Baltimore, MD
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The plenary session will be available to the public via livestream.
All agenda items are subject to change.
October 20, 2026
9:00 - 11:15 AM: Morning Plenary Session
Opening Remarks
Michael R. Bloomberg, WHO Global Ambassador for Noncommunicable Diseases and Injuries
A City Response to Overdose and Homicides
Jonathan Capehart, Co-Host, The Weekend, MS NOW
Brandon M. Scott, Mayor, City of Baltimore
From Vision to Impact: The Bloomberg American Health Initiative
Remarks
Ron Daniels, President, Johns Hopkins University
Interview
Moderator:
Meredith Cohn, Reporter, The Baltimore Banner
Panelists:
Dr. Joshua M. Sharfstein, Director, Bloomberg American Health Initiative, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Michelle Spencer, Deputy Director, Bloomberg American Health Initiative, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
ADOLESCENT HEALTH
Introduction
Shadille Estepan, Bloomberg Fellow, Born This Way Foundation
In Conversation: Youth Mental Health and Digital Media
Moderator:
Rebecca Ruiz, Senior Reporter, Mashable
Panelists:
Emma Vadehra, Director of Policy, New York State Executive Chamber
Dr. Pamela Y. Collins, Bloomberg Centennial Professor and Chair of the Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Panel: Youth Mental Health, Suicide, and AI
Moderator:
Rebecca Ruiz, Senior Reporter, Mashable
Panelists:
Laura Reiley, Advocate and Journalist, Cornell Chronicle
Emily Haroz, Director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Suicide Prevention, Co-Director of Research at the Center for Indigenous Health, and Lead, AI For HOPE initiative
A Focus on Rural Health
Remarks
Dr. Kelly Henning, Public Health Program Lead, Bloomberg Philanthropies
ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES
Introduction
Daniel Ryan, Bloomberg Fellow, U.S. National Park Service
Interview: Environment and the Changing Policy Landscape
Moderator:
Pien Huang, Correspondent, Science Desk, NPR
Panelists:
Carol Browner, Former Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Gina McCarthy, Chair, America is All In, Former White House National Climate Advisor, and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator
Panel: Advancing Environmental Health Through Advocacy and Policy
Moderator:
Pien Huang, Correspondent, Science Desk, NPR
Panelists:
Shelley Hearne, Distinguished Professor of the Practice and Co-Director of the Lerner Center for Public Health Advocacy, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Katrina Forrest, Executive Director, CityHealth
FOOD SYSTEMS FOR HEALTH
Introduction
Louie Martinez, Bloomberg Fellow, Roadrunner Food Bank
Keynote: Preserving Our Food Systems
Sean Sherman, Founder and Executive Director, NATIFS and The Sioux Chef
In Conversation: Food and Our Health
Sarah Todd, STAT News
Ashley Gearhardt, Professor of Psychology, University of Michigan
Remarks
Dr. Joshua M. Sharfstein, Director, Bloomberg American Health Initiative, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Michelle Spencer, Deputy Director, Bloomberg American Health Initiative, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
12:30 - 2:00 PM: Afternoon Plenary Session
Welcome Back Remarks
Dr. Joshua M. Sharfstein, Director, Bloomberg American Health Initiative, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Michelle Spencer, Deputy Director, Bloomberg American Health Initiative, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Remarks
Keshia Pollack Porter, Dean, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Remarks
Wes Moore, Governor, State of Maryland
In Conversation: The Intersection of Health and Technology
Rachel Cohrs Zhang, Health Policy Reporter, Bloomberg News
Dr. Monica Bharel, Global Clinical Lead for Public Health, Google for Health
ADDICTION AND OVERDOSE
Introduction
Tricia Bautista, Bloomberg Fellow, NYC Health + Hospitals
Panel: AI, Wastewater, and Addiction Surveillance
Moderator:
Pien Huang, Correspondent, Science Desk, NPR
Panelists:
Jackie Seitz, Privacy and Civil Rights Lawyer, Seitz Health Law
Carsten Prasse, Associate Professor, Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering and Bloomberg School of Public Health
In Conversation: Addressing Overdose in America
Dr. Joshua M. Sharfstein, Director, Bloomberg American Health Initiative, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Dr. Allison Arwady, Public Health Team, Bloomberg Philanthropies
VIOLENCE
Introduction
Elena Jackendoff, Bloomberg Fellow, Everytown for Gun Safety
In Conversation: Taking Action for Safer Communities
Vann R. Newkirk II, Senior Editor, The Atlantic
Monisha Henley, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs, Everytown for Gun Safety
Panel: Reducing Homicides and Overdoses
Moderator:
Vann R. Newkirk II, Senior Editor, The Atlantic
Panelists:
Daniel Webster, Bloomberg Professor of American Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Nab Dasgupta, Gillings Innovation Fellow and Senior Scientist, University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health
In Conversation: County-Level Suicide Prevention Data and Policy
Shannon Frattaroli, Director, Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Marjory Givens, Senior Advisor, University of Wisconsin-Madison Population Health Institute and County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
CLOSING
Closing Remarks
Dr. Joshua M. Sharfstein, Director, Bloomberg American Health Initiative, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Michelle Spencer, Deputy Director, Bloomberg American Health Initiative, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health