2026 NACHC Partner Conference Call for Abstracts

Deadline: May 4, 2026 at 11:59pm ET

The National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) is hosting the 2026 Partner Conference on November 16-17, 2026. This conference is designed by and for Primary Care Associations (PCAs), Health Center Controlled Networks (HCCNs), National Technical Assistance Programs (NTAPs), and Health Centers. Please take this opportunity to share the expertise, innovation, and resources of your organizations among your peers in Kansas City, MO this November. The 2025 Partner Conference will be presented in-person only.

About the Education Program:

NACHC’s education program is composed of subject matter expert proposed sessions accepted through this call for abstracts. NACHC anticipates offering up to 40 sessions during the 2026 Partner Conference. It is NACHC's intent to have a majority of the program be represented by this external call for abstracts and is dependent on the content and completeness of submissions received. Abstract submissions with similar topic areas may be combined into a single session when appropriate.

NACHC requires the inclusion of at least one (1) PCA, HCCN, NTAP, and/or Health Center co-speaker.

NACHC is privileged to partner with dynamic PCAs, HCCNs, and NTTAPs continually pushing the bounds of innovation in, and outside of the areas listed below. This year, we are looking for sessions that position health centers as the Employer, Provider, and Partner of Choice (EPPOC) for primary care and advancing health access:

• Partner of Choice: Position health centers as the partner of choice among all healthcare stakeholders to catalyze innovation and improve health. Healthcare Stakeholders = Patients, Providers, Payers, Purchasers, & Policy Makers.
• Employer of Choice: Position health centers as the employer of choice by identifying strategies and best practices to educate, recruit, and retain a high-quality, resilient, diverse, and culturally competent workforce that represents the people we serve.
• Provider of Choice: Positioning health centers as the provider of choice for all patients (and payers) across the lifespan through the provision of comprehensive, high-quality primary care that delivers on the Quintuple Aim with access in the center.

Important Call for Abstract Dates

• May 4, 2026: Completed submissions are due by 6:00 PM ET.
• May 5 - June 5, 2026: Abstract review period
• July 2026: Education program announced: abstract submitters will be notified via email

Education sessions will feature best practices and innovative solutions in the content areas below:

• Health Information Technology
• Strategic Planning and Financial Sustainability
• Service Delivery/Operations
• Emerging Topics
• Health Access

Content Priorities:

You told us what sessions and topics you're looking for in 2026, and we listened. The following topic suggestions are taken directly from 2025 Partner Conference evaluation comments and follow-up assessments with past and prospective attendees:

• Artificial Intelligence (AI): We're looking for proposals that move beyond 101. Attendees want to integrate AI into workflows through real use cases for CHCs and HCCNs.
• Financial Stability and Revenue Diversification: We invite proposals that address today's financial realities. Suggested topics include sustainability in the face of diminished funding, 340B sustainability, Medicaid work requirements and future policy shifts, and Medicare growth strategies.
• Policy & Advocacy: We're looking for sessions that go beyond policy updates to help participants understand, interpret, and respond to evolving federal and state policy landscapes. Proposals should connect policy shifts to operational, financial, or strategic implications for health centers and their partners.
• Workforce & Leadership : We invite proposals that focus on workforce retention and mentorship, succession planning, managing internal conflict, and navigating competition within networks.
• Data, Reporting, and Modernization: We welcome proposals focused on data modernization, UDS reporting and interoperability, and security risk assessments and breach mitigation.
• Partnerships: We seek proposals that focus on strengthening relationships with state agencies, partnering with private practice providers, and shared service models.
• Value-Based Care: We welcome proposals that focus on Medicaid VBC readiness and broader value-based care strategies.

Session Formats:

• Workshop: A 60-minute session that is highly interactive and focuses on problem-solving or skill-building. Your presentation should therefore be a mix of didactic information sharing and hands-on work. Workshops are intended to change attendee behaviors and should therefore incorporate exercises that will help attendees take home actionable steps that they can immediately incorporate into their health centers.
• Panel Discussion: A 60-minute presentation with a panel of experts sharing insights and opinions. Panel discussions are designed to share information on emerging topics and new developments. These sessions should still incorporate some interactive components (e.g. polling, short exercises to apply new information, etc) to better understand your audience's starting points and motivations. NOTE: "10 minutes of Q&A at the end of the session" is not adequate interactivity. Our attendees need opportunities to apply the knowledge you're providing!
• Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Networking Session: A 60-minute facilitated session focusing on topics that affect health centers such as – but not limited to – legislative and regulatory practices, operational issues, good governance practices, and the unique challenges that come with health center management and patient care. P2Ps are designed for learning in small group settings, where participants exchange ideas and network on issues most relevant to health centers.
• NEW in 2026: Challenge Labs: Challenge Labs are 90 to 120-minute immersive, scenario-based sessions designed to help participants collaboratively address real high-stakes challenges facing community health centers. These sessions emphasize applied problem-solving, peer learning, and practical takeaways. Challenge Labs are not just presentations or panels - they should be designed as facilitated learning experiences where participants actively engage in solving a clearly defined challenge.

How to Write a Compelling Abstract:

Do you want to improve your odds of acceptance? We've created a short document that describes how to write the type of abstract that will capture the hearts and minds of our conference organizers. This is highly encouraged reading if you want to move from "proposal" to "featured session at the 2026 Partner Conference!"

Abstract Submission Selection Criteria:

The 2026 Partner Conference Planning Group, which is comprised of both NACHC members and NACHC staff, will use the following criteria to evaluate your proposal(s):

• Relevance & Strategic Alignment: Does this address a real & current challenge for our audiences?
• Practical Value & Applicability: Will attendees leave with something they can actually use?
• Engagement & Format Design: Is this designed as an interactive experience rather than a lecture?
• Evidence, Credibility & Outcomes: Is this grounded in real-world experience or data?
• Originality & Differentiation: Does this bring new approaches and solutions to the table?
• Commercial Bias : Does this proposal offer vendor/product agnostic solutions?

NACHC may consider combining sessions based upon topic, session format, speakers, or other factors. NACHC also reserves the right to edit session titles and descriptions to meet the organization's marketing and branding guidelines. NACHC will contact submitters if this affects any sessions that are selected for the final program.

Speaker Expenses:

At the time of publishing this call for sessions, no travel or hotel expenses will be provided to speakers. Speakers currently qualify for a $50 discount on conference registration fees and must register in order to participate beyond their individual session.