Minnesota Public Health Association
Since 1907, MPHA has been dedicated to creating a healthier Minnesota through effective public health practice and engaged citizens.
|
MPHA traces its roots back to 1907 when the health officers around the state were organized as the Minnesota State Sanitary Conference, holding an annual spring meeting. The conference was in response to a state law that required the Executive Officer of the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) to call a meeting of health officers at least annually. The demands of public health were broadening in the 1930s and 1940s.
In 1947, the Sanitary Conference opened the door of membership to anyone who was engaged in public health work in the state, changing its name to the Minnesota Public Health Conference to reflect public health values and mission. The American Public Health Association (APHA) officially recognized the Minnesota Public Health Conference as its affiliate in 1948. In 1956, MPHA assumed the name as it now stands and continues to be linked to APHA.
Throughout its history, MPHA has maintained a broad membership to represent and reflect the public health challenges and opportunities of its time. MPHA is fortunate to have a rich tradition and stellar reputation for its influence on public health policies, services, and systems.
MPHA has gone through periods of low and high visibility, slow and rapid growth in membership and the ebb and flow of active participation. When questions were raised about its relevance of goals, capacity, and priorities, these were turned into opportunities for renewing purpose, strengthening governing and membership structure, mobilizing resources, and sustaining momentum. These initiatives were known in each decade as follows: Revitalization in 1970s; Future Directions in 1980s; Strategic Planning in 1990s; Capacity-Building in 2000s; federal Affordable Care Act implementation (community health, health equity, health in all policies, intersections with medical care providers) in 2010s.
MPHA is the place where public health workers from multiple disciplines, sectors, and communities come together around shared values, goals, and priorities. The MPHA missionis “to engage and develop its members to mobilize the community to protect and improve the public’s health.” The diversity of MPHA contributes to its vision of being an “active, credible and independent voice for public health in Minnesota.”
MPHA has the liberty to frame the policy issues, present science-based information and data, and recommend solutions. Fueled by individual and collective passion, energy, and talents, MPHA works in several ways: offers public and professional education opportunities; links with and mentors new public health professionals; consults with MDH, U of M School of Public Health (SPH), and other public, private and non-profit agencies; forms or joins coalitions and partnerships; and develops and advocates for policy positions at local, state and national levels.
MPHA has, and continues to undertake, important leadership roles to advance public health policy and program initiatives. These roles include: raising awareness, engaging in discussions to inform about issues, forging consensus and strategy, and advocating for a policy positions such as, Minor’s Consent to Access Health Services (1968-1971); Community Health Services Act, known today as Local Public Health Act (1974-1977); Health Care Reform focusing on Minnesota Care (1990-1993); Community-Based Long Term Care (1994-1996).
Revised May 2015
The year listed is the start of a President’s term. The actual term of office may have been extended into another year, depending on the designated fiscal year at that time.
1947 - Floyd M. Feldman, MD 1947 - J. Lawrence McLeod, MD 1948 - S.P. Kingston 1949 - F.W. Bechmier, MD 1950 - V.O. (Victor) Wilson MD 1951 - Irene Donovan 1952 - Allan Stone 1953 - Allan Stone 1954 - S.A. Whitman, MD 1955 - Myhren C. Peterson 1956 - Clare Gates, Dr. PH 1957 - Clare Gates, Dr. PH 1958 - Robert D. Ragsdale 1959 - A.B. Rosenfeld, MD 1960 - Robert K. Anderson, DVM 1961 - Henry Bauer, MD 1962 - Karl R. Lundeberg, MD 1963 - Vivian Harriman, PHN 1964 - Robert J. Hohman 1965 - Earl Rubie 1966 - William Jordan, D.D.S. 1967 - Ruth Stief 1968 - Robert W. Schwanke 1969 - Charles Schneider 1970 - C.A. Smith, MD 1971 - Arvid Houglum, MD 1972 - Thomas P Webber 1973 - Ellen Z. Fifer (Green), MD 1974 - Paul Schuster | 1975 - Kenneth J. Taylor 1976 - Harold Leppink, MD 1977 - Donna Anderson 1978 - Ellen Alkon, MD 1979 - Margaret Sandberg 1980 - John C. Cushing, Jr 1981 - Frances A. Decker 1982 - K.C. Spensley (Bretzke) 1983 - Esther Tatley 1984 - Esther Tatley 1985 - Deborah Plumb 1986 - Ed Ehlinger, MD 1987 - Terry Hill 1988 - Gayle Hallin 1989 - Malcolm Mitchell 1990 - Charles Oberg 1991 - Stanton Shanedling 1992 - Mary Sheehan 1993 - Ellen Benavides 1994 - Deborah Hendricks 1995 - Paul Terry 1996 - John Oswald 1997 - Larry Sundberg 1998 - Mary Sheehan 1999 - Marshall Shragg 2000 - Tricia Todd 2001 - Ellie Garrett 2002 - Janny Brust 2003 - Jamie Martinez | 2003 - Debra Burns & Chris Follett 2004 - Michelle Hanson (Ferrari) 2005 - David Johnson 2006 - Jan Malcolm 2007 - Marie Dotseth 2008 - James (Jim) Hart, MD 2009 - James (Jim) Hart, MD 2010 - Kenneth Bence 2011 - Ann Bajari 2012 - Dave Golden 2013 - Carol Berg 2014 - Kristen Godfrey Walters 2015 - Aggie Leitheiser Cook 2016 - Lindsey Fabian 2017 - Becky Sechrist 2018 - Matthew Flory 2019 - Nancy Franke Wilson 2020 - Kathleen Norlien 2021 - Elizabeth Moe 2022 - Ellen Saliares 2023 - Antonia Apolinário-Wilcoxon |
Read the April 2021 funding announcement of the $10K grant to the records collection owner, the University of Minnesota Social Welfare History Archives, of the Legacy Amendment grant from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund through the Minnesota Historical Society for the digital preservation and access project Public Health in Minnesota: Digitizing Recordings of “A Public Health Journal” TV program.
