Sheraton Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
December 6-8, 2011
Description
The International Society for Disease Surveillance proudly celebrates its tenth annual conference dedicated to the advancement of the technology, research, and practice of public health surveillance. This unique gathering brings together a community of researchers and practitioners focused on monitoring, understanding, and improving population health. The conference presents scientific work at the juncture of innovative analytical techniques, progressive public health practice, and cutting edge informatics to support a timely, accurate, and informed response to emerging outbreaks of disease and other health threats. Come help us evaluate where we have been, explore where we are, and envision what can be as we work together to build the future of public health surveillance.
Proceedings
2011 ISDS Conference Proceedings (published in Emerging Health Threats Journal)
Agenda
To view the 2011 ISDS Conference agenda, please click here (pdf).
Pre-Conference Workshops
The overall goal of the Pre-Conference Workshops is to provide practitioners of public health informatics and surveillance epidemiologists with the tools and methods that will help them to advance the field of disease surveillance.
Educational Objectives:
- Demonstrate how advanced computer simulated game environments can assist disease surveillance and investigations using multiple data sources.
- Identify the basic characteristics of syndromic surveillance systems used by many state and local public health agencies.
- Translate the knowledge base in public health surveillance and public health informatics so that collaborative efforts with system developers and data providers result in positive outcomes for all stakeholders.
Public Health Syndromic Surveillance Systems Training and Demonstrations
Description
This workshop will begin with a 90-minute overview of syndromic surveillance conducted by Dr. Larissa May that is designed to introduce public health professionals to syndromic surveillance. It will be followed by a series of interactive demonstrations of how several syndromic surveillance systems are being utilized. 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.
Using Gaming Tools to Train Disease Surveillance Professionals and Investigate Next-Generation Capabilities
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.
Spatial Analysis of International Surveillance Data Using Open-Source Software
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.