20–23 October 2026 | Tainan, Taiwan
The 57th Asia-Pacific Academic Consortium for Public Health (APACPH) Conference took place 20-23 October 2026 in Tainan, Taiwan. Hosted by National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), the conference brought together public health researchers, academics, policymakers, practitioners and students from across the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.
Under the theme “Leveraging Healthcare Technology and Artificial Intelligence for Public Health and Wellness”, the conference highlighted opportunities and challenges in integrating emerging technologies into public health research, policy and practice.
A Platform for International Scientific Collaboration
The conference recorded 1,216 registrations representing 50 nationalities, with 948 abstracts submitted from 44 countries and regions.
The scientific programme featured 91 sessions, including keynote lectures, symposia, oral and poster presentations, and a plenary session. Eight pre-conference workshops explored topics such as digital health, health technology assessment, systems thinking, scientific writing, artificial intelligence ethics and global health.
Distinguished keynote speakers included Professor Wen-Ta Chiu, Professor Masao Ichikawa, and Professor Chien-Jen Chen, who addressed how technology, research evidence, and innovation can tackle pressing public health challenges.
Celebrating Excellence in Public Health Leadership
A major highlight was the APACPH Awards Ceremony on 22 October 2026, which recognised six distinguished individuals across four award categories.
The Professor Kazue K. McLaren Leadership Achievement Award was presented to Professor Chien-Jen Chen, internationally recognised for pioneering epidemiological research on arsenic exposure and viral hepatitis, alongside distinguished public service in Taiwan.
The APACPH Excellence in Leadership Medallion honoured Dr Chung-Liang Shih for advancing healthcare reform, digital health and integrated care, and Dr Shih-Chung Chen for his contributions to health administration, healthcare financing and leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic. Professor Wei J. Chen accepted the award on behalf of Dr Shih-Chung Chen.
The APACPH Public Health Recognition Award recognised Professor Huey-Jen Jenny Su for her contributions to environmental health, climate-related health research and sustainable development, and Professor Yue-Chune Lee for her leadership in public health legislation, national health insurance reform and long-term care policy.
The APACPH Medal of Merit was awarded to Associate Professor Dr Sarawut Thepanondh for his contributions to air-quality research, environmental health, climate policy and regional public health collaboration.
Recognising Emerging Public Health Researchers
The conference also recognised five recipients of the Young Investigator Travel Award (YITA): Hsin-Yi Huang (Taiwan), Syarif Rahman Hasibuan (Indonesia), Syarifah Aqilah (Thailand), Abdurosid Nur Ali (Indonesia) and Pairote Chakranon (Taiwan).
Their research addressed diverse public health priorities, including prenatal air pollution exposure and childhood lung function, machine learning for detecting unplanned hospital readmissions, adolescent sexual and reproductive health literacy in conflict-affected communities, problematic internet use among university students, and environmental exposures associated with maternal stress during pregnancy.
These awards reflect APACPH’s commitment to nurturing emerging researchers, encouraging scientific excellence and strengthening the next generation of public health leaders across the region.
Strengthening Public Health for the Future
The conference reaffirmed APACPH’s commitment to advancing public health education, research and regional cooperation. Discussions emphasised that technological innovation must be accompanied by ethical governance, scientific evidence and equitable access to ensure meaningful improvements in population health.
The 57th APACPH Conference also provided an important platform to strengthen institutional partnerships, support emerging public health leaders, and foster collaborative responses to shared health challenges.
APACPH extends its sincere appreciation to National Cheng Kung University, the Conference Organising Committee, partner institutions, distinguished speakers, award recipients, delegates and volunteers for their invaluable contributions to the conference.