN SOPHE Summit 'Uninterrupted: Public Health In Action!'

2026 MN SOPHE Health Education Summit

Uninterrupted: Public Health in Action

The annual Minnesota Society for Public Health Education (MN SOPHE) Health Education Summit brings together health educators, public health professionals, students, community partners, and emerging leaders from across Minnesota for a day of learning, connection, and practical inspiration.

This year's theme, Uninterrupted: Public Health in Action, recognizes a public health workforce that continues to move forward - even as challenges emerge, technologies evolve, and the needs of our communities change.

Public health doesn't stand still, and neither do the people doing the work.

Join us in Winona for an engaging day exploring leadership, health and democracy, innovative partnerships, resilience, artificial intelligence, and the future of public health practice. Through interactive sessions, panels, poster presentations, and networking, you'll hear from professionals working across Minnesota and leave with practical ideas you can bring back to your organization and community.

Whether you're a student, new to the field, or a seasoned public health professional, the Summit is an affordable, in-person opportunity to connect with colleagues, learn from leaders, discover what's working across Minnesota, and leave reenergized for the work ahead.

What to Expect

Attendees will have opportunities to:

• Explore emerging issues and innovations shaping public health and health education.
• Strengthen leadership, communication, and relationship-building skills.
• Learn from innovative partnerships and projects happening across Minnesota.
• Examine practical applications and ethical considerations of artificial intelligence in public health.
• Connect with public health professionals, students, and partners from across the state.
• Discover opportunities to become involved with MN SOPHE and the broader health education profession.

Refreshments

Lunch, coffee, and snacks are included with registration. We encourage attendees to help us reduce waste by bringing a reusable beverage container.

Conference Objectives

By the end of the Summit, participants will be able to:

• Describe how SOPHE's strategic priorities support a prepared, connected, and engaged public health workforce and identify opportunities for professional involvement.
• Apply strengths-based and relationship-centered approaches that build resilience and effectiveness in public health practice.
• Analyze emerging public health challenges and identify opportunities for health educators to strengthen systems, policy, and community trust.
• Evaluate opportunities, ethical considerations, and practical applications of artificial intelligence to enhance health education and public health practice.
• Identify partnership strategies and innovative practices that strengthen health education initiatives and improve community health outcomes.
• Develop leadership and communication strategies that increase participants' ability to influence systems change, build partnerships, and advance health equity.

Who Should Attend?

Anyone interested in improving the health and well-being of Minnesota communities is welcome.

The Summit is designed for public health professionals, health educators, community partners, students, educators, and others interested in strengthening public health practice. You do not need to be an MN SOPHE member to attend.

Registration Discounts & Support

We want the Summit to be accessible to as many people as possible.

Students: Looking for sponsorship support? Reach out to us to discuss available options.

Groups: Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more attendees.

Contact sopheminn@gmail.com to learn more about student support or group registration.

Venue

Winona State University – Great River Ballroom460 Washington St. Winona, MN

Continuing Education Credits

CECH approval pending.

An application has been submitted to award Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES®) and/or Master Certified Health Education Specialists (MCHES®) up to 6 Category I Continuing Education Contact Hours (CECH), including up to 6 Advanced-level CECH.

The National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. has approved SOPHE and its chapters as designated multiple-event providers of CECH in health education.

Photo Release

MN SOPHE may take photographs and video during the Summit for educational and promotional purposes. By participating in the event, attendees acknowledge that they may appear in event photography or video.

For questions about the 2026 MN SOPHE Health Education Summit, contact sopheminn@gmail.com.