DIS Recognition Day 2026
Please join us in celebrating the 15th anniversary of Disease Intervention Specialist Recognition Day, coming up on October 2!
DIS Recognition Day 2026
It’s time to make some noise for the 15th annual DIS Recognition Day! National Disease Intervention Specialist (DIS) Recognition Day is held on the first Friday in October (October 2 this year) to recognize the many roles DIS take on to protect people across the country. Whether tackling STI prevention, tuberculosis outbreak response, HIV exposure notification, or emergency response, DIS bring a special set of skills and dedication matched by few in the sector.
This year’s theme is The Rhythm of Public Health to honor the harmony that connects the collaboration, partnerships, and communities involved in disease intervention. So, let’s turn up the volume as we celebrate these public health rockstars!
Below you will find everything you need to plan and participate in this year’s celebration: From activities to graphics for social media.
Events & Activities
Drop-In-Social Hour
We’re hosting another Drop-In-Social Hour for DIS this year! Join NCSD staff and DIS from across the country for a time of games and connection. This event is open to all who would like to honor the dedication and passion of DIS. Register Here
Date: Friday, October 2
Time: 3:30-4:30 pm ET | 2:30-3:30 pm CT | 1:30-2:30 pm MT | 12:30-1:30 pm PT
Collaborative Playlist
Groove to the rhythm of public health with a playlist made by your fellow disease intervention professionals from across the country! What album is your go-to to pump you up on your way to a field visit? What do you play to relax after a long day of contact tracing? What song do you think should be the public health anthem? Add them to our collaborative playlist!
To add a song: Follow the link included below and be sure to be logged into a YouTube account (if you don’t have one, you can create one for free). Please note your account name will be included alongside your submission. If you would like to remain anonymous, you can email your submission to Forest at [email protected] and they can add it for you under the NCSD account.
Join Our Photobooth
Add to our DIS Recognition Day photobooth! Just upload a photo of yourself (or, if you’re camera shy, get creative with it and upload a photo of your pet, emotional support mug, etc.), add a caption, and you’ll automatically be re-routed afterwards to see the compilation.
DIS Hall of Fame
Do you know or work with a rockstar DIS (or team of DIS) that deserves some special recognition this year? Do you know your worth and want to submit yourself? We’d love to feature them in our promotions! Fill out our quick form so we can create a DIS Hall of Fame to celebrate these rockstars of public health.
Hoot & Holler
Don’t be shy! Let’s make some noise to celebrate the 15th annual DIS Recognition Day and make it its best year ever. NCSD has everything you need to get started.
Graphics
These graphics are made for sharing leading up to and on DIS Recognition Day to spread the word about the day, why it’s important, and why DIS are so vital to our communities. You can access all the graphics and download them in our Google Drive. Social media graphics are available sized for Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. We also have Zoom backgrounds and a carousel post that explains what a DIS is.
Additionally, we have a template available for DIS to share their DIS pride! Simply follow this link, upload a photo of yourself, and drag it to the built-in photo frame. Feel free to make additional edits as you see fit, then download and share. You will need a (free) Canva log in to customize.
Language
In addition to graphics, we have drafted language you can use in your promotions. Use the language as-is, or feel free to customize it and make it personal! We encourage you to include alt text and/or image descriptions with your posts, and these have also been provided.
Tag Us
Don’t forget to tag NCSD in your posts so we can see them, share them, and increase the reach! You can find us at @NCSDDC or @National Coalition of STD Directors (depending on the platform) or at the links below:
Resources
Find all the information included here, as well as additional resources for DIS and those supporting them, in our toolkits!
Show & Tell
Did you know NCSD has a merch store? We hope that our items help normalize and promote discussions around sexual health. Plus, every purchase goes towards our mission of advancing equitable, effective STI prevention programs in all communities across the country, so you can feel good about where your money goes. Win-win!
This year, in honor of the 15th anniversary of DIS Recognition Day, we wanted to do something extra special. So, we hosted a design contest for DIS to create their own merch, and we are proud to feature new items created with Kelly Katen, a DIS from Tillamook! We have travel mugs, regular mugs, tops, and totes available in a variety of colors and styles in a special design to celebrate DIS Recognition Day 2026 that will only be available for a limited time. Order by September 15 to get it by DIS Recognition Day!
Browse Now
If you have questions, concerns, or need help accessing any of the materials here, please email Forest at [email protected] and they will be happy to assist you.