2nd Annual Illinois Weather and Public Health Response Summit 2026
About the Event
Join us for a two-day conference focused on weather-related impacts to the health of humans, animals, and the environment.
This dynamic, statewide event brings together public health professionals and community leaders working to protect and promote health across sectors. The summit will highlight innovative approaches, strengthen partnerships, and support coordinated responses to weather-related public health challenges.
What to Expect?
- Engaging speakers and expert panels
- Practical strategies and real-world examples
- Opportunities to connect across disciplines
- Tools to strengthen coordinated action at the local and state level
Event Details
Date: October 6-7, 2026
Location: I Hotel & Conference Center, Champaign, IL
Contact: For questions or early inquiries, contact: OSI-Events@uillinois.edu
Who Should Attend?
- Public health professionals
- Local health departments
- Health care providers and administrators
- Emergency preparedness staff
- Community organizations
- Community health workers
Coming Soon!
Day 1: Tuesday, October 6, 2026
| Time | Session | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Health Response | Sustainability/One Health | Data (Emerging Data) | |
| 7:30 AM — 8:30AM | Check-In + Breakfast |
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| 8:30 AM — 9:00AM | Welcome Address |
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| 9:00 AM — 10:00AM |
Illinois Changing Weather Patterns Trent Ford Dr. Joseph Trujillo-Falcón |
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| 10:15 AM — 11:00AM |
From Assessment to Action: Using CASPER to Strengthen Community Resilience to Extreme Weather Brandon Paetznick Peter Dejonge |
Beyond the Forecast: How Extreme Weather Impacts Farmer Mental Health Josie Rudolphi |
The Illinois Three-Dimensional Mesonet: Advancing Weather Monitoring and Forecasting for Public Health Kelvin Droegemeier Jennie Atkins, Jeff Trapp, Steve Nesbitt, Trent Ford, Praveen Kumar, Marc Miller Illinois Monitoring & Analytics Platform (IMAP) for One Health Anuj Tiwari |
| 11:15 AM — 12:00PM |
Snug Tight: Keeping the Human Connection in Emergency Communications Allie Boman Emily Mayer, MPH |
From Planetary Crisis to Classroom: Designing a Public Health Education Framework around Biodiversity and One Health Sheetal Khedkar Rao, MD, MS Dr. Babatunde Olowokure |
NWS Decision Support for Extreme Heat Ed Shimon Mike Bardou |
| 12:00 PM — 12:45PM | Lunch |
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| 12:45 PM — 1:45PM |
A Survey of Health Impacts of Environmental Change Jack Hermann, DVM, MPH, DACT Center for One Health Illinois Epidemiology and Biostatistics |
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| 2:00 PM — 2:45PM | Ready Together: Preparing Illinois Families of Children with Complex Medical Needs for Extreme Weather Ebonie Zielinski Kelly Wyman |
Evolving Malaria Risk and Illinois' Laboratory Response: Results from an IDPH Statewide Survey Sarah Love Doug Mang'anda |
Working Session on Illinois Health Explorer for LHD or DPH Attendees Facilitator: Ian Brooks |
| 3:00 PM — 3:45PM | IPHMAS Past, Present, and Future Jamie Byrd Jennifer Blazis |
The Role Natural Resource Managers Can Play in Reducing the Risk of Epizootic Outbreaks in a Changing Environment Mike Eichholz Iris Holmes Guillaume Bastille-Rousseau |
Determining the Impact of Climate through Descriptive and Predictive Modeling of Illinois Firearm Injuries and Overdoses Leslie Wise, PhD Megan Koch, MPH, MPA, BS |
| 4:00 PM — 5:00PM |
When Home Isn't an Option: Health, Housing, and Extreme Weather Eugenia Olison, M.Ed., LPC Dr. Dana Madigan |
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| 5:00 PM — 5:15PM | Day 1 Closing Remarks |
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Day 2: Wednesday, October 7, 2026
| Time | Session | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Health Response | Sustainability/One Health | Data (Emerging Data) | |
| 7:30 AM — 9:00AM | Check-In + Breakfast |
