The Gaston County Public Health Summit - Rooted in Community: Advancing Health from the Ground up for Collective Results

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*Registration payment includes Credit Cards and Interfund Transfers ONLY.

Target Audience

Nurses, Social Workers, Healthcare Professionals, Researchers, Students and Community Advocates

Description

Registration is Now Open

The 2026 Gaston County Public Health Summit brings together community partners, clinicians, public health leaders, and local organizations to address key drivers of health—such as employment, access to care, transportation, housing, food security, and economic stability. The summit also emphasizes social emotional and cultural competency as essential to engaging and supporting diverse communities. Through focused discussions and community driven strategies, the summit highlights practical solutions to reduce disparities, strengthen partnerships, expand access to care, and improve well-being for residents across Gaston County.

The conference will include various breakout sessions covering a wide range of Social Determinant of Health topics, enabling participants to select the content that interests them and may enhance their professional practice.

There will be exhibitors available showcasing their services related to social determinants of health.

This conference is jointly provided with Gaston County Public Health

Location:
Gastonia Conference Center
145 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way
Gastonia, NC 28052

Topics and Speakers

Morning Keynote Session Topics
Nicholas Wharton | Charlotte Area Fund

Healthcare Panel Discussion
Moderated by: Krystle White, MPA | Manager of Health Equity Outcomes| Gaston County Public Health
Panelists:
Tia Robertson, MD, MS, FACOG | Medical Director | Gaston County Public Health
Shirley Ocloo, MD | Family Physician | Kintegra Health
Crystal Maddox,MD, MPH, FAAFP | Family Physician | Caromont Health

Call to Action & Reflections
Krystle White, MPA | Manager of Health Equity Outcomes| Gaston County Public Health

CE Credit
5.0 Contact Hours / 0.5 CEUs

Disclaimer:
By registering for this course, you grant permission for South Piedmont AHEC to share your information with Gaston County Public Health. Additionally, by registering for and attending this conference, you grant permission to South Piedmont AHEC and Gaston County Public Health to capture audio, video, and/or still images for promotional and educational purposes. If you have any concerns, please speak with a member of the South Piedmont AHEC team.

Objectives

• Examine how social determinants of health—including access to healthcare, economic opportunity, food security, housing, transportation, education, and cultural factors—collectively impact health equity and community well-being in Gaston County.
• Identify cross-sector strategies and community partnerships that support sustainable solutions to health disparities across health, economic development, food systems, housing, transportation, and social/cultural sectors.
• Apply best practices and locally informed approaches shared by community leaders and subject-matter experts to strengthen policies, programs, and initiatives addressing social determinants of health.
• Commit to actionable next steps that advance collaboration, advocacy, and resource alignment to improve health outcomes and quality of life for diverse populations.

Electives

Select One from Breakout Session 1

Select One from Breakout Session 2

Select One from Breakout Session 3