The Texas Department of State Health Services announces the Epidemiology & Laboratory Capacity (ELC) 2026: Infectious, Respiratory, and Healthcare-associated Infections Conference, sponsored by the Office of the Chief State Epidemiologist’s Emerging and Acute Infectious Disease, and Healthcare Safety Units. 

About the Event:

Hosted May 5th-8th, 2026, this Conference features plenary sessions, expert panels, poster presentations, skill-building exercises, and thematic tracks focused on case assessments and investigations; communicable diseases; emerging public health threats; infection prevention and control; outbreak preparedness and response; patient safety; quality improvement; surveillance strategies; training and education; and workforce development.  This hybrid event is both in-person at the UT Commons Conference Center (2901 Read Granberry Trail, Austin, TX 78758), and livestreamed for virtual participants.

Continuing education credit for multiple disciplines will be provided for this activity. 

Purpose:

The ELC 2026: Infectious, Respiratory, and Healthcare-associated Infections Conference supports ongoing statewide goals to modernize infectious disease surveillance, enhance infection control and patient safety competency, promote evidence-based practices in healthcare settings, and foster an adaptable, resilient public health and healthcare workforce.

Conference Target Audience: 

Infection control practitioners, quality improvement and patient safety professionals, laboratory employees, epidemiologists, data analysts, clinicians, healthcare administrators, health profession students, and other public health partners.