Each year since 1946, members of the Kansas Public Health Association nominate outstanding individuals to be recognized for their service to public health in Kansas. Recognize a deserving individual and/or organization today by clicking on each link below the award description for the following categories below.

Submissions must be in no later than July 21, 2025. Award recipients will be announced during the conference.

At the business meeting and luncheon, KPHA members will vote for new additions to the board. Make your board nominations by July 21, 2025. Elected candidates will be announced during the conference.

KPHA’S PUBLIC HEALTH CONFERENCE OF KANSAS

Welcome to our conference hub where you will find all you need to know about KPHA’s Annual Public Health Conference of Kansas that will be held on September 23-24, 2025.

We are excited to have as our opening keynote speaker, Georges C. Benjamin, MD. Dr. Benjamin is one of our nation’s most influential physician leaders and is the Executive Director of the American Public Health Association.

Also speaking at the conference is national health-care leader, R. Shawn Martin, Executive Vice President and CEO of the American Academy of Family Physicians. Martin was named by “The Hill” as one of the top 10 health care lobbyists in Washington, D.C. To view his keynote live on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, at 8:45 am (CT), click on the link below. Passcode: 603712

MARTIN’S KEYNOTE: “NOW IS THE TIME FOR COURAGE”

We are thrilled to have Secretary Stanek from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE). Secretary Stanek will address the condition of public health in Kansas during these uncertain times.

Randy Bowman, Executive Director of the Kansas Association of Local Health Departments, focuses on strengthening local health departments for the purpose of improving and protecting the health of all Kansans.

Joining us as our closing keynote is Ed O’Malley, President and CEO of the Kansas Health Foundation. O’Malley brings a proven record of system-level leadership from his 15 years building the Kansas Leadership Center into an internationally recognized training hub.

This page will be updated periodically, so check back for more information.

CONFERENCE ATTENDEE REGISTRATION

Sponsors and exhibitors can register here:

SPONSORS AND EXHIBITORS APPLICATION

Presenter and poster submission applications are due by June 15, 2025. Candidates will receive official notification of acceptance standings no later than July 2, 2025.

CALL FOR PRESENTERS AND POSTERS APPLICATION

If you have any questions, feel free to e-mail us at kpha@kpha.us or call 913-717-8734. We are looking forward to seeing all of you in the fall!

CONFERENCE RATES:

Non-members | $400 (includes 1 year KPHA membership!)

KPHA Members | $325

KPHA Members discounted rate* | $200
(*annual income is $45k or less)

KPHA Members discounted rate | $150
(Use promo code 25KPHACOMMITTEE)

CONFERENCE LOCATION:

Eugene M. Hughes Metropolitan Complex

5015 East 29th Street, North
Wichita, Kansas 67260

HOTEL INFORMATION:

Hyatt Place at Wichita State University

4301 E. 19th Street, North
Wichita, Kansas 67208

$149/Night + $5.38 University Fee (Full breakfast and free parking). Block rate will be held until 8/22/25 or until full. Use the link below to book your room under the conference block or call 316-364-4700.

Aloft Wichita

3642 Oliver Street
Wichita, Kansas 67220

$104-$130/Night (Onsite restaurant and free parking). Use the link below to book your room or call 316-744-1100.

OTHER NEARBY HOTELS:

Hampton Inn & Suites Wichita- Northeast ($90/expedia – $102)- 2433 N. Greenwich Road, Wichita, Kansas 67226 Phone: 316-636-5594

Hilton Garden Inn Wichita- ($120/expedia)- 2041 N. Bradley Fair Parkway, Wichita, Kansas 67206 Phone: 316-219-4444

KANSAS PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION 2025 W-9

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE: (Click HERE to see the full agenda)

Tuesday, September 23, 2025 | Eugene M. Hughes Metropolitan Complex

8:00 am – Registration Opens | Light Breakfast | Visit Exhibitors & Posters
9:30 am – Welcome
9:45 am – General session – opening keynote – Dr. Georges Benjamin
10:45 am – Break | Visit Exhibitors & Posters
11:00 am – Breakout session #1
12:00 pm – Lunch & Awards Ceremony (Click HERE to submit award nominations no later than July 21, 2025)
1:30 pm – Breakout Session #2
2:30 pm – Break | Visit Exhibitors & Posters
3:00 pm – Breakout Session #3
4:00 pm – Break | Visit Exhibitors & Posters
4:15 pm – Closing general session – panel – Secretary Janet Stanek, Dr. Georges Benjamin, & Randy Bowman
5:15 pm – Closing remarks
5:30 pm – Conference adjourn

Wednesday, September 24, 2025 | Eugene M. Hughes Metropolitan Complex

8:00 am – Registration Opens | Light Breakfast | Visit Exhibitors & Posters
8:30 am – Welcome
8:45 am – General session – opening keynote – R. Shawn Martin
9:45 am – Break | Visit Exhibitors & Posters
10:15 am – Breakout #4
11:15 am – Break | Visit Exhibitors & Posters
11:30 am – Lunch & KPHA Membership Meeting (Click HERE to submit a nomination for a board member no later than July 21, 2025)
12:45 pm – Breakout #5
1:45 pm – Break | Visit Exhibitors & Posters
2:00 pm – General session – closing keynote – Ed O’Malley
3:15 pm – Closing remarks and bingo winner drawing
3:30 pm – Conference adjourn

GENERAL SESSION SPEAKERS:

**Georges C. Benjamin, MD is known as one of the nation’s most influential physician leaders because he speaks passionately and eloquently about the health issues having the most impact on our nation today. From his firsthand experience as a physician, he knows what happens when preventive care is not available and when the healthy choice is not the easy choice. As executive director of the American Public Health Association (APHA) since 2002, he is leading the Association’s push to make America the healthiest nation. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE…

**Janet Stanek is the Secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), appointed by Governor Laura Kelly. KDHE has three divisions, including Health, Environment, and Health Care Finance, which includes the Medicaid program (KanCare) and the State Employee Health Benefits Plan, where Stanek previously served as the Director. Prior to her role with the State Employee Health Benefits Plan, Stanek spent more than 35 years in various healthcare leadership. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE…

**R. Shawn Martin serves as executive vice president and chief executive officer for the American Academy of Family Physicians. The AAFP is the medical specialty organization representing 128,300 family physicians and medical students nationwide. Martin works with the AAFP Board of Directors on the mission, strategy and vision for the AAFP and provides representation to other organizations, including medical, public, and private sectors. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE…

**Ed O’Malley joined the Kansas Health Foundation in 2022 as president and CEO. O’Malley came to KHF after 15 years at the Kansas Leadership Center, a non-profit organization committed to fostering leadership for stronger, healthier and more prosperous Kansas communities. He joined KLC, which is primarily funded by KHF, in 2007 as its founding president and CEO—taking the organization from a new startup to an internationally recognized leadership training hub. Under O’Malley’s leadership, KLC played a significant role increasing the number of diverse and underrepresented groups in civic leadership throughout Kansas. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE…

**Randy Bowman is the Executive Director of the Kansas Association of Local Health Departments (KALHD). Bowman joins KALHD from the Kansas Department of Corrections, where he most recently served as the Executive Director of Public Affairs. He has a combined 20-plus years in management, budget development, and legislative leadership. Bowman has a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Washburn University in Topeka. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE…