Space is limited in the Pre-Conference Workshop track sessions. All tracks will also feature access to the Swap Meet session – an opportunity for informal discussion and demonstrations on surveillance topics of interest.
Continuing Medical Education Accreditation
Concurrent Pre-Conference Tracks
Track 1: Public Health Syndromic Surveillance Systems Training and Demonstrations
Target audience: Healthcare and public health professionals new to syndromic surveillance.
Description: This workshop will begin with an overview of syndromic surveillance that is designed to introduce public health professionals to syndromic surveillance. It will be followed by a series of interactive demonstrations of how select syndromic surveillance systems are being utilized (systems include, ESSENCE, BioSense, NCDETECT – North Carolina, and EpiCenter – Ohio). The latter half of the workshop will provide an opportunity for users of the demonstrated systems to provide an introduction to those unfamiliar with the systems.
Track 2: Using Gaming Tools to Train Disease Surveillance Professionals and Investigate Next-Generation Capabilities
Target audience: Healthcare providers, researchers, and public health practitioners.
Description: This workshop will provide an overview of game-based tools for training and technology evaluation. The philosophy and methods of “serious gaming” will be presented through case studies and interactive examples developed by MIT Lincoln Laboratory in collaboration with the Boston Public Health Commission. Workshop participants will also have an opportunity to play through a public health game, Epidemiological Disease Investigation Game (EpiDIG). *Please note that Track 2 participants will be broken up into two groups to play EpiDIG. While one group is playing, the other will have the opportunity to attend one of the other concurrent track sessions. Space is limited and on a first come, first serve basis.
Track 3: Spatial Analysis of International Surveillance Data Using Open-Source Software
Target audience: Healthcare providers, researchers, and public health practitioners
Description: This workshop will introduce participants to the basic concepts of spatial epidemiology and statistics, geographic information systems (GIS), and open-source GIS software. It will include simple tips for good cartography; identify common pitfalls in spatial analysis; and show worked examples of digital cartography and exploratory spatial data analysis. Quantum GIS – a free, open source GIS – will be used as a teaching platform. However, all essential concepts are transferable to other software packages (such as ArcGIS). No prior experience with GIS is required, though familiarity with maps and spatial analysis will be helpful.
*Please note that the below agenda is subject to change.
.png)