Conferences
In alignment with our mission “To contribute to the wellness of Alaska Native people by monitoring and reporting on health data, providing technical assistance, and supporting initiatives that promote health,” the Alaska Native Epidemiology Center (EpiCenter) organizes a variety of annual and semi-annual conferences in collaboration with our Tribal Health Organization leaders, other ANTHC departments, and State of Alaska partners.
Alaska Maternal Child Health and Immunization Conference
We are excited to announce that Alaska Maternal Child Health and Immunization (MCHI) and the Alaska Public Health Association (ALPHA) are partnering to offer a joint summit in 2026! The summit will take place January 20-22, 2026 at the Dena’ina Center in Anchorage, AK.
The 2026 theme will be Stronger Together: Strengthening Public Health Through Partnerships. Along with sessions focused on public health in Alaska, there will be an MCHI track through the 3-day conference focusing on Maternal, Family, Child, and Immunization health.
Early registration is now open! Ticket includes a one-year ALPHA membership ($100 value).
The Alaska Maternal Child Health and Immunization Conference brings rural and urban health professionals together to learn about best practices and tools for the prevention of key and emerging MCH and family health issues.
The Alaska MCHI conference is a collaboration between the Alaska Division of Public Health and the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium’s Alaska Native Tribal Epidemiology Center and is held every two years.
Alaska Maternal Child Health & Immunization Conference Objectives:
- Engage a multidisciplinary audience in sharing experiences and ideas that advance collaborative innovations.
- Promote best practices and tools for the prevention of key and emerging maternal child and family health issues in Alaska.
- Present up-to-date research and recommendations on issues of concern to health professionals and policy makers working in rural and urban Alaska.
Stay tuned or sign up to receive information about the January 20-22, 2026 conference here: http://alaskamchconference.org/
Save the Date
MCH&I Conference
in partnership with ALPHA!
Tribal Public Health Summit
The goal of the first Alaska Tribal Public Health Summit is to bring together Tribal leaders and staff from across the state to work on creative, collaborative solutions in a changing public health landscape.
Tribal Public Health Summit Objectives:
- To find solutions and tools for challenges confronted by Tribal Public Health.
- To elevate the power of Tribal Health and health equity, and the impacts they have on the health of Alaska Native and American Indian populations.
- To invest purposefully in public health infrastructure in alignment with ANEC, CHS, ANTHC goals, Tribal goals, Healthy Alaskan goals, and with results of the Tribal Public Health Assessment.
- To create belonging and strengthen public health partnerships among the Alaska Tribal Health System.
The Tribal Public Health Summit will take place February 18-19, 2026, at the Sheraton Hotel, Anchorage.
ANTHC Scientific Advisory Council (SAC) Annual Meeting
Sharing Knowledge, Serving Communities, Strengthening Tribal Public Health”
The Scientific Advisory Council’s purpose is to collect information on Tribal leaders’ health priorities and training needs, offer useful data and presentations, and get feedback on ANTHC Epidemiology Center projects.
The SAC meeting is an annual gathering that is invite-only and is scheduled for September 15, 2026. For more information on SAC, please email anepicenter@anthc.org.
2025 Annual SAC Meeting
Held at the Southcentral Foundation’s NUKA Building, the event brought together over 100 attendees, including representatives from 12 Tribal Health Organizations, the Alaska Division of Public Health, education partners, and CDC.
The SAC meeting serves as a vital platform for strengthening partnerships in Epidemiology, as well as for all involved, by sharing key data and resources and gathering input from Tribal leaders on health priorities and training needs. Attendees engaged in rich discussions and provided valuable feedback on Epidemiology-led projects, shaping the future direction of the department.
The agenda featured a diverse array of sessions, including:
- THO presentations on innovative public health projects supported by IHS Tribal Epidemiology Center grant funding and technical assistance from the ANTHC Epi team.
- Updates on tribal health assessments, data sharing agreements, and the upcoming Tribal Public Health Summit.
- Internal ANTHC collaborations and comprehensive updates on Epi program activities and key epidemiological data updates.
To foster community and connection, the meeting also included networking activities, with bingo emerging as a crowd favorite, filling the room with laughter and engaging conversations.
This year’s SAC meeting highlighted the importance of collaborative partnerships and community-driven strategies in advancing public health for Alaska Native communities. The ANTHC Epidemiology Department extends its gratitude to all attendees and partners who contributed to the event’s success and looks forward to continued collaboration in the year ahead.
Participant comments:
“I made a connection with an ANTHC employee working on shared goals. I look forward to hearing more about their work.”
“I have renewed faith in public health in Alaska, and increased knowledge in the EpiCenter’s functions.”