Texas DSHS Respiratory Disease Conference
Thank you for participating in the 2025 Flu and Respiratory Disease Conference! Please take a few minutes to complete the evaluation survey here so we can improve our future events.
July 23-25, 2025 | In-Person and Virtual Attendance Options
UT Commons Conference Center
J.J. Pickle Research Campus
10100 Burnet Rd., Bldg. 137, Austin, TX 78758
Download the 2025 Flu & Respiratory Disease Conference program here!
2025 Flu & Respiratory Disease Conference Agenda
J. J. Pickle Commons Conference Center
Wednesday, July 23rd, 2025
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 10:00 am – 11:30 am | Lab Tour 1 (pre-registration only) Located on-site at DSHS campus |
| 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm | Operation Silent Strain: Respiratory Response Readiness Tabletop Exercise and Activity Whitney Tillman (EAIDU), Luis Valenzuela (CHEPR) |
Thursday, July 24th, 2025
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 8:00 am – 9:00 am | Registration & Check-in |
| 9:00 am – 10:00 am | Opening Plenary Dr. Carol Davis (PHR 7) |
| 10:10 am – 11:10 am | Respiratory Outbreaks: Emerging Threats, Lessons Learned, and the Future of Epidemiology Response Dan Luong (Tarrant County), Shehzana Hussaini (Harris County) |
| 11:15 am – 12:00 am | Updates on RSV prevention in infants Flor Munoz-Rivas (Baylor College of Medicine) |
| 11:20 am – 12:05 am | Linking Environment and Infection in Legionellosis Amy Gonzalez (Hidalgo County) |
| 11:30 am – 12:15 am | Meningococcal Outbreak Case Study Kirstin Short (Houston Health) |
| Lunch Break / Open Floor Networking | |
| 1:45 pm – 2:30 pm | H2-OH No! Preventing Recreational Waterborne Diseases Olivia Smith (EAIDU) |
| 1:55 pm – 2:40 pm | Respiratory Vaccine Administration and Coverage Data Greg Leos (Immunizations) |
| 2:05 pm – 2:50 pm | TxS2 for Respiratory Disease Surveillance Teniola Balogun (RLHO) |
| 3:05 pm – 4:05 pm | From Plumbing to Patients: Strengthening Legionnaires' Disease Surveillance and Response Jessica Smith (CDC) |
| 4:15 pm – 5:00 pm | Measles on the Move: Rapid Fire, Rash Results Sadia Almas (PHR 1), Elise Huebner (EAIDU), Greg Leos (Immunizations), Maria Nolen (Laboratory) |
Friday, July 25th, 2025
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 8:00 am – 8:30 am | Registration & Check-in |
| 8:30 am – 9:25 am | Legionellosis: Mitigation and Case Investigation Strategies Brittany Johnson (Chem-Aqua), Kyle Starr (Pall Medical) |
| 8:35 am – 9:20 am | How Models and Forecasts Can Support Outbreak Responses Rebecca Kahn (CDC) |
| 8:40 am – 9:25 am | Vaccine Elicited Immunity in Early Life Caitlin Williams (Cornell University) |
| 9:35 am – 10:20 am | The Burden of Influenza: Fatalities and Severe Clinical Presentations Alison Bridendolph (EAIDU) |
| 9:40 am – 10:25 am | MERS-CoV in Focus: Epidemiology, U.S. Preparedness, and Public Health Response J. B. Bertumen (CDC) |
| 9:45 am – 10:30 am | Development of an Interactive Respiratory Illness Dashboard in Texas Angie Benedetto (Healthcare Safety) |
| 10:45 am – 11:45 am | Closing Plenary Krista Kniss (CDC) |
| 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm | Lab Tour 2 (pre-registration only) Located on-site at DSHS campus |
Read more about our speakers here!
For questions, email EAIDUConference@dshs.texas.gov