In today’s complex public health landscape, solutions are rarely just technical – they are shaped by beliefs, assumptions, and experiences we carry with us. Building on the foundations introduced in the Systems Thinking in Action webinar hosted in July 2025, this second session invites public health professionals to step back and take a closer look at mental models – the often unseen ways of thinking that influence how systems are designed, maintained, and changed.

Many public health practitioners use systems thinking in their work, even if they don’t always call it that. This webinar creates space to slow down, reflect, and intentionally explore how mental models shape decision-making, relationships, and outcomes across public health systems. By making these models visible, participants can identify powerful leverage points for meaningful and sustainable change. This session is designed to be both reflective and practical. Participants will develop a shared understanding of what mental models are, how they are formed, and why recognizing them is essential to systems change. Through a combination of didactic content and a moderated panel discussion, attendees will hear real-world examples from experienced public health professionals working in a variety of roles. Panelists will share how surfacing and shifting mental models has influenced their work, both the challenges and the successes.