2026 Universtiy Symposium on Population Health: Reimagining the Workforce

Reimagining the Workforce for Population Health

The fourth annual University Symposium on Population Health will be held Thursday, November 5, 2026, from 12–3:15 p.m. CT in the Harper Center, Ahmanson Ballroom, on Creighton’s Omaha campus. A reception and networking opportunity will immediately follow the symposium.

Register today. Continuing education credits are available. 

This year’s University Symposium on Population Health will explore the theme “Reimagining the Workforce for Population Health,” bringing together leaders and professionals to consider the roles and responsibilities of tomorrow's healthcare workforce and ensure a continued focus on advancing health and health equity for all. See the session schedule and information below.

Keynote speakers for the 2026 symposium include Mandy Cohen, MD, MPH, former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and former chief operating officer at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and current national advisor at Manatt Health; and Jared Augenstein, MA, MPH, senior managing director with Manatt Health.

The event is free and hosted by Creighton’s Institute for Population Health.

12 p.m. — Welcome & Keynote: Speakers will explore the role of AI and technology in advancing health and health equity, highlight non-healthcare roles that have a sizable impact on community health, and discuss the powerful impact of cross-sector collaboration. Featuring national perspectives from Mandy Cohen, MD, MPH, former Director of the CDC, former COO at CMS, and former Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, and Jared Augenstein, MPH, MA, Senior Managing Director at Manatt Health and the agency’s lead on telehealth and technology in healthcare.The keynote session will be jointly hosted by the Institute for Population Health, the Kingfisher Institute, and the Institute for Adaptive Intelligence. Learn more and register today.

1:25 p.m. — Leveraging Communications and Journalism to Enhance Population Health and Empower the Workforce: Communications can be a critical, yet often overlooked, tool in efforts to understand and improve the health of a given population. This session highlights the diverse roles of communications with special attention given to the application of journalism to impact population health. Speakers will discuss creative strategies to address health misinformation, leverage media to support community health, and partner more effectively across sectors.

2:20 p.m. — Extending Professional Expertise Across Sectors to Advance Population Health: Improving health and advancing health equity for our communities requires integration of diverse expertise, bridging healthcare, public health, business, education, and more. This session highlights regional examples of how multi-sector partnerships and emerging roles drive measurable change. Speakers will share actionable insights on how cross-industry partnerships break down silos, address social determinants of health, and strengthen our workforce.

3:15 p.m. — Closing and Reception