Yesterday night, I had the pleasure of attending the centennial celebration of the Minnesota Public Health Association. It was wonderful to catch up with many public health colleagues while we celebrated the organization’s first 100 years. Our keynote address was delivered by Will Steger on his travels in the Arctic and Antarctic. Mr. Steger has witnessed firsthand the effects global warming and reminded us of the enormity of this issue. It was interesting to see how similar strategies aimed to change behavior must be used to combat global warming and to address public health epidemics such as obesity. Attendees also had a chance to reflect on public health advances in the past hundred years, ranging from vaccinations to improved sanitation practices. The evening ended with an ode to MPHA led by Minnesota Public Health personality, Dr. Ed Ehlinger, Director of the University of Minnesota’s Boynton Health Services and host of the Metro Cable Channel 6 television program “A Public Health Journal.” Yesterday evening was a wonderful celebration of the work that public health professionals have done for Minnesota and a call to act on the challenges that lie ahead.