DES MOINES, Iowa, April 5, 2021 — Mercy College of Health Sciences is celebrating National Public Health Week this week, April 5-9, 2021. The Public Health Conference of Iowa, presented by Brain Health Now, will be held virtually as part of National Public Health Week. This year’s theme is Public Health in Action: Taking on a Pandemic, Health Equity, Natural Disasters and More. A highlight of the week will be APHA President José Ramón Fernández-Peña and NEHA CEO Dr. David Dyjack in a joint session titled, Tears to Motivate Us.

The week includes public health speakers, concurrent session presentations from colleagues across the state, poster presentations, wellness breaks, a virtual exhibitor hall, and opportunities to connect virtually with public health friends near and far. A few event highlights include:

Student Day- April 8, 2021
Students are truly the backbone of National Public Health Week. That’s why each year the American Public Health Association designates one day of the week as Student Day! This year, Student Day is Thursday, April 8. Whether you are on or off campus this year, or taking classes remotely, there are plenty of ways to get involved. Join one of the free webinars outlined below.

Lessons in Mentoring webinar — April 8, 11- 12 p.m. CDT
This webinar, in partnership with APHA staff and Student Assembly, features an expert mentoring panel discussing their lessons in mentoring. This 1-hour webinar is designed for public health professionals and health-related disciplines to gain insight from experienced mentors on how to get started in mentoring, how to build these mentor/mentee relationships, how to be an effective mentor during the pandemic, and much more. We hope you will join us to learn from this dynamic panel! To attend this event, please RSVP here.

"Get Hired after Graduation" young professionals panel — April 8, 4-5 p.m. CT
For students about to graduate into an uncertain future, now's a great time to hear from young professionals who navigated the pandemic to secure their public health and health-related roles. Join us for this 1-hour webinar and discussion featuring a dynamic panel of young public health professionals and learn tips and tricks from those who have been in your shoes. To attend this event, please RSVP here.

To register for the week long event, visit iowapha.wildapricot.org/event-4126514

Mercy College PLUS's Bachelor of Science in Public Health program is 100% online and prepares students to fulfill the national, state, and local demand for more professionals to address global and environmental concerns related to infectious diseases, emergency preparedness, natural disasters, chronic diseases, injury and violence, and air and water quality issues that impact the health of every community. To learn more about Mercy College's public health program, visit plus.mchs.edu/Academics/Public-Health.

About Mercy College of Health Sciences
Mercy College of Health Sciences is the only private Catholic college in central Iowa and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Located in downtown Des Moines, Mercy College prepares graduates for service and leadership in the healthcare community with a wide range of bachelor, associate, and certificate programs. Mercy College’s liberal arts and sciences education develops compassionate caregivers and leaders. Visit www.mchs.edu or call (515) 643-3180 to learn more.