National Public Health Week 2026
Career Advancement • Entrepreneurship • Impact
April 6-10, 2026
Register For Our FREE Virtual Events!
Monday
Time: 12PM ET
Location: Virtual Via Zoom
Federal agencies are cutting. Funding is frozen. DEI programs are being restructured or eliminated. And public health professionals everywhere are asking the same question: what do I do now?
This session brings together four leaders who have worked inside government, academia, consulting, and federal health policy to give you real answers to that question. Not talking points. Not empty encouragement. Real strategies from people who have navigated exactly what you are facing and built something on the other side of it.
Co-hosted with the American Public Health Association during National Public Health Week.
Meet the Speakers:
Dr. Angelica Hardee — Vice President of Community Impact, American Heart Association | Adjunct Professor, University of Cincinnati and Tulane University Dr. Hardee leads multi-million dollar community health initiatives across Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky and has built a career that spans health systems, academia, and corporate. She knows how to get and keep positions of power in this industry.
Dr. Desiree "Dr. Des" Strickland — CEO, Strickland Health Consulting | Founder, The Public Health Club Dr. Des built a six-figure consulting business on the side of her full-time job, left federal-adjacent work behind, and created one of the largest public health career communities in the country. She talks about money, strategy, and career pivots without the sugarcoating.
Dr. Ashley Townes — Assistant Professor, Texas Woman's University | Former CDC Professional Dr. Townes left the CDC and built a research career grounded in social epidemiology, health equity, and Black women's health. She has been featured in national media and has the receipts to back it up.
Ryann Hill — Founder and CEO, Indigo Hill Strategies Ryann has held senior roles at the Federation of American Hospitals, SCAN Health Plan, and across federal government. She now runs her own firm focused on Medicare, aging, disability policy, and government relations. She knows where the money goes — and where it is still flowing.
Tuesday
Time: 12PM ET
Location: Virtual via Zoom
Public health entrepreneurship is not just trending. For a lot of professionals, it is becoming necessary.
With federal funding frozen, government roles disappearing, and the traditional career path growing less reliable by the month, more public health professionals at every career stage are asking: can I build something of my own?
The answer is yes. And this session is going to show you how.
Dr. Des and Dr. Brittny Wells — public health entrepreneur, CEO, and one of the sharpest business minds in this space — sit down for a candid conversation about what it actually looks like to build a business in public health in 2026. Whether you are early in your career and thinking about a side hustle, mid-career and ready to start consulting, or a senior leader considering going independent, this session is built for you.
No theory. No hype. Just a real conversation about money, strategy, and building something that lasts.
Wednesday
Time: 6:30PM ET
Location: Virtual Via Zoom
Nobody in your MPH program told you that public health would take you to the NFL. Or that your epidemiology training could land you a seat at a Fortune 500 company. Or that your research skills were worth six figures in pharma.
But public health professionals are already doing all of this.
This session features three women who took their public health training somewhere unexpected — and built careers that are more interesting, more flexible, and more lucrative than the traditional path. Dr. Des hosts the conversation and breaks down exactly how you can start positioning yourself for the same.
Meet the Speakers:
Juliana Bushnell — Data Scientist, National Football League (NFL) Juliana is an injury epidemiologist using public health methods to protect professional athletes. Before joining the NFL, she worked as a senior injury epidemiologist at the Texas Department of State Health Services and analyzed game film and performance data for the league. She is one of the clearest examples of what happens when you stop limiting your public health skills to the obvious places.
Natrina Kennedy — Associate Divisional Strategy Consultant, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois | Adjunct Instructor, Loyola University Chicago | DrPH Candidate, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Natrina took her public health training into the corporate world and has not looked back. She manages a $4M+ annual budget for community health initiatives, led a three-year colorectal cancer screening campaign across 314 Illinois zip codes, and teaches the next generation of public health leaders while finishing her doctoral degree. Corporate health strategy is a real career, and Natrina is proof.
Brittani W. — Principal Consultant, LW Consulting Group | Former Senior Observational Researcher, Ontada Brittani spent years leading oncology research studies in real-world evidence and health economics outcomes research — a space most public health programs never mention and one that pays extremely well. She managed sponsor relationships, published in peer-reviewed oncology journals, and now runs her own consulting firm working with pharma companies, research institutions, and nonprofits.
The Business of Public Health Summit
📍Atlanta Georgia
Atlanta is where the public health entrepreneurship community comes together — and the Mixer is where the real conversations happen. Come network with speakers, attendees, and fellow public health professionals who are building businesses and breaking into new careers. This is not a name-tag-and-business-card situation — expect intentional, structured networking designed to help you walk away with real connections. If you are going to be in Atlanta for the Summit, do not skip this.
The Business of Public Health Summit is the only event built specifically for public health professionals who are serious about building income, growing a brand, and operating like a CEO. On April 10th at The Gathering Spot in Atlanta, you will spend a full day with entrepreneurs, consultants, and thought leaders who are doing the work — no panels about awareness months, just strategy you can use the week you get home. With only 80 seats available, this room stays intimate, focused, and high-level. If you have been waiting for the right room to be in, this is it.