CRPHI Leadership Members Present at National Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) Conference in Portland, Oregon

Dr. Joe Visker and Chera Sevcik present about the CRPHI model.

The 2026 Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) National Conference held in Portland, Oregon was an inspiring gathering of public health leaders, educators, and change-makers from across the country. This year, our team contributed two research posters that highlighted collaborative approaches to strengthening rural public health systems and addressing emerging health topics through education and policy.

Strengthening Rural Public Health Through Academic Partnership: Dr. Joe Visker & Chera Sevcik

One of the poster presentations focused on showcasing the regional model designed to support rural public health capacity through academic collaboration. The poster displayed an overview of the CRPHI regional approach, including a visual model of the framework, a geographic map illustrating the participating counties, and several sections summarizing methods, results, and implications. It emphasized how linking local public health agencies with university partners can help expand resources, leverage student support, and enhance community health initiatives.

Key themes included:
• Approaches to workforce development in rural settings
• Lessons from multi-county collaboration
• Early outcomes and practical takeaways for other regions

Dr. Wendy Schuh presents about Cannabis Policies

Policy to Practice: How Safe Cannabis Policies Spark Change: Dr. Wendy Schuh and Vlada Gladis

The other poster presentation explored the intersection of cannabis legalization, educational messaging and considerations for professionals. This poster included graphics showing survey results, educational campaign materials, and a breakdown of messaging strategies used to inform communities about safety considerations. It also featured sections summarizing considerations for local public health and law enforcement, emphasizing the importance of coordinated messaging and evidence-based community education.

Highlights included:
• Baseline data illustrating community perceptions and behaviors
• Examples of outreach materials created to address safety and youth prevention
• Policy implications for rural communities navigating new cannabis laws

Displaying these two posters allowed CRPHI to share innovative strategies rooted in rural collaboration, community engagement, and responsive public health practice. Conference attendees showed strong interest in both projects, sparking valuable conversations and opening the door to new partnerships.

CRPHI is proud to represent the work of local public health agencies and community-based partners across southern Minnesota. Bringing our regional innovations to SOPHE reinforces how much can be achieved when communities, practitioners, and academic partners work together to improve public health outcomes.