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| 9:00 AM — 10:00AM |
Kankakee Health Department Response to March 10, 2026 EF3 Tornado John Bevis Cara Becker |
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| 10:15 AM — 11:00AM |
Public Health All-Hazards Planning for Extreme Weather Events Tyler Woodard |
Actionable Inclement Weather Resilience Toolkit for Providers at Federally Qualified Health Centers Kyra VanDoren Tyson Kirsch-Holtz |
Emergency Department Visits and Heat-Related External-Cause Visits Forecasting in Illinois Public Health Regions Machine Learning Based Approaches for Preparedness Biraj Neupane The Impact of Heat and Cold Events and Social Vulnerability on Emergency Department Visits in Illinois Duaa Shalan County-Level Heat and Poor Health in the Continental U.S.: An Incremental Spatial Modeling Approach Mahjabin Kabir Adrita |
| 11:15 AM — 12:00PM |
United Dignity: A Regional Functional Exercise in Tornado Fatality Management Kristin Chenille Escobar Alvarenga, MD Hilary S. McElligott, M.D. Judith M. Lukas, RN Tammy Mayer, D-ABMDI Wendell W. Brewer, MPA, CEM®, IPEM |
Behavioral Health Hospital Evacuation Jamie Beauvais, AAS, Az-IC, CEM, CHS, PDS Beyond the Generator: Strengthening Long-Term Care Resilience Mark McCarville Healthcare Resilience During a Community Water Emergency: Lessons Learned from the 2025 Skokie Water Main Failure Mona Shah Carolyn Hines |
CECHE Data Core Services: How We Can Partner with You on Weather and Health Data Melissa Fiffer Rafiga (Rafa) Gasymova Empowering Data to Action at UIC CECHE: A Community-Engaged Multimodal Health, Weather and Nature Dashboard Sanjib Basu |
| 12:00 PM — 12:45PM | Lunch | ||
| 12:45 PM — 1:45PM |
A Heart-Pounding Evening with Reed Timmer, Dominating the Storm Reed Timmer America's Most Famous Storm Chaser |
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| 2:00 PM — 2:45PM |
GROW Institute: Addressing Public Health Problems Through Youth-Led Solutions Alice Cusick Abigail Hernandez, Sarah Dietzan, Sheetal Rao, Saria Lofton |
Preparing Healthcare Professionals for Increased Poor Air Quality Days Mimi Guiracocha, DNP, AE-C |
Working Session on Illinois Health Explorer for LHD or DPH Attendees Facilitator: Ian Brooks |
| 3:00 PM — 3:45PM | Plenary Session |
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| 3:45 PM — 4:00PM | Closing Remarks |
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Coming Soon!
Approved government rates are listed based on each hotel’s website and may vary. Please confirm current rates directly with the hotel when booking. If reserving under the government rate, valid government-issued ID matching the reservation name is required at check-in.
| Home2 Suites by Hilton | Holiday Inn Champaign | Hilton Garden Inn |
|---|---|---|
| Government Rate: $110/night 2013 South Neil Street, Champaign, IL 61820 Parking: Included |
Government Rate: $110/night 101 Trade Center Drive, Champaign, IL 61820 Parking: Included |
Rate: $159/night (ask if government rate is available during booking) 1501 South Neil Street, Champaign, IL 61820 Parking: $6/night (included with reservation) |
Photography & Media Notice
We will be taking photos and videos during the conference. By attending, you grant the Illinois Department of Public Health and the University of Illinois System the right to use your name and/or photograph in print, electronic, or other media. If you do not grant such permission, please contact us at OSI-Events@uillinois.edu.
Venue Amenities
Wifi: IllinoisNet_Guest
- To access WIFI as a guest – open illinois.edu/guest, complete the guest registration form, accept terms of use, click “register” at the bottom of the page
Lactation Room: A lactation room will be provided during the event
Parking: Free parking available at I Hotel and Conference Center
Champaign-Urbana offers a unique blend of urban excitement with natural beauty. With a dynamic arts and culture scene, lively nightlife, local craft breweries, and historic tours of the city and university campus, Champaign-Urbana offers something for every traveler.