This work would not be possible without the dedicated leadership of many volunteers over the years!
APHA 2024 FILM FESTIVAL PARTNERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH A collaboration of The Social Welfare History Archives and the Minnesota Public Health Association |
The Social Welfare History Archives (SWHA) at the University of Minnesota Libraries has over 370 collections containing more than 7000 feet of historical records and is an internationally recognized source on the history of social services and related issues. SWHA is also home to significant collections on the history of public health and its partnerships. The historical records of the Minnesota Public Health Association (MPHA) include governing documents, annual meeting programs, newsletters, and committee work. The archives also contain photographs, posters, and videotapes documenting the importance and impact of public health.
Examples of SWHA records include rich sources of interdisciplinary work in the areas of:
Information on public health policy and programs of the past inspires understanding that impacts healthy futures. Students, scholars, practitioners, and community members are encouraged to use the collections.
Historical records in the archive are available to use for:
For more information:
“A Public Health Journal” TV program, 30 years of episodes are available to watch online: https://z.umn.edu/9sc6
Interested in learning more or using the archives?
Contact the archivist to get more information or make an appointment: swharef@umn.edu
The Minnesota Public Health Association records collection holds a treasure trove of various print and visual materials, covering a 70+ year period. This collection helps us to connect the long history of our multi-disciplinary association, grounded in social justice and health equity pathways, to current and future policies, programs and practices. It is a rich resource that documents historical perspectives to tell a story.
An online inventory to guide users is currently being updated.
MPHA archived its records collection at the Social Welfare History Archives (SWHA) in March 2017. SWHA is part of the Archives and Special Collections Department of the University of Minnesota Libraries and is located in the Elmer L Andersen Library on the west bank campus in March 2017. Public health is an important addition to SWHA’s historical sources on social welfare organizations, reflecting the impact of poverty, race and housing on health and well-being, since the late 19th century. SWHA provides a permanent home for the MPHA records. The records are stored in archival quality folders and boxes in a secure underground climate-controlled facility. Library conservation staff will handle any materials needing conservation or repair.
The MPHA records are a valuable historical resource and are meant to be used to better understand the history of public health in Minnesota and nationally. Members are welcome to make an appointment to use the records. They are also available to students, teachers, health professionals, faculty, researchers, and citizens. These historical records are raw materials to create new knowledge. Research purposes may involve documenting historical context and intersections; reflecting about health trends, changes or impact; or evaluating the effectiveness of a campaign, legislation, or program addressing a specific health challenge. Records can be used for a range of outcomes, such as: to produce a public or class presentation, an article or book for publication, papers or dissertations for degree programs, exhibits or displays, podcasts or documentaries, artistic works or performances, and related print and digital projects.
1. Request appointment from Social Welfare History Archives Library by emailing ande3748@umn.edu
Include the collection title, item title, box and folder information, so materials can be pulled ahead of time for you.
2. Visit the Social Welfare History Archives, located in the Elmer L. Andersen Library at the University of Minnesota
Pay parking is available in a surface lot or nearby ramps. The library can also be reached by light rail.
3. Check in at the reception desk in the Maxine Houghton Wallin Special Collections Research Center on the lower level near Room 15.
In spring 2017, MPHA celebrated the milestone of the organization's 110th anniversary. Watch this special video created to commemorate MPHA's history, and learn about our future plans!