Connecting Adolescent Health Professionals
Connection Sessions are day-long conferences focusing on one specific topic in adolescent health for an interdisciplinary audience of health care professionals.
The 2025 Connection Session, Building Youth Resilience: The Role of Schools & Health Care in Addressing Community Violence, took place Monday, May 12, 10 a.m.-3:15 p.m. EDT. It was held both online and in-person at the Washtenaw Community College Morris Lawrence Building (4800 E Huron River Dr, Ann Arbor, MI 48105).
This day-long conference explored the role of schools and health care in addressing community violence to better support youth. Through presentations, panel discussions, and interactive workshops, attendees explored the effects of neighborhood violence on adolescent health and opportunities for intervention.
Practice sessions introduced strategies for strengthening youth-adult partnerships to improve relationships and build trust. For a full list of sessions and speakers, access our detailed agenda and speaker biographies.
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Hybrid Morning Sessions
10 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
- Welcome and Introduction
- Perspectives on community violence prevention and intervention impacting youth - a series of 15-minute, TED-style talks by experts from academic, hospital, and community-based research perspectives.
- Hsing-Fang Hsieh, PhD, MPH; Research Associate Professor, Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention; Evaluation Director, National Center for School Safety, University of Michigan; Co-Director of Education and Training Core, Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention
- Tolulope Sonuyi, MD, MSc; Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, Wayne State University; Sinai-Grace Hospital, Detroit Receiving Hospital; Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Detroit Life is Valuable Everyday (DLIVE)
- Kent Key, PhD, MPH; Director of the Office of Community Scholars and Partnerships & Assistant Professor, Michigan State University; Founder & Director, Flint Public Health Youth Academy
- Strengthening trauma-informed care in schools and health care: Strategies for applying youth-focused TIC principles - an exploration of trauma-informed care in both schools and health care environments.
- Laura Gültekin, PhD, FNP-BC; Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Michigan
- Beth Sherman, MSW; Clinical Associate Professor, University of Michigan
In-Person Afternoon Sessions
1-3:15 p.m.
- Fostering youth-adult partnership at school-based health centers in response to community violence - a presentation and workshop demonstration of AHI's newest resource.
- Dana Thomas, MPH; Director, Adolescent Health Initiative, University of Michigan Health, Michigan Medicine
- Janna Safran, MPH; Program Manager, Adolescent Health Initiative, University of Michigan Health, Michigan Medicine
- A positive youth development approach to school safety in Michigan - a discussion of holistic strategies to promote school safety.
- Brent Miller, MA, PMP, PhD candidate; Training Manager, National Center for School Safety
- Cindi Thronson, MPH; Research Area Specialist, Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention, Project Manager, Michigan School Safety Initiative
- Closing remarks
- Explore data trends and identify key drivers contributing to the increase or decrease in youth-related violence
- Explain trauma-informed principles and strategies for supporting youth who have experienced community violence and trauma.
- Identify collaboration opportunities for joint prevention and intervention initiatives between educators, healthcare providers, policymakers, and community leaders to create safer environments for youth.
Educational Planner:
- Terrill Bravender, MD, MPH
Educational Co-Planners:
- Cornelius Jamison, MD, MSPH
- Dana Thomas, MPH
- Marlanna Landeros, MSW
- Aubrey Huff, MPA
- Lauren Vasquez, MS, CHES
- MavaMarie Cooper, MPH
- Iman Saleem, MPH
- Emily Rowland, RN, MSc, PhD Candidate
- Elizabeth Kuzma, DNP, RN, FNP-BC
- Susan Radzilowski, MSW, LMSW, ACSW
- Scott Mooney, MA
Activity Coordinators:
- Aubrey Huff, MPA
- Isabelle Birt, MPH
- In-person: $85
- Virtual: $30
- Student in-person: $70
- Student virtual: $25
- National Center for School Safety, University of Michigan School of Public Health
- Injury Prevention Center, University of Michigan
- Corktown Health Center
- National Alliance on Mental Illness, Washtenaw County
- Ozone House
- Program Evaluation Group, University of Michigan School of Social Work
The 2025 Connection Session has been approved for:
- 4.0 Category I entry-level CHES credits
- 4.0 Social Work Continuing Education Credits
- 4.0 Nursing Contact Hours
ACCME Accreditation and Credit Designation Statements: The University of Michigan Medical School is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The University of Michigan Medical School designates this live activity for a maximum of 4.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Connection Session professional development opportunities aim to connect health professionals to community resources and others in the field.
The target audience for Connection Sessions is:
- Physicians
- Physician Assistants
- Nurse Practitioners
- Nurses
- Social Workers
- Counselors
- Health Center Managers
- Other Health Care Professionals
- House Officers
- Medical Students
- Administrators
- Youth-Serving Community Professionals
Learn more about and explore content from previous Connection Sessions.
