2025 CONFERENCE

Our 2025 annual conference was held Monday & Tuesday, September 15-16 at the University of Central Oklahoma's (UCO) Nigh University Center, 100 N University Dr, Edmond, OK 73034. Wondering what you missed? Review our agenda, check out our brief 2-page conference flyer, and read more about conference highlights below.

Call for Speakers & Research Abstracts

Our 2025 call for speakers and abstracts received the largest amount of submissions in over 4 years! We anticipate opening our call for session speakers and research abstracts around March of 2026. All presenters for our conference must be active OPHA members and register for the conference. Please note that conference registration fees are NOT waived for presenters.

Student Poster Contest & Winners

OPHA's Student Poster Contest was back with a bang! The 2025 conference included a student poster contest with cash prizes and recognition at our annual awards ceremony on Monday, September 15th. Prizes included $500 for 1st Place, $300 for 2nd Place, $200 for 3rd Place, and $100 for People's Choice. This year's cash prizes are generously funded through donations from OPHA’s Board Giving Fund. Students, your ideas and passion are what drive public health forward. Keep learning, keep growing—and know that your contributions matter! 

• 2025 First Place Winner: Enhancing Nutrition Counseling in Healthcare: The Impact of DUO for Health, presented by Madison Hemenway (OUHC)

• 2025 Second Place Winner: Cigarette Usage and Arthritis in Oklahoma: Findings from Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, presented by Remi Adeniyi-Jones (OSU) 

• 2025 Third Place Winner: Association Between Food Insecurity and Diet Quality of Pregnant Young Adults and Young Adults Parenting Young Children in Oklahoma, presented by Grace Mbroh (OSU)

• 2025 People's Choice Winner: Coping Styles and Perceived Barriers to Food Assistance Programs among Mothers with Low Income, presented by Tuba Khan (OSU)

Conference Awards

OPHA offers conference awards each year to celebrate and uplift public health professionals who are positively impacting public health outcomes and practice in Oklahoma. This year, OPHA announced both general and section awards! You may view award winners below and on our conference agenda. Please note that not all categories may have recipients each year.

Outstanding Educators – Kerry Morgan, PhD, MCHES® & Anne Pate, PhD

Outstanding Mentors – DJ McMaughan, PhD & Michelle Lessell, MPH

Rising Professional – Megan Buyckes

Distinguished Professional – Sara Low, MPH, CPH

Lasting Legacy – Jonás Osio Mata, MSW

Volunteer of the Year – Emily McDaniel, MPH

Emergency Prep & Response – Rebekah Doyle, PhD, MS, RN

Public Health & Promotion – A New Leaf

Policy Champion – Tommy Yap, MPA

Joan K Leavitt MD – Vivian Sanchez

Spring ‘25 Pam Rask Scholarship – Elliot Parker

Fall ‘25 Pam Rask Scholarship – Kaella Glenn

Continuing Education

OPHA offered at total of 10 hours CPH and CHES credits (NCHEC provider #101897) at our 2025 conference. Certificates of attendance and CEU credit certificates were distributed via email on October 15, 2025. If you requested a certificate and have not received it, please contact admin@okpublichealth.org.

UCO & Nigh University Center

OPHA expresses thanks to both UCO and the Nigh University Center for their partnerships this year!

Conference Hotel

A special thanks to the Hilton Garden Inn Edmond / Oklahoma City North for offering a block rate for our guests this year!

Thank You, 2025 Exhibitors & Sponsors!

OPHA hosts several events throughout the year! Organizations interested in sponsoring OPHA's 2026 National Public Health Week or our 2026 conference, please email mckenzie@okpublichealth.org or tracy@okpublichealth.org.