OCS Conference Funding Submission

Event Photo:

2023 APHA annual meeting and expo sign leading to the exhibit hall

Entrance to the Georgia World Conference Center

Aerial shot of the exhibit hall

Name: Brian Angulo

Degree Program: MPA IN HEALTH POLICY & MANAGEMENT

Specialization: HPM-International Policy and Management

Conference Host Organization/Institution: APHA

Conference/Competition Name: 2023 American Public Health Association Annual Meeting and Expo

Conference Term: Fall Conference Start Date: 2023-11-12 Conference End Date: 2023-11-15

What were your takeaways from this conference/case competition?
The opportunities to contribute to public health through policy and research are immense. Based on recent trends in data gathering and AI technology, there is a growing market for professionals and academics who can look beyond the numbers and tell a story which captures the multi-faceted challenges facing the American health care system (which is deeply entwined with global health trends).

How will your participation in this conference/case competition support your professional development?
The connections I have made through the conference have helped shaped my understanding of where current needs lie within the health policy and management field. Participation in this conference has also given me more confidence in expanding upon my relationships with the trail-blazing students and faculty at NYU. It has become more apparent to me that dialogue is the central component to solving many, if not all, of the most pressing public health challenges. And NYU, within the heart of New York City, has the greatest opportunities to promote the collaboration needed to ignite this exchange of ideas.

What are some next steps or action items this conference/case competition inspired?
This conference has inspired me to take further steps to attend more local conferences, so that I may gain a deeper understanding of the chief concerns of public health leaders and professionals in our rapidly changing global society. It has also inspired me to connect like-minded individuals in my network so that we can collectively think more critically about what kind of change we can affect into our current health system.

What are some tips or best practices that you would like to share with other Wagner students who attend a conference/case competition?
It is crucial to do research beforehand on the companies, NGOs, governmental agencies, and institutions that are contributing to the conference. Make a detailed list of what events, talks, panels, presentations, etc. interest you based on this list of contributors, and think critically about what it is that you want to take out of the conference. With these components in mind, create an itinerary of what you intend to do in a way. Doing so will keep you excited about what you are learning while also grounded toward a specific goal, whether that be networking, building competencies, etc.

Wagner Areas of Impact: Cities, Education, Government, Health, Inequality, Race, and Poverty, International Development, Leadership