School of Public Health

Public Health Diplomatron at the European Health Forum Gastein

Thursday, 01 October 2026

The event brought together Young Gasteiners who worked in teams to develop public health diplomacy strategies addressing three politically complex and timely challenges: declining vaccination confidence, migration and health, and climate change and health resilience. Participants were tasked with creating actionable solutions that demonstrated how public health professionals can influence political debates, strengthen trust, and integrate health and equity considerations into policymaking. 

The three teams presented proposals focused on: 

• Building community trust and addressing vaccine hesitancy through local engagement and trusted messengers. 
• Improving access to primary healthcare for migrants and asylum seekers through collaborative governance and community-based support systems. 
• Strengthening climate resilience by fostering community participation, dialogue, and cross-sector collaboration to address the health impacts of flooding and environmental change. 

The session featured expert commentary from senior leaders in public health, academia, international organizations, and policymaking. Jury members assessed each proposal's relevance, innovation, feasibility, and potential to influence decision-making, while audience members participated through discussion and live voting to select the most compelling strategy. 

The session was opened and concluded by Ashish Joshi, PhD, Dean of the University of Memphis School of Public Health, Distinguished University Professor, and Chair-Elect of the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH). Dr. Joshi highlighted the growing importance of public health diplomacy in addressing today's complex global challenges and emphasized that public health professionals must move beyond presenting evidence alone to develop the leadership, communication, and diplomatic skills necessary to engage policymakers and influence decisions that affect population health. He also underscored the importance of creating platforms that empower students and emerging professionals to become future public health leaders. 

A reflection from András Kulja, Member of the European Parliament, reinforced the importance of translating scientific evidence into clear, persuasive messages that resonate with policymakers and can effectively compete in increasingly complex and politically contested environments. 

The Public Health Diplomatron demonstrated that public health diplomacy is more than a theoretical framework. It is a practical leadership approach that enables health professionals to build alliances, navigate political realities, counter misinformation, and advocate for health equity. The session concluded with a call to expand public health diplomacy initiatives and strengthen collaborations that prepare the next generation of public health leaders to advance population health and strengthen health systems globally.

Watch full video: Public Health Diplomatron
To learn more click on EHFG 2026 - Public Health Diplomatron: Hacking Political Influence for Health.

Dr. Joshi highlighted the growing importance of public health diplomacy