Meeting Dates: February 23: Pre-Conference Day (Grantees Only) February 24–February 26: Conference

Abstract Submission

TRACKS2009: The Future of Environmental Public Health
CDC's National Environmental Public Health Tracking Conference
Call for Abstracts
Oral and Poster Presentations

SUBMISSION DEADLINE

The abstract submission period is now over.

Presentation and poster abstracts should address the conference goals and demonstrate:

• Achievements in local, State, and national tracking network development
• Current and future tracking challenges and solutions
• Tracking's role in
  • Identifying and responding to public health issues
  • Investigations that have improved our understanding of the health and environment link
  • Investigations that identified emerging issues
• The importance of communication, outreach, and collaboration to this effort

CONFERENCE TRACKS

Four tracks are proposed for the conference. The themes for these tracks correspond to key components of the Tracking Program that require interdisciplinary approaches and collaborative thinking. Presentations within each track will include a discussion of relevant lessons learned and how these can be applied as we look to tracking's future.

Track One: Tracking at the Intersection of National Data Standards and Local Health Priorities

This track focuses on new standards, tools, and methods for:

• Information technology and informatics
• Environmental public health data
• Environmental public health indicators and measures
• Metadata

The work leverages national standards or emerging technologies to address local priorities and may promote interoperability among information systems. Presenters are encouraged to provide a narrative on approaches that were evaluated and, if possible, demonstrate how the work addressed issues unique to their population.

Track Two: Bridging the Information Technology and Epidemiology Divide

This track focuses on ways in which statistics, spatial analysis, and epidemiologic methods can be combined with database methods to retrieve and analyze data that answer epidemiologic questions. Presentations will provide strategies for addressing the methodological challenges for tracking and environmental epidemiologic research, including:

• Integrating epidemiologic and statistical methods within modern data storage and retrieval environments to facilitate data use
• Spatial and temporal analysis methods
• Visualization methods and issues
• Issues of ecologic analyses
• Validity and privacy issues in utilizing small area health statistics
• Exposure assessment

Track Three: Tracking for Action

This track focuses on how national, State, or local programs are using tracking or surveillance, data, and technical resources to take action to improve the health of communities. It will include presentations providing specific examples of public health problems and the role tracking played in addressing those problems, answering the following questions:

• What was the problem?
  
• What did tracking do?
• What is or the potential improved public health?

In addition, it will provide an opportunity to discuss how State and city tracking networks can be designed and built to support the needs of State and local public health as well as other partners in environmental public health including the general public and policymakers.

Track Four: Creating Knowledgeable Communities and Individuals

This track focuses on challenges, solutions, and opportunities to broaden the reach and relevance of the Tracking Program and its potential impacts on environmental public health. Specifically, it will explore innovative and evidence-based communication strategies or interventions to address new and existing audiences of tracking. Presentations will examine the role of tracking in:

• Health marketing
• Social marketing
• New electronic media
• Interactive media (e.g., blogs, social networking, virtual worlds, etc.)
• Behavioral science
• Health literacy
• Other aspects of health communication and health education

This track will also include presentations that discuss communication approaches in the context of Web development such as user-created content and search as well as he use of Web technologies to facilitate partnerships and collaborative work teams.

ABSTRACT GUIDELINES

Appropriate Content

The content described in the abstract must be appropriate for at least one of the following formats:

• 20-minute podium presentation and 10-minute question-and-answer period
  
• 80-minute panel presentation and 10-minute question-and-answer period
• Poster presentation

Oral Presentation Format

A. You must designate one of the following tracks for each abstract submitted:

• Track One
  
• Track Two
• Track Three
• Track Four

B. Font Style and Size
All abstracts must be submitted using only Courier or Times New Roman typestyles, in either 10 or 12 point. Smaller-size type or other type styles are not permitted.

C. Abstract Length
The size limit of the body of the abstract is 250 words or less (excluding authors, institutions, title, tables, and figures).

D. Abstract Outline
Based on the tracks designated in Section A, the following abstract sections will be required:

• Relevance/Significance
  
• Approach/Methodology
• Results
• Conclusions and Recommendations

E. Abstract Preference
During the submission process, indicate your preference for 1) either a podium or poster session or 2) poster session only.

F. Biosketch(es)
Presenter biosketch(es) must be provided as part of the submission process for the purpose of introduction. Biosketch(es) are not required for any contributors who will not be presenting. Limit biosketches to 150 words or less.

Poster Presentation Format

Materials may be displayed on the 4' x 8' poster board provided. An information package will be sent to you if your poster is accepted.

Abstract Submission Confirmation Point of Contact

E-mail Tanya DeVonish at tanya@blseamon.com to confirm your submission has been received.

SELECTION PROCESS

All abstracts submitted prior to the deadline and adhering to the guidelines will be considered. A limited number of abstracts will be accepted for oral and poster presentation, based on conference time/space constraints and the competitive review process. The Abstract Review Panel will make selections using a blind review process, including assignment to either a podium or poster session.

Each abstract will be assigned a code number at the time it is submitted. This number will be used for tracking purposes and as an identifier during the blind peer review process.

Abstracts that do not follow the guidelines will not be sent for review. Because the review panel convenes shortly after the submission deadline, no late submissions will be accepted.

No individual will have more than one podium and one poster selected for the conference.

You will be notified concerning the status of your submission by Friday, December 12, 2008.

For technical assistance or questions about the online submission process, contact Tanya DeVonish at tanya@blseamon.com.

For questions about the abstract review process, contact Faye Floyd at ffloyd@cdc.gov.

IMPORTANT DATES AND REMINDERS

Online Registration Deadlines
Early Bird Registration Closes...........................December 1, 2008 ($175)
Registration Opens...........................................December 2, 2008–February 9, 2009 ($225)
Onsite Registration...........................................February 24–26, 2008 ($275)

Abstracts Submission Deadline........................November 14, 2008
Conference Pre-day.........................................February 23, 2009
Conference Dates............................................February 24–26, 2009


Abstract Review Criteria for Selection

Abstracts will be judged within each category according to the following criteria:

1) Relevance/Significance –Does the abstract represent research, a program, or a project that is unique, new, different, or creative?
          a. Contribution to surveillance, tracking, or environmental public health
          b. Fit with conference theme
          c. Innovation

2) Approach/Methodology – Are objectives clearly stated? Are findings included and do they correspond to the objectives?
          a. Scientific quality
          b. Data collection and analysis (as appropriate)

3) Results – Can the research, program, or plan be applied elsewhere? Is it useful to identifiable Tracking Network stakeholders?
          a. Tracking Network users
          b. Data stewards and data providers
          c. Non-funded States

4) Conclusions and Recommendations
          a. Impact
          b. Implications/next steps
          c. Relevance to the community

Abstract submission form