Power of Communications #2: Navigating Conflict and Communication Issues with Partners and the Public in Rural Settings (Live Training-CE)

Live Training - March 24, 2026 from 11 AM-12 PM EST (Registration closes at 8 AM EST on March 24, 2026. The Zoom link will be emailed prior to start.)

PLEASE NOTE: You must pay a $5 fee to enroll in this CE version of the course.

If you are NOT seeking CE or a certificate of completion, please enroll in the free version: https://phprepared.catalog.instructure.com/courses/poc2w0326noce

This live training is part 2 of a 4-part series on rural health communications. This second session is about navigating conflict and communication issues with cross-sector partnerships and the public. Rural health professionals navigate unique communication challenges: dual relationships, limited resources, and diverse opinions.

This panel of experienced public health practitioners will provide participants with strategies for building and maintaining trust in local public health.

Note on Accessibility: This live session will have auto-transcription in Zoom. Slides will be provided prior to the session. The recorded on-demand version to follow will have closed captions as well. To request ASL interpretation and/or CART captioning, please email us within 2 weeks of the live training at phprepared@umich.edu.

Audience

Public health practitioners and partners in rural settings

Learning Objectives

• Discuss common conflict and communication issues between local public health agencies and the public in rural settings 
• Identify two strategies to address conflict and communication issues with the public

Instructors

• Joshua Meyerson, MD, MPH, Medical Director, Health Department of Northwest Michigan, Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department, District Health Department No. 4
• Nick Derusha, MPA, REHS, CFPH, Director and Health Officer, Luce-Mackinac-Alger-Schoolcraft District Health Department (LMAS)
• Haleigh Leslie, DrPH, MPH, MBA, Health Officer, Ionia County Health Department

Continuing Education Credit

• 1.0 CHES Category I CECH (Areas of Responsibility: 7.1.2, 7.1.5, 7.2.1, 7.3.2)*
• Up to 1.0 CPH Recertification Credits may be earned at this event
• 1.0 contact hours of continuing education with the National Environmental Health Association (Expires on 3/24/2027)
• Certificate of Completion

*We report credits to NCHEC on a quarterly basis: January, April, July, and October.

The Region V Public Health Training Center is a designated provider (ID# 99038) of continuing education contact hours (CECH) in health education by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc.

Sponsors

Public Health Prepared is the workforce development and public health practice branch of the broader Michigan Center for Infectious Disease Threats & Pandemic Preparedness (MCIDT) initiative, funded by the University of Michigan. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by Public Health Prepared, MCIDT, or the University of Michigan.

This event is co-sponsored by the Region V Public Health Training Center.

The Region V Public Health Training Center is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number UB6HP31684 Public Health Training Centers ($940,000). This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by Region V PHTC, HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.

Technical Information

If you are experiencing any technical difficulties, please try a different browser (i.e., Chrome, Firefox, Safari). Internet Explorer and Edge will not work with our learning management system.

This webinar will use Zoom. For support information, visit https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/categories/201137166 REGISTER FOR THE WEBINAR USING THE EMAIL YOU WILL USE TO JOIN THE LIVE ZOOM.

Contact us at PHPrepared@umich.edu with questions.