Students, prepare to get schooled

In the field of public health, you never stop learning. Indeed, one could say the public health professional is a perpetual student (but thankfully without the perpetual tuition). However, for the actual public health student — those of you still busy studying for your degree — there's no classroom quite like the APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition.

In addition to the hundreds of scientific sessions, social occasions, and networking and career opportunities planned for this year's meeting in Boston, APHA's very own Student Assembly has been busy creating events especially with the public health student in mind. This year marks the Assembly's 9th Annual National Student Meeting, which will take place a day before the Annual Meeting officially kicks off on Saturday, Nov. 2, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. The student meeting, which has a theme of "Movin' and Groovin' All Around the World," will feature a variety of topics, including how to become a successful global health professional, the Affordable Care Act and its impact on young people, and how to survive graduate school. To learn more about the National Student Meeting and how to register, click here.

Beyond the National Student Meeting, the Student Assembly hosts a speed mentoring event, a welcome and orientation session, and an evening social mixer. The Assembly also organized a number of scientific sessions, such as "Student Topics in Best Practices Around the World" on Monday, Nov. 4, which will feature discussions about oral health, disparities and cultural competencies, and much more.

Of course, there's also the massive Public Health Expo, which hosts hundreds of booths, many of which may be of particular interest to students. There'll be more than 30 booths representing schools of public health, nearly 20 booths dedicated to health research as well as booths related to just about every discipline within public health, from occupational health and safety to minority health to nutrition. And, of course, don't forget to stop by the Everything APHA section of the Expo, which hosts APHA CareerMart, APHA Press and the Electronic Information Center.

Even if you're not coming to this year's Annual Meeting, there's still an opportunity to check out what you're missing. On the last day of the meeting, on Wednesday, Nov. 6 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health hosts a free Student Visit Day at the Public Health Expo to encourage young people to explore careers in public health. To register for the event, click here. 

For more on what the APHA Student Assembly has in store for Boston, visit the online program.

— K.K.