Chronic
Disease
Academy
Connect. Engage. Innovate.
Chronic
Disease
Academy
Connect. Engage. Innovate.
Skills You Can Use
Three days of connecting, engaging, and innovating.
Connect - September 15, 2026
Establish meaningful partnerships and networks across multidisciplinary teams and sectors to strengthen collaborative approaches to chronic disease prevention and control.
Welcome
Presented by:
Jeanne Alongi, DrPH, MPH
Interim Chief Executive Officer
National Association of Chronic Disease Directors
Lea Susan Ojamaa, MPH
Deputy Director for the Bureau of Community Health and Prevention
Massachusetts Department of Public Health
Keynote Address
Parfait Bassalé
Artist, reconciler, and storyteller, Parfait Bassalé is a belonging strategist dedicated to co-creating a world where everyone is a friend.
In his keynote address, Parfait will illustrate the power of storytelling for catalyzing social change. The discussion will inspire and illustrate the power of storytelling to drive social and community impact; introduce foundational and guiding principles for effective storytelling that effects change; and help you practice storytelling for social impact.
Networking Break
One of the best parts of CDA is connecting with peers across the chronic disease prevention field, even virtually. You can build a profile, browse who else is attending, and start conversations or video chats one-on-one, just like you would in the hallway between sessions at an in-person conference.
Workshops
Bridging Community and Clinical Care: A Culturally Responsive Coaching Approach to Hypertension Control
Emily Gratopp, MS, NBC-HWC, University of Nebraska
Natalie Sehi, MS, University of Nebraska
Public Health Intelligence: Using AI & Tech to Communicate and Act on Chronic Disease Data
Sandte Stanley, PhD, MPH, MA, National Association of Chronic Disease Directors
Networking Break
One of the best parts of CDA is connecting with peers across the chronic disease prevention field, even virtually. You can build a profile, browse who else is attending, and start conversations or video chats one-on-one, just like you would in the hallway between sessions at an in-person conference.
Closing Comments
Presented by:
Jeanne Alongi, DrPH, MPH
Interim Chief Executive Officer
National Association of Chronic Disease Directors
Engage - September 16, 2026
Develop strategies to meaningfully engage communities, stakeholders, and populations in prevention initiatives that promote health for everyone and drive sustainable behavior change.
Opening Plenary
Presented by:
Shelley Davis Boyd, MBA, CAE, CEC
Shelley Davis Boyd is the Founder, President & CEO of Essdee & Co., a firm dedicated to elevating leaders through training, coaching, and keynote experiences that integrate strategy and soul.
In this engaging keynote, Shelley will introduce The Civility Code™, a practical framework for strengthening emotional intelligence, improving communication, and building trust during times of uncertainty.
Lightning Talks
Data and Technology Session
Partnering to Improve Melanoma Reporting and Build the Cancer Registry Workforce
Amy Bashforth, MPA, Ohio Department of Health
Emily Stewart, MBA, Ohio Cancer Incidence Surveillance System
Emily Bunt, MA, Ohio Cancer Incidence Surveillance System
Chronic Bridge – A Configurable Public Health Data Utility for the Comprehensive Chronic Disease Portfolio
Rishi Tarer, J Michael Consulting
Jyothi Kondamrui, J Michael Consulting
Craig Newman, J Michael Consulting
The New Architecture of Care – Building the Outcome-Driven Health System of Tomorrow
Nzinga Lowe, Pygmalion Health
Mapping Latino Diabetes Disparities on Long Island – Leveraging Tract-Level Data to Identify Structural Drivers and Spatial Risk Pockets
Dr. Shijian Li, The State University of New York Old Westbury
Pascale Fils-Aime, MPH, The State University of New York Old Westbury
Communication and Storytelling Session
Creative Alliances in Public Health: Leveraging Professional Marketing Expertise to Scale Campaign Impact
Bethany West, The Manahan Group, LLC
Jessica Gamponia Wright, BSN, The Manahan Group, LLC
Tammy Harper, The Manahan Group, LLC
Cutting Through the Noise: A Physician-Led Health Communication Framework for Chronic Disease Prevention in the Age of Misinformation
Berry Pierre, DO, MPH, FACOI, Pierre Medical Consulting Inc.
