TOPHC 2023 Workshops
Following a successful virtual convention day one, The Ontario Public Health Convention (TOPHC) was pleased to welcome participants back to in-person workshops on day two on March 30. TOPHC 2023 marked the first time the convention had both a virtual day, held on March 27, and an in-person day, held on March 30.
Close to 400 public health professionals attended the five sold-out workshops on TOPHC day two. Three of the workshops were also accredited.
Reducing Stigma Related to STBBIs, Sexuality and Substance Use Through Trauma and Violence Informed Care
This interactive half-day workshop was facilitated by Dori Palmiere, Training Centre and Counselling Team Manager and Nathan Flaig, Training Centre Facilitator, both from the Centre for Sexuality in Calgary.
Participants learned about trauma- and violence-informed care (TVIC) and how to use this approach in their practice to challenge the stigma associated with sexually transmitted and blood borne infections (STBBIs), sexuality and substance use. The entire workshop was participatory in nature and had several activities and opportunities for discussion. For example, participants were asked to draw the person to their right, which was a transformational activity that explored TVIC concepts and power. In addition to learning practical tools and skills, participants learned about policies and practices that will help their organizations provide safer and more inclusive sexual health, harm reduction and STBBI-related services.
Back to Our Roots, Exploring the Future: An interactive health promotion workshop
This full day workshop was led by Andrea Bodkin, Senior Program Specialist from Public Health Ontario, along with panelists who work in health promotion: Robb Johannes from Fred Victor Centre, Rachel Coghlin from Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health, and Kendra Willard from Halton Region Public Health.
The workshop was designed with the understanding that many health promoters have spent the past few years supporting COVID-19 pandemic response work and away from their core health promotion work. The workshop aimed to re-familiarize health promoters with key concepts by first exploring the roots of health promotion, including what health promotion is and how the Ottawa Charter continues to be relevant 35 years after its publication. The panelists helped guide participants through the fundamentals of health promotion, while applying these and the five interconnected action areas from the Ottawa Charter – policy, environments, action, skills and service – by working through community case studies. In addition to helping to reignite passion for the work of health promotion, the workshop was beneficial to professionals in public health, community health, and those new to the field, who wished to learn more about health promotion.
Improving Indigenous Health Outcomes Through a Model of Culture as Healing
This full-day workshop was led by Alexandra Barlow, Policy and Program Analyst, Population Health, and Dr. Nicole Blackman, Director of Integrated Care and Clinical Services, both from the Indigenous Primary Health Care Council (IPHCC).
The workshop aimed to bring participants on a journey to understanding how colonization and current day anti-Indigenous racism has impacted the Indigenous population. The facilitators led a traditional Indigenous smudging ceremony, which was also offered throughout the workshop day for those who wanted to smudge after sharing and learning. Since Indigenous cultural safety starts with awareness, facilitators and participants took the time to discuss important topics and start their cultural safety journeys. Topics included:
The root cause for poor Indigenous health outcomes
The Model of Holistic Health and Wellbeing and the importance of incorporating culture as Healing into public health programming
Potential opportunities to include Traditional Healing into public health programming
Identifying and addressing barriers to incorporating Indigenous cultural safety strategies into public health programming.
The facilitators shared resources, including the IPHCC resource NE’ IIKAANIGAANA “All Our Relations” Toolkit” Guidance for Creating Safer Environments of Indigenous Peoples, which is available here.
Risk Communication in a post-pandemic era: Rebuilding trust for science in public health
This full-day workshop was led by Dr. Ronald Brecher, Toxicologist, and Trevor Smith Diggins, Risk Communication Specialist, both from Partners in Science and Risk Communication. This workshop examined how the pandemic has changed the way we communicate about public health and introduced participants to a disciplined, methodical framework for communicating effectively about risk. Participants also learned the principles of effective messaging to communicate the organization’s position on issues related to risk, using plain language suitable for diverse audiences. As Smith Diggins noted, “We don’t need to use big words to sound smart…We can use clearer language and sound even smarter.”
Public Health Management of Syphilis: An evolving epidemic
This afternoon half-day session was led by Patrick O’Byrne, Nurse Practitioner, and Lauren Orser, HIV/Syphilis Case Manager, both from the Infectious Diseases Case Management and Sexual Health Services Unit at Ottawa Public Health.
Facilitators provided education on syphilis and congenital syphilis, and how to facilitate appropriate follow-up of syphilis diagnoses in public health case management practices. During the workshop, participants reconstructed current syphilis management processes to improve public health follow-up and patient care outcomes. They learned how to interpret syphilis laboratory results and classify cases based on clients’ clinical presentation. Resources of interest include:
Canadian Pediatrics Society: Congenital Syphilis: No longer just of historical interest
British Medical Journal (BMJ): Syphilis, Patrick O’Byrne & Paul MacPherson
A big thanks to everybody who attended TOPHC 2023 and helped make it a success! We look forward to welcoming you back in 2024. You can read about TOPHC 2023 day one here.
