ACU 2024 Annual Conference

ACU 2024 Conference: Envisioning a More Equitable Future: Advancing Stakeholder-Centered Innovation

August 4-7, 2024 | The Westin Washington, DC Downtown | Washington, D.C.

Schedule at-a-Glance | Conference Agenda | Pre-Conference Workshops | Behavioral Health Leadership Forum | Hill Day | Award Winners | Fellowship Inductees | Social Media Toolkit

Thank you to everyone who joined us at ACU’s 2024 Conference! Read our recap.

Join the Association of Clinicians for the Underserved at our 2024 Conference, “Envisioning a More Equitable Future: Advancing Stakeholder-Centered Innovation!” From August 4-7 at the Westin Washington, DC Downtown in the heart of Washington, D.C., our Conference will unite hundreds of healthcare clinicians, administrators, advocates, and public health leaders from across the U.S., all with an interest in expanding access to care and improving healthcare delivery for medically underserved populations.

This year’s conference theme spotlights the importance of including stakeholder voices and input–whether patients, staff, communities, or partners–when shaping innovations in workforce development, clinical practice, or community engagement and advocacy to help bring holistic, equitable, and inclusive care within reach for underserved populations. “Envisioning a More Equitable Future” also spotlights this year’s new track dedicated to eye health and vision care, which recognizes the need for and strategies to improve access to eye care and vision services among historically marginalized communities as an essential part of overall health.

Join us for 20+ CME-accredited sessions, in-depth Pre-Conference trainings, networking opportunities, engaging keynotes from federal and public health leaders, poster presentations, and more with us in D.C.!

Continuing Education Information

This event is approved for 18.00 live AAFP Elective credits. If you are interested in receiving credit but are not a family physician, please read the AMA/AAFP equivalency statement or check with your state board to see if AAFP CMEs are accepted. All individuals who attend credit-eligible sessions and complete evaluations will receive certificates of attendance.

Pre-Conference Workshops Will Include

Justice, Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion

Interrogating Our Work: Perspectives on Social Drivers of Health and Disability

Medical-Legal Partnerships

Unlocking Sustainable Funding: Strategies for Aligning Medicaid with Medical-Legal Partnership

Post-Conference Events Will Include

Post-Conference Behavioral Health Leadership Forum

Exploring the Future of CHC Behavioral Health: Advancing Best Practices in Organizational Leadership, Suicide Prevention, Substance Use Disorder Treatment

Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill

Funding for CHCs, the National Health Service Corps, and other programs hangs in the balance. Take part in advocacy visits as Hill Day returns to our 2024 Conference!

What Attendees Are Saying About ACU’s Annual Conference

Kyle McDaniel, Medical Student

As a student, I really enjoyed the ACU Conference because it exposed me to initiatives and ideas that I don’t get to learn about at my school or at other conferences. I especially liked the student-oriented programming that opened my eyes to innovative approaches to caring for underserved patients and allowed me to connect with like-minded students.

Michele Lamantia, MD, CPE | Chief of Internal Medicine and IM Program Director, San Ysidro Health

It was a well planned out program. All the speakers were inspiring, and I will not miss an opportunity to attend next year.

Jessica Clarke Williams, DMD, MSD, FACD

It was my first time attending the ACU conference, but definitely not the last! As a clinician of the underserved, I found the ACU Conference to be a supportive, multidisciplinary space with one common goal: strategizing on how to best deliver quality care for those who often do not have access.

Jeffrey Ring, PhD

The conference was awesome in all ways. The pre-conference workshop on discussing race was exceptional and should be converted to a plenary for all next year. The final plenary was inspired.

Meet Our Keynote Speakers

Dr. J. Nwando Olayiwola

MD, MPH, FAAFP | Internationally Renowned Physician, Advocate, and Executive

An international leader, innovator, and tireless advocate for healthcare for medically underserved populations, Dr. Olayiwola is a transformational Board-certified family physician and healthcare executive with a track record of leadership in community health, academic, private, managed care, consultant and corporate environments.

April Lewis

Director, ACU National Center for Workforce Development & Training, & CHC Advisor and Workforce Expert

A national thought leader on CHC workforce well-being, management, and executive strategy with more than 15 years of health center, data, and leadership experience, Lewis has outstanding knowledge of the needs of the healthcare workforce and employee well-being. She will lead attendees in exploring strategies for creating thriving workplaces and equipping teams with the tools needed to thrive.

Jim Macrae

MA, MPP | Associate Administrator of the Bureau of Primary Health Care (BPHC) & National Public Health Leader

Macrae is a nationally recognized public health leader and administrator. As head of BPHC, Macrae manages a $5.6 billion budget supporting nearly 1,400 health centers in every U.S. state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Pacific Basin. Serving nearly 30 million people nationwide, these centers provide comprehensive and patient-centric care.

Dr. Feygele Jacobs

DrPH, MS, MPH | Director, Geiger Gibson Program in Community Health & Professor, The George Washington University

A nationally public health leader and expert in CHC policy and care, Dr. Jacobs leads the Geiger Gibson Program in Community Health. She is also Professor of Health Policy and Management at the George Washington University’s Milken Institute School of Public Health, and was previously President and CEO of the RCHN Community Health Foundation.

Dr. Candice Chen

MD, MPH | Associate Administrator, Bureau of Health Workforce & National Public Health Leader

The acting associate administrator of the Bureau of Health Workforce at the Health Resources and Services Administration, Dr. Chen is a national public health leader and physician. As head of BHW, Dr. Chen administers over 70 workforce programs with a budget of $1.8 billion, supporting the health workforce across the entire education and training to service continuum.

Scholarship, Sponsorship, & Other Opportunities at #ACUConf

NHSC Participants: Tell Us Your Health Center’s NHSC Impact Story & Receive $50 Off Registration!

Help us emphasize to Congress the impact of the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) on medically underserved communities. Please share with us how important the NHSC is to your health center by emailing us. We need your help informing Congress how vital the NHSC is for providing healthcare access to their constituents! The first 10 NHSC participants (current or past) to submit their story will receive a $50 discount off registration.

Sponsor or Exhibit At ACU's Conference

ACU’s 2024 Conference offers an invaluable opportunity to gain visibility, expand your reach, and interact with ACU’s network encompassing senior leaders and practitioners from health centers, primary care associations, free clinics and countless others from across the healthcare sector. Sponsorship also enables opportunities to directly collaborate with ACU in working to improve health equity via educational offerings at our events. Learn more about sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities.

Have Questions About the Annual Conference?

Please contact Luke Ertle, Program Director, with any questions regarding the Conference, or view our Conference Archives. Want to be informed of the latest developments? Sign up for our mailing list.