Localizing the Lancet – Bringing Evidence Back Home
Daniel Piñon, BSc, Cameron County Public Health
Shiann Moraida, MPH, Cameron County Public Health
Mindful Actions To Change Health, Empowering Self (MATCHES) Project
Frank Sutton, MPH, CPH, BEAMS
Alassad Rasheed, PhD, STAND CDC
Taking Chronic Health into Their Own Hands
Shirley Madewell, MPH, New York State Department of Health
Partnership Session
Centering Community Voice in Coalition Building
Stef Bugasch, MPH, Wisconsin Department of Health
Powerful Partnerships: NACDD, ASTHO, and CHWs Collaborate to Address Dementias and
Support Older Adult Health
Megan DeNubila-Griffin, MPH, CPH, Association of State and Territorial Health Officers
Corinne Gillenwater, MPH, Association of State and Territorial Health Officers
Mara Galic, National Association of Chronic Disease Directors
Dawn Wiatrek, PhD, National Association of Chronic Disease Directors
Building Cross-Sector Partnerships for Chronic Disease Prevention
Dr. Agaezi Sonya, MHA, DHSc, Charmony Foundation
Reaching the End Zone: A Tennessee-Centered, Community-Led PSE Playbook for Chronic
Disease Prevention
Emma Davis, PhD, MPH, CPH, MCHES, Tennessee Department of Health
Integrating Community Health Workers and Diabetes Prevention Within Medicaid
Managed Care Systems
Dr. Agaezi Sonya, MHA, DHSc, Charmony Foundation
Digital Poster Sessions
Data and Technology
Cancer Screening Rates Among Patients with Substance-Related Disorders
Erica Lamy, MS, Rhode Island Department of Health
Pragmatic Use of Artificial Intelligence for Qualitative Program Evaluation for CDC-funded Chronic Disease Public Health Strategies DP-23-0004 and DP-23-0020
Stephen Morabito, MA, Tennessee Department of Health
Charline Nguyen, MPH, Tennessee Department of Health
Communication and Storytelling
Chronic Disease Management and Prevention – Implementing Clinical Pharmacists into a
Patient’s Care Team
Simonne Hrinkova, BS, New Jersey Department of Health
Taking Chronic Health into Their Own Hands
Shirley Madewell, MPH, New York State Department of Health
Strengthening Chronic Disease Care Through Strategic Partnerships in Rural Ohio
Nicole Smith, MPH, MCHES, Ohio Department of Health
Sara May, MA, Ohio Colleges of Medicine Government Resource Center
Melanie Plotke, PharmD, Innovation Horizons
Partnerships
Revising the Colorado Cancer Plan: Data Driven, Partner Led
Ian Kahn, MPH, Colorado Department of Public Health
Community Health Worker-Led Health Coaching Boosts Referrals and Use of Self-Measured Blood Pressure Program
Ashley Biscardi, MBA, Quality Insights
Prepared to Engage: Equipping Dental Professionals to Turn Dental Visits Into Heart Health Conversations
Jesabel Rivera, MPH, American Heart Association
Mitizi Cardona, American Heart Association
Implementing Self-Measured Blood Pressure Monitoring
Naomi Kremen, MPH, CHES, New Jersey Department of Health
Simmonne Hrinkova, BS, New Jersey Department of Health
Model Municipal Tobacco Ordinance Through Cross-Sector Partnership
Isabella Osorio Cuellar, BA, New Jersey Department of Health
New Jersey Quit Centers: Building Partnerships with Community-Based Organizations and
Health Systems to Expand Access to Tobacco and Nicotine Cessation Services
Isamar Paredes, BS, New Jersey Department of Health
Partnership Engagement to Develop an Asthma Control State Plan in Washington, DC
Radha Vakkalagadda, MPH, DC Health
Elizabeth Capaci, MPH, DC Health
Strengthening Partnerships to Improve Colorectal Cancer Screening: Outcomes from the Michigan Colorectal Cancer Control Program
Bethany Hollender, MPH, MSW, Michigan Department of Health
Brandon Thomas, PhD, Michigan Department of Health
Spotlight Sessions Round 1
