UNT Health to host 2026 Health Literacy Collaborative Summit, bringing national experts to North Texas
UNT Health Fort Worth is hosting the national 2026 Health Literacy Collaborative Summit
on April 23 and 24, bringing together health professionals, researchers and community
leaders from across the country to discuss increasing health literacy and enhancing
health outcomes.The two-day summit will focus on this year’s theme, “Reimagining Health Literacy:
New Paths, Collective Purpose,” and will highlight innovative strategies to help individuals
better access, understand and use health information.
The event is hosted in partnership with the multistate Health Literacy Collaborative,
with support from Health Literacy Media and the United States Health Literacy Association.
“Health literacy is foundational to improving health outcomes and advancing health
equity,” said Teresa Wagner, DrPH, associate professor in UNT Health’s College of
Public Health and one of the conference organizers. “By bringing together our interprofessional
colleagues from across the country working in the health literacy space, this summit
creates an opportunity to share practical strategies that help people better understand
their health and make informed decisions. We’re proud to host this collaborative effort
at UNT Health and support work that has a direct impact on our communities.”The summit will feature keynote speakers, breakout sessions, poster presentations
and networking opportunities designed to foster collaboration across disciplines.
Participants will explore evidence-based strategies, share best practices and develop
actionable plans to improve health literacy in their organizations and communities.
Attendees will include college students, and professionals from healthcare, public
health, community organizations, libraries, health technology and other sectors, reflecting
the collaborative nature of health literacy work.
In addition to professional development opportunities, participants may earn up to
12 continuing education credits, pending approval from credentialing organizations.
Health literacy is the ability of individuals to find, understand and use health information
and services to make informed health decisions for themselves and others. It plays
a critical role in patient outcomes, health equity and overall community well-being.
The summit is designed to equip professionals with the tools needed to communicate
more effectively and support informed health decisions.
“The Health Literacy Collaborative Summit is more than just a conference; it’s a catalyst
for nationwide community impact,” said Karen Komondor, president of the U.S. Health
Literacy Association. “What happens here reaches into communities, health systems,
classrooms and policy discussions across the country. By bringing together professionals
from various fields, the summit turns ideas into action, giving people the tools,
partnerships and strategies needed to make health information clear, accessible and
truly usable so people can better navigate their health and care. When we improve
health literacy at the community level, we improve the health of the nation.”
The Health Literacy Collaborative Summit builds on a long-standing tradition of bringing
together interprofessional experts to share strategies that support individuals, families
and communities. The collaborative model, launched in 2024, has expanded participation
across multiple states and continues to grow as a national platform for advancing
health literacy.
The summit will take place at UNT Health, 1000 Montgomery St. in Fort Worth.
Registration is open. For more information or to register, visit healthliteracycollaborative.org.