Rutgers School of Public Health Center for Public Health Workforce Development Hosts 30th Public Health Symposium
The symposiums are hosted annually during National Public Health Week
For three decades, the Rutgers School of Public Health’s Center for Public Health Workforce Development has brought together public health professionals, scholars, and students for its annual Public Health Symposium—an event dedicated to knowledge-sharing, collaboration, and forward-thinking solutions.
As we celebrate the 30th anniversary of this symposium with “The Work Ahead: Practical Strategies for Long-Term Impact” on Monday, April 7, 2025, during National Public Health Week, we invite you to reflect on our journey and engage in conversations that will shape the future of public health.
Looking Back: Three Decades of Impact
The inaugural Rutgers Public Health Symposium, “The Health Agenda for the 21st Century – Will Public Health Be There?”, was held on April 15, 1996. Since then, the symposium has tackled a wide range of critical public health topics, including global health, aging, occupational safety, health disparities, science communication, climate change, and more.
The event was founded by the late Shirley Smoyak, RN, PhD, a distinguished Rutgers University professor for over 60 years, with the vision of creating a dedicated space for lifelong learning in public health. Smoyak’s belief that education should never stop remains at the heart of this annual gathering.
“I learned a great deal about the symposium and its impact from Shirley Smoyak,” said Mitchel Rosen, director of the Center for Public Health and Workforce Development. “Over the years, we've had the honor of taking lead in shaping this symposium—bringing the public health community together to learn, connect, and support one another while advancing efforts to keep public health strong in New Jersey and beyond.”
“Here at Rutgers, we've been kicking off National Public Health Week every year for the past 30 years on the Monday of Public Health Week,” said Colleen McKay Wharton, program director at the Center for Public Health and Workforce Development. “What's special about this event is that it brings together not only public health professionals in the governmental public health arena, but it brings together students, it brings together other nonprofits, it brings together other academic public health programs, grassroots organizations, and all public health associations in the state.”
Rutgers School of Public Health Dean Perry N. Halkitis echoes these sentiments: “The annual Public Health Symposium is one of the most important events we host, bringing together professionals from across the state to exchange ideas, discuss critical issues, and strengthen the public health profession.”
Looking Forward: The Work Ahead – Practical Strategies for Long-Term Impact
This year’s symposium, “The Work Ahead: Practical Strategies for Long-Term Impact”, will highlight actionable strategies, innovative solutions, and community-driven initiatives to build sustainable systems for the future of public health.
From infectious disease outbreaks and environmental health crises to persistent health inequities and chronic disease burdens, public health professionals continue to navigate complex and evolving issues. This milestone event will serve as a platform to reflect on lessons learned, explore current challenges, and chart a course toward a healthier, more equitable New Jersey.
Featured Speakers:
- Reena Chudgar, MPH – Senior Director, Public Health Systems and Services, Public Health National Center for Innovations (PHNCI)
- Diane Hill, PhD – Assistant Professor of Professional Practice, Rutgers SPAA; Assistant Chancellor, Rutgers University–Newark
- Tekisha Dwan Everette, Ph.D., MPA, MPH, CPH – Executive Vice President, Trust for America’s Health
Join us as we honor 30 years of public health excellence and innovation.
