I hope that you have all marked your calendars for Sept. 16 for our NPHA conference to be held in Lincoln. I have posted some of highlights on our website at: www.4w.com/npha. The
The Nebraska Public Health Association, Nebraska Medical Association and Healthy Child Care Nebraska are collaborating to present "Public Health and Medicine: Cooperative Actions in Nebraska." You are in for a real treat. Evaluations of last year's conference were very good (see www.4w.com/npha/eval98.html) but we expect this year's conference to be even better. Featured speakers are Dr. Audrey Gotsch, president of the American Public Health Association and Dr. John Nelson a member of the American Medical Association's Board of Trustees. Also presenting will be: Dr. Dale Michels, President of Nebraska Medical Association; Dr. David Young; Dr. Karen Sokal- Gutierrez; Dr. Richard Raymond; Dr. Tom Safranek; Bob Leopold; Sheila Bjerrum; and Robert O'Neil, Aidan O'Neil Foundation. Please plan to join us for this groundbreaking conference and invite any friends our yours who are health-related professionals.

On a more somber note, I am sorry to report that Bruce Dart, health department director in Grand Island and longtime supporter and leader in NPHA is moving to Independence, MO to head up the health department there. We wish Bruce continuted success in his new position. He will be missed.

Don't forget to nominate fellow NPHA members for this year's awards. We have many deserving professionals out in the state. Please help us to honor them.

Tiffany Sutter attended the APHA leadership conference in Washington, DC at the end of July. APHA opened the doors of its new building to public health leaders from throughout the United States. We are looking forward to hearing about Tiffany's experiences. Tiffany recently wrote a grant in cooperation with NPHA, NMA and Highway Safety to promote vehicle safety restraints.

The Excellence in Healthcare Council has met a few times and we are drawing up priorities and guidelines for application for the Public Health Trust Fund dollars. In October there will be public meetings throughout the state to assist organizations that wish to apply for funding. This is the beginning of an exciting era for public health in Nebraska.

David E. Corbin, Ph.D.
NPHA, president