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Home2026 June Abstracts

Professionalism and Advocacy: Achievements, Barriers, Complexities


June 3-5, 2026, in Scranton, NJ and/or virtually via Zoom

Advocacy—supporting oneself, others, and systems to promote equity and well-being—is a core responsibility of all healthcare professionals. This international hybrid conference invites health professions educators, clinicians, public health experts, and ethics professionals, as well as their trainees, to explore how different forms of advocacy align with and elevate professionalism. Through global perspectives and open discussions, we will examine achievements, barriers, and complexities in this vital area of professional conduct. We welcome abstracts highlighting creative, rigorous, and impactful work across learning, clinical, community, and system environments.
Submission Requirements
  • All presenters are required to register and pay for the conference. Pricing details will be announced in the coming days.
  • We welcome submissions related to Education, Clinical Care, Bioethics, and Public Health.
  • We aim for highly interactive sessions that relate to the conference theme and advance the field in general.
  • You can be a first author/presenter for one abstract only.
  • The committee reserves the right to make adjustments to the session type.
  • All sessions will be recorded and will be posted online after the conference.
    •  All presenters must agree to these terms.
Here is the link for the submission:
2026 June Abstract QR
2026 June Abstract Submission
The conference themes related to professionalism and change include, but are not limited to:
  • Generational Differences in the Importance of Advocacy for Healthcare Professionals
  • Advocacy Training Programs and Effective Teaching Methods
  • When to Advocate for Patients, Learners, Co-workers?
  • Self-Advocacy – A Key to Wellness and Success for Patients, Learners and Professionals
  • Intra- and Inter-professional Advocacy in Teams (e.g., Priorities Negotiations)
  • Who Needs Help - Patients, Providers, Systems?
  • International Perspectives on the Role of Advocacy in Healthcare
  • Advocacy and Professionalism: Balancing Opportunity and Boundaries
  • Advocating for Justice and Peace – An Ethical Responsibility of Healthcare Professionals?
Please select among the following session types and follow the submission instructions:
  • Panel Discussion - 3-4 presenters briefly share their perspectives on a specific topic. A moderator facilitates the discussion among the panelists as well as with the participants.
  • Round Table - 1-2 individuals facilitate sharing of ideas or resources.
  • How-to Workshop - 2-4 presenters engage participants in highly interactive skills building activities using a variety of instructional tools.
  • Problem Solving Session - 2-4 presenters engage participants in small and large group discussion activities to arrive at some potential solutions for a pressing problem. Cases or specific questions are provided to stimulate multiple solutions.
  • Debate - Facilitated by a moderator, 2 individuals take opposite sides of a question.  After a discussion with the participants, final opinions are elicited via a poll.
  • Educational Game - 1-2 presenters engage the participants in an educational game that addresses professionalism issues. The session is summarized with audience-generated learning gains.
  • Oral Presentation - 1-2 authors describe their or their group’s research, theoretical work or educational innovation in 10 minutes using slides and other audio-visual aids. This is followed by 5 minutes of Q&As. Presentations are grouped by theme and additional audience discussion time is built in at the end.
  • Flash Presentation Recording - An individual or a group shows a succinct 5-minute recorded presentation of their research, theoretical work, or educational innovation followed by real-time 5 minutes of Q&A.
Multiple peer reviewers will judge the abstracts based on their fit with the conference theme or their general contribution to the advancement of the study, practice or teaching of professionalism. Inclusivity, creativity, scholarship and level of participant involvement will also be key considerations. We encourage the full use of virtual interaction tools such as breakout rooms, polling and annotations.

Below are the specific abstract requirements for each of the presentation types. The conference committee reserves the right to propose presentation type changes.

Guidelines for each Presentation Type:
Proposal Submission Deadline Extended: Monday, February 2, 2026


Presentation Type

(select one)

 Submission Requirements
  • Panel Discussion (60 min)
  • Informative but short title
  • 2-sentence session summary
  • Theme designation
  • Abstract (150 words maximum): What is the focus of the session? How does it relate to the conference theme and the advancement of the field? Why is it important? What questions will be discussed/voted on? What competencies will be taught?
  • 2-3 Objectives: By the end of the session, what should participants be able to Know, Do, Value?
  • Outline/Timing: How will the session be organized? How will the participants be engaged? The last 5 minutes must be devoted to participants reflections on Take Home Points!
  • Roundtable (60 min)
  • How-to Workshop (60 min)
  • Problem Solving Session (60 min)
  • Debate (60 min)
  • Educational Game (30-60 min)
  • Oral Presentation (10 min & 5 min Q&As)
  • Informative but short title
  • 2-sentence presentation summary
  • Theme designation
  • Abstract (150 words maximum): Background & Project Goals, Research or Instructional/Assessment Methods, Results or Program Evaluation, Conclusions 
  • Flash Presentation (5 min recorded at comfortable listening speed & 5 min Q&A)



Here is the link for the submission: 2026 June Abstract Submission