The 2025 conference theme was United in passion and purpose. We reaffirmed our commitment to the important work of ensuring Minnesotans can live their healthiest lives, leveraged the unique attributes each part of the public health system brings to the work, and grew in our understanding of what it means to stand together, even in the face of adversity.

Stay tuned for the 2026 conference save the date!

Conference purpose

Strengthen the partnership between local, Tribal and state public health, create a shared understanding of what this partnership means, and develop our skills as public health professionals.

Conference objectives

By the end of the conference, attendees will be able to:

Describe the common mission/vision between local, Tribal and state public health.
Better understand the strengths and assets that the LPHA, MDH, and Tribal Public Health bring to the partnership.
Identify positive outcomes of partnerships between local, Tribal, and state public health.
Build relationships with other public health professionals and engage in opportunities for shared learning.
Learn about up-to-date practices, tools, and programs that contribute to their development as a public health professional.

Who should attend?

The conference is designed with content that is most relevant and beneficial for the following groups:

Local public health department directors, CHS administrators and staff: Our goal is to have every local public health agency represented at this conference.
Tribal health department leaders and staff: Participants from the health departments of Minnesota’s 11 Tribal Nations are encouraged to attend.
MDH leadership and staff: A wide representation of attendees across MDH divisions is sought.

For questions about the conference, email health.mpphconference.mdh@state.mn.us.

2025 conference at a glance

The conference featured a mix of keynote speakers and breakout sessions.

Keynote speakers

Dr. Patrice Buckner Jackson

Dr. PBJ was the opening keynote at the conference

Dr. Patrice Buckner Jackson, known in her community as Dr. PBJ, gives educators the strategies for accomplishing purposeful work without burnout.

Dr. PBJ is an educator of almost 25 years and an Executive Coach for more than 10 years. She holds a doctoral degree in Education Administration, served in executive leadership at colleges and universities, and facilitated leadership training as a faculty member for the Center for Creative Leadership. Dr. Jackson worked in higher education at many levels, from student assistant to President’s Cabinet and is the recipient of several professional awards and accolades.

Dr. Jackson founded EduCare Training and Consulting, LLC through a purpose of pouring in to those who pour out so much. Much of her work is specifically focused on equipping and refreshing educators. Compassionate work can carry a high price tag: your mind, body, spirit and relationships may be in distress as you serve the needs of others. Dr. Jackson leads her community to serve well without paying an ultimate price.

Dr. PBJ is the creator and host of the Disrupting Burnout podcast as well as the author of the Amazon best-seller, Disrupting Burnout: The professional woman’s LIFELINE to finding purpose.

About the presentation

Discover Your Brilliance
Fulfillment grows when our work aligns with our deeper purpose. In this inspiring keynote, Dr. Patrice Buckner Jackson (affectionately known as Dr. PBJ) will help you look beyond titles and tasks to uncover your unique brilliance—the irreplaceable value you bring to your community. You’ll explore the powerful connection between Purpose, Passion, and Profession, and discover simple ways to reignite your fire, strengthen partnerships, and lead with renewed energy—united in passion and purpose for a healthier Minnesota.

Gaelin Elmore

Gaelin Elmore was the closing keynote at the conference

Gaelin Elmore is a former NFL athlete turned nationally recognized keynote speaker and belonging expert. He has worked with fortune 500 companies, state agencies, and small locally run non-profits, all with the same mission - to create environments where EVERYONE can thrive: teams, leaders, AND clients. And thriving is only possible when we belong. Gaelin’s keynotes are a perfect blend of humor, practicality, and hard truth that challenges, connects, and changes every audience he shares space with. Gaelin’s message, passion, and story has led him to stages in 39 different states and multiple different countries in the last calendar year alone. Even still, the most important stage where Gaelin gets to “practice what he preaches” is at home, with his superstar wife, Micaela, and their superstar children (depending on the day), Laniah, Gideon, and Tatum.

About the presentation

Be The Difference: Belonging is the Support We Need
What determines if an individual is a “success” story or a “cautionary” tale? Is it talent? Is it resilience or grit? Is it simply luck? Gaelin Elmore knows that stories of caution and success have more things in common than we’d care to admit. He knows because he lived it. Mr. Elmore’s powerful story has motivated and inspired thousands, but instead of using his story to focus on “success,” he uses it to shed light on the importance of belonging and “support.” Throughout this keynote, attendees will be challenged and inspired to be individuals who CARE about belonging, because belonging is ‘the difference’ between a story of success and a tale of caution.

Attendees learned:

The fundamental difference between stories of “success” vs tales of “caution”
The transformational power of belonging
How to support others using the CARE model

Breakout sessions

View the 2025 breakout session descriptions and presenters here: Breakout Session Descriptions (PDF)

The conference took place Oct. 28 through 30, 2025 in Breezy Point, MN.

Agenda | 2025 Partners in Public Health Conference (PDF)

Thank you to our conference planning committee!

Sarah Reese, Polk County Public Health
Erin Melz, Aitkin County Health & Human Services
Kristin Bye, Otter Tail County Public Health
Kris Klopp, Mille Lacs County Public Health
Stephanie Souter, Washington County Public Health & Environment
Michelle Ebbers, Des Moines Valley Public Health
Amy Evans, Dodge County Public Health
Sam Colston, MDH, Public Health Laboratory
Angela Noll, MDH, Office of Data Strategy and Interoperability
Jennifer Heath, MDH, Child and Family Health
Amy Smith, MDH, Emergency Preparedness
Lil Pinero, MDH, Substance Use Prevention
Emily Johnson, MDH, Human Resources Management
TC Duong, MDH, Health Equity Strategy & Innovation
Alicia Rodriguez, Local Public Health Association of Minnesota
Murphy Anderson, MDH, Public Health Practice
Mary Lyon, Local Public Health Association of Minnesota
Deanna White, MDH, Public Health Practice
Gabby Cahow, MDH, Public Health Strategy and Partnership