In October 2009, I attended the Oregon Public Health Association 's annual conference and was incredibly pleased with the turnout and the great information-sharing and networking opportunities. In Oregon, the hot topics included chronic disease management, climate change, aging populations, and rural health inequities. Indeed these same problems plague many communities across the United States.

As we all know, public health is about strategic connections and leveraging resources in an often resource-poor environment. The most important connections are often local, so it is incumbent on all of us to become active in our state health associations, whenever possible.

APHA maintains a list of state public health associations. How involved are you with your state's public health association?

 -- Sami Jarrah, Oregon Health & Science University Foundation