Live a healthier lifestyle with research-based tools.
Make informed decisions about health choices with cutting-edge research from University of Illinois. Find a session that's perfect for you.
The Community Seminar Series is a collaboration between Illinois Extension and Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Institute at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Signing up is easy:
- Sessions are free, and registration is required.
- Choose as many sessions within the series as you wish to attend.
- Complete the registration process.
- CPDU and CEUs are available: CEUs are provided through the Continuing Education Institute of Illinois. Once you have registered for your desired sessions, please check your registration confirmation email for a link to purchase CEUs.
If you need a reasonable accommodation in order to participate, contact Dee Walls at walls1@illinois.edu. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet access needs.
Access previous sessions on health topics by visiting our recorded session archives.
Summer Self-Care 2026
Making Sense of Medicare: Navigating Choices with Confidence | June 24
Understanding Medicare can be challenging, even for those already enrolled. This session shares insights from a federally funded project focused on helping older adults make informed choices. Participants will explore practical tools, including clear information materials and step-by-step flowcharts, designed to simplify options and support confident decision-making. Presenter: Hye Soo Lee, Ph.D.
Nine Months, One Virus: How Infection in Pregnancy Shapes Child Development | July 1
A brief illness during pregnancy may have longer-term effects on development. In this session, explore how infections such as influenza can alter the immune environment of pregnancy and affect the placenta and the developing brain. Learn how researchers use animal models to study these processes and what current science suggests about potential impacts on behavior and health later in life. Presenter: Arnav Kaushik.
Minding the Gap: How AI Reveals Who Is Missing from Mental Health Care | July 8
Millions of Americans living with mental health conditions do not receive care. Who is being missed, and why? This session explores how researchers use artificial intelligence to identify gaps in access and uncover patterns that are often overlooked. Learn how these findings challenge common assumptions and offer new ways to think about barriers to care. Presenters: Sylvia Okon and Tourna Khan.
Superbugs Don’t Follow Orders: How Antimicrobial Resistance Spreads from Animals to Humans | July 15
What happens when antibiotics stop working? Drug-resistant infections are on the rise, including illnesses such as Shigella, which affect hundreds of thousands of people each year. This session explores how antimicrobial resistance spreads between animals and humans and what it means for everyday health. Learn practical steps individuals and families can take to help prevent the spread and protect against infections that are becoming harder to treat. Presenters: Grace Lunaburg and Rashid Bajwa.
Understanding GLP-1 Weight-Loss Medications: Clinical and Societal Impacts | July 22
GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic are transforming how we approach weight loss. This session examines potential side effects, emerging questions about long-term use, and how these drugs affect the body during and after treatment. The discussion also explores broader issues, including access, affordability, and shifting cultural perspectives on weight and health. Presenter: Jona Kerluku.
Inside Trauma-Focused Therapy for Youth: Understanding Treatment and Support | July 29
Trauma-focused therapies can play a powerful role in helping youth recover, yet they can feel complex or intimidating for families and caregivers. This session reviews the core components of leading trauma-focused interventions and the research supporting them. Participants will also learn practical ways that supportive adults can guide and encourage youth throughout treatment, with a focus on both the process and long-term growth. Presenter: Aggie Rieger.