Co-Creating Long COVID Solutions Through State, Academic, and Community Partnerships
Sameera Ahmed, MD, MBA, Michigan Department of Health
Expanding Cancer Screening Through Strategic FQHC Partnerships: Strengthening Ohio’s Breast and Cervical Cancer Program
Dawn Ingles, MA, Ohio Department of Health
Javiona Hannon, LPN, Heart of Ohio Health Center
Targeting Prevention: A Data-Driven Action Plan to Improve Diabetes Eye and Kidney Screening
Tami Ross, RD, LD, CDCES, MLDE, FADCES, Kentucky Department of Health
Building Healthier Communities Through Evidence-Based Programs
Erin Bley, Montana Department of Health and Human Services
Melissa Dale, MPH, Montana Department of Health and Human Services
Spotlight Sessions Round 2
Collaborative Assistance with HPV Self-Collection Implementation in Minnesota Clinics
Carlie Koberstine, MPH, Sage Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Program
Christina Nelson, MPH, Sage Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Program
Replicable Approaches for Strengthening Colorectal Cancer Screening Through Partnerships
Bethany Hollender, MPH, MSW, Michigan Department of Health
Brandon Thomas, PhD, Michigan Department of Health
A State-Nonprofit Partnership to Improve Chronic Care Medication Use for Pennsylvania’s Seniors Using Academic Detailing
Thomas Snedden, Pennsylvania Department of Aging
Jerome Avorn, MD, Harvard Medical School
Lori Wiviott Tishler, MD, MPH, Alosa Health
Paul Fanikos, RPH, MPH, HA, Alosa Health
Ellen Dancel, PharmD, MPH, Alosa Health
Innovate - September 17, 2026
Identify emerging technologies, data solutions, and creative approaches to address chronic disease challenges and enhance public health program effectiveness.
Workshops
Building Readiness for Systems Change through Virtual Simulation-Based Learning
Jessica Lawrence, MS, Carin Guidance
Sterling Ta’Bon, MSPH, Carin Guidance
Emily Shore, MPH, Carin Guidance
Partnering Across Public Health for Healthy Aging
Renée Kidney, PhD, MPH, Minnesota Department of Health
Patricia Takawira, MPH, Minnesota Department of Health
Spotlight Sessions
Supporting Blood Pressure Monitoring Beyond the Clinic: Building Community-Clinical Self-Monitored Blood Pressure Infrastructure in Utah State
Shannon Robinson, MPH, Utah Department of Health and Human Services
Cassie Cowdell, MPH, Utah Department of Health and Human Services
Strengthening Local Health Improvement Coalitions Through a Statewide Community of Practice
Lisa Marr, Maryland Department of Health
Christa Thornton, MPH, Maryland Department of Health
Connecting the State: How Alaska DOH Facilitates Statewide Coalitions to Link Clinical, Community, and Public Health Partners in Chronic Disease Prevention
Ashley Minaei, MPH, CPH, Alaska Department of Health
Shawn House, Alaska Department of Health
Lorne Carroll, MPH, Alaska Department of Health
Closing Plenary
Ema Roloff
Ema Roloff is the Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer at Roloff Consulting. In her role, Ema helps business leaders navigate digital change with clarity and confidence.
Ema's session will introduce a three-part framework for digital leadership: Clarity, Authority, and Growth. This framework is about leading people first, process second, and technology third, even when the pressure says otherwise. Attendees will get a practical, human-centered approach to leading with intention, building trust at scale, and turning their team's relationship with technology from a source of anxiety into a source of confidence.
NACDD Annual Business Meeting
NACDD General Members are invited to join us for our Annual Business Meeting. Attendees will hear
updates about the Association, celebrate the 2026 Impact Award Winners, and welcome new NACDD
Board Members to their roles.