Conference Highlights
Thursday, February 5, 2026
Quest Conference Center
Westerville, Ohio
Photos by Ian Alexander Photography
The Ohio School-Based Health Alliance hosted its third annual full day conference, 2026 Annual School-Based Health Care Conference: Healthy Kids Learn Better, on February 5, 2026. Nearly 300 school-based health care partners joined the Ohio Alliance, participating in opening and closing plenary sessions, a diverse array of workshops, and networking opportunities. The day was filled with learning, connections, and wonderful examples of the tremendous impacts school-based health care has on students, families, and communities across Ohio. Workshop sessions focused on partnership, start up & operations, behavioral health, quality improvement, and social drivers of health. Presentations for the opening plenary, workshop, and regional sessions can be viewed below.
Conference presentations
Opening plenary session
From cradle to classroom: Strengthening the bridge between early childhood, families, and school-based health
Dr. Ryan Padrez, MD, FAAP, Clinical Associate Professor, Stanford University’s School of Medicine
School-based health centers (SBHCs) are uniquely positioned to support not only school-aged children, but the entire ecosystem that shapes a child’s health and readiness to learn. The opening plenary explored a vision for expanding SBHCs — integrating early childhood services, maternal health, and family supports to create a seamless continuum of care from early childhood into the K–12 system.
Closing plenary session
From momentum to sustainability: What’s needed in shaping the next era of school-based health care
Ohio is at an important moment for school-based health. With new initiatives underway and increasing demand for access to care, strong policy and system alignment is essential to sustain and scale SBHCs. The closing plenary panelists discussed the biggest opportunities and barriers ahead — from funding and payment models to workforce and data.
Moderator: Amy Rohling McGee, MA, President, Health Policy Institute of Ohio
Panelists:
Julie DiRossi-King, BA, President & CEO, Ohio Association of Community Health Centers
Randy Leite, PhD, Executive Director, Appalachian Children Coalition
Marianella Napolitano, MBA, RN, Director of Population Health, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Ohio
Kyle Newton, MS, Superintendent, Warren Local School District
Session slides
In recognition of Governor Mike DeWine’s extraordinary commitment to advancing school-based health centers across Ohio, this award reflects our profound appreciation for the Governor’s steadfast leadership in ensuring that students have access to the health care and support they need to thrive academically and in life. Throughout his tenure, Governor DeWine’s unwavering dedication to this model has expanded critical opportunities for children, families, and communities across Ohio.
2026 Ohio School-Based Health Care Champion: Governor Mike DeWine
This award recognizes Ohioans who have an exceptional commitment to advancing school-based health care and ensuring that Ohio’s students are healthy and ready to learn.
The 2026 Ohio School-Based Health Care Champion Award was accepted by Ohio Department of Health Director, Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, on behalf of Governor DeWine.