The Global Health Conference Midwest Research Symposium provides scientists from a variety of fields the opportunity to present their work on improving healthcare and establishing health equity for people globally. We provide an interdisciplinary platform that allows academic discussion to reduce social inequalities in healthcare and provide solutions for modern world problems.
The Global Health Conference Midwest is taking place the weekend of February 20, 2026. The conference is an opportunity for professionals, faculty, and students to connect, collaborate, and engage virtually in pertinent and emerging topics in global health!
For clarification, these Research Symposiums will be separate symposiums, but will both be held on the afternoon of February 21, 2026.
If your research falls under: Community initiatives, Advocacy and Health Policy, Education, Basic, Translational, and Clinical Research, Global System studies, and Health Immersion, please apply to the GHCM research symposium.
If your research falls under: traditional healing, holistic medicine, disparities in mental health and substance abuse resources, and advocacy/health policy related to Native American health, please apply to the Great Plains Native American Health Symposium (GPNAHS).
ABSTRACT INSTRUCTIONS:
1. A title must be included along with the names of all authors and their affiliations (department and institution).
2. Provide the significance of your work in a concise, descriptive manner (i.e.. Background, Methods, Results, Conclusion).
3. Abstracts are to be written in English and are not to exceed 300 words.
4. For reviewing and scheduling purposes, abstracts will be classified into thematic areas. We are encouraging submissions in the following areas:
Community initiatives
Advocacy and Health Policy
Education
Basic, Translational, and Clinical Research
Global System studies
Health Immersion
This year, we are excited to introduce a Creative Arts category to the Research Symposium. Submissions may include visual art, photography, essays, poetry, or other creative expressions. We welcome works that explore topics related to global health, Native American health and wellness, or this year’s conference theme: “Access and Advocacy in Our Changing Global Health Landscape.” You may submit your work under either GHCM or GPNAHS, depending on which best aligns with your piece.
AWARDS:
At the conference, poster presentations and creative arts pieces will be reviewed by a judging committee and evaluated according to relevance and potential impact on global health, educational value, originality and clarity of presentation. Results of the selection process will be announced during the awards ceremony later that day.
Three participants will be selected based on the strength and originality of their submitted abstracts to deliver a 7-minute oral PowerPoint presentation, followed by a 3-minute Q&A on their project. Oral presenters will be chosen by the judging committee, and selected individuals will be notified 3 weeks in advance if they are chosen to present. Participants will have the option to opt out of consideration for an oral presentation.
THE DEADLINE FOR ABSTRACT SUBMISSION IS JANUARY 26, 2026.
GHCM submissions:
2024 Poster Winners
GHCM
Advocacy/Health Policy
Distinguished Poster Award: Taylor Billion – “Demographic and regional trends in substance use disorder-related deaths from 1999-2021”
Community Initiatives
Distinguished Poster Award: Dr. Huascar Rodriguez & Dr. Armanda De La Cruz – “Effect on BMI Percentile of Children Ages 2-6 Years in Batey Dos, Dominican Republic, by Nutrition Program Implementation
Global Health
Distinguished Poster Award: Caleb Yeh & Crystal Huang – “Childhood Blindness and Vision Impairment in West Africa: Public Health Measures and Implications for Systemic Health”
Basic science/Clinical Science
Distinguished Poster Award: Marco DiBlasi – “Pseudomonas aeruginosa fusion protein vaccines containing the th17-stimulating antigen POPB improve mucosal IgA responses and protective efficacy in mice after intranasal immunization”
Education
Distinguished Poster Award: Andee James – “Utilizing Registered Dieticians to Improve Nutrition Education for Medical Students”
GPNAHS
Native American Advocacy & Policy
Distinguished Poster Award: Paul Wilkinson – “Survival Trends of Native American Astrocytoma Patients by Age: A National Analysis”
Disparities in Mental Health/Substance Abuse Resources
Distinguished Poster Award: Mohammad Al Kurnas – “Disparities in Native American Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma: An NCDB Analysis”
Global Health Conference Midwest
February 20 - 21, 2026
