2026 Health Links® Annual Event

Embracing Change, Trust, and Adaptability

The Health Links® Annual Event is a dynamic and inspiring gathering dedicated to supporting workplaces through change, fostering trust, and building adaptability. This engaging program offers valuable opportunities to connect with peers and industry experts through collaboration, networking, and interactive activities.

Attendees will gain practical strategies for navigating constant workplace change, enhancing employee well-being, and promoting a culture of safety and resilience. Hear insights from leaders across diverse industries and discover how curiosity, flexibility, and intentional action can help teams thrive amid uncertainty.

Enhance your experience by joining our interactive afternoon workshops, where participants can explore key Total Worker Health^®topics and discover actionable strategies to improve employee health, safety, and well-being in a rapidly evolving workplace.

ANNOUNCING KEYNOTE

Captain Christian B. Rathke

Christian Rathke Headshot CAPT Christian Rathke DMSc, PA-C, DFAAPA was commissioned in December 2011 in the United States Public Health Service (USPHS) following seven years in the U.S. Navy. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Bridgewater College, a Master of Medical Science with a concentration in Physician Associate Studies from Yale University School of Medicine, and a Doctor of Medical Science from the University of Lynchburg, with a focus on administrative medicine and organizational interventions to achieve workforce health outcomes.

CAPT Rathke is a U.S. Public Health Service officer, clinician, healthcare executive, and nationally and internationally recognized leader in Total Worker Health, work design, and workforce resilience. He serves as Director of Total Worker Health for NOAA’s National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS), where he leads one of the first comprehensive, enterprise-scale federal implementations of Total Worker Health.

Prior to his current role, CAPT Rathke served as Director of the NOAA Office of Health Services, providing enterprise medical and public health leadership and leading the Department of Commerce and NOAA COVID-19 response for more than two years during a global crisis. Earlier in his career, he was a National Health Service Corps scholar and held clinical, operational, and aviation medicine roles spanning cardiology, aerospace, and operational physiology, supporting high-risk missions and training operational units, including Navy aviators, NASA astronauts, and the Blue Angels.

His work integrates occupational medicine, organizational psychology, human factors, and systems science to help leaders redesign work in ways that improve health, performance, and organizational sustainability. He has led enterprise burnout research, pioneered real-time workload analytics using the NASA Task Load Index, and developed a first-of-its-kind supervisor change-management curriculum now scaling across federal organizations. CAPT Rathke is frequently consulted by senior executives and federal agencies and has contributed to national suicide prevention policy and international discussions on workforce health and climate risk.

Award highlights include the Department of Commerce Gold Medal, Department of Commerce Bronze Medal, NOAA Corps Meritorious Service Medal, NOAA Administrator’s Award (2), PHS Outstanding Service Medal, PHS Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, and the Humanitarian Service Medal.

EVENT AGENDA (9:00 AM - 3:00 PM)

CELEBRATION (9:00 AM - 12:00 PM)

8:15 - 9:00 AM Registration & Light Breakfast (Exhibitors Showcase)

9:00 - 9:15 AM Opening Remarks & Keynote Introduction

9:15 - 10:00 AM Keynote (including Q&A)

10:00 - 10:25 AM In Good Company: Table Talk Conversations

10:25 - 10:50 AM Exhibitor Showcase

10:50 - 11:30 AM Arts-based Workshop

11:30 - 11:50 AM Award Ceremony

Family-Friendly/ Food@Work
Mental Health
Champion of Well-being (Leader & Emerging Leader)

11:50 AM - 12:00 PM Closing Remarks

12:00 - 12:45 PM Exhibitor Showcase & Lunch for Workshop Participants

WORKSHOPS (ADD-ON) (1:00 - 3:00 PM)

Enhance your experience with an interactive afternoon workshop on key Total Worker Health® topics. For $35, you'll receive access to one workshop, lunch, and continuing education credits (CHES, SHRM, CPH, CSP, and CIH).

You can choose to attend a workshop during registration.

Workshop options:

Cultivating Inner Peace in the Face of Disruption and Conflict — Facilitated by Dr. Betty Snyder Reflect on what it means to protect your inner peace during challenging times. Learn strategies shown to enhance resiliency, self-compassion, connection, and well-being.
VitalCog™ Peer Support — Facilitated by Alex Yannacone, MS Build skills to become a caring nonprofessional peer supporter in the workplace. This interactive training covers recognizing the causes, prevalence, and warning signs of mental health concerns; understanding treatment options and barriers to care; building protective factors; becoming a supportive listener; and connecting peers to helpful resources.

2026 Award Nominees
Award Categories

We are proud to celebrate this year's finalists for the Annual Event Awards! These organizations have shown outstanding commitment to workplace health, safety, and well-being.

Champion of Well-being: Certified Leader
Recognizing sustained leadership in the Total Worker Health® approach.
Ariel Clinical Services, City of Fort Collins, Encore Electric, Jefferson County Colorado, and Metro Water Recovery.

Champion of Well-being: Emerging Leader
Recognizing a strong and advancing commitment to the Total Worker Health® approach.
AGC of Colorado, Cherry Creek School District No. 5, and RTD Regional Transportation District.

Workplace Mental Health Champion
Recognizing outstanding commitment to the mental health and well-being of employees, families, and community.
AllHealth Network, Community Hospital, and Pitkin County Government.

Family-Friendly Workplace
Recognizing organizations that support employees' caregiving roles across all stages of life.
BeyondHome, Children's Hospital Colorado, City of Arvada, Grand River Health, and University of Colorado Boulder.

Congratulations to all of this year's nominees for setting the standard in workplace well-being across Colorado.

Past events

Total Worker Health^® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Participation by the Center for Health, Work & Environment does not imply endorsement by HHS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

Centers for Health, Work & Environment

Colorado School of Public Health

CU Anschutz

Fitzsimons Building

13001 East 17th Place

Suite W3111

Mail Stop B119

Aurora, CO 80045

colorado school of public health

coloradoSPH

Centers for Health, Work & Environment

2026 Health Links® Annual Event

We are proud to celebrate this year's finalists for the Annual Event Awards! These organizations have shown outstanding commitment to workplace health, safety, and well-being.

Past events

Centers for Health, Work & Environment

Colorado School of Public Health