Health Commissioner Holds Unique Public Meeting

Minnesota's Commissioner of Health spent the day in Rochester on Tuesday.
   
Discussing several health issues in the community.
   
After touring a few health facilities in town he set up a rather laid back and unique public meeting.
 
Many a business meetings have settled over a beer, a board room, or even on the golf course.

At East Park in Rochester, health officials are hearing pitches. As they pitch.
"Why not talk public health on a horse shoe pitch?" Health Commissioner Dr. Ed Ehlinger says as he tosses a horse shoe.

Members of the public were invited to talk public health with the man in Minnesota who probably knows it best.
With titles like “Dr.” and “Commissioner of Health,” Ed Ehlinger may seem a little intimidating.

"You're number one in health factors, but you're number 24 in health outcomes," Ehlinger explains to a group of people.
But that’s only until you get a good look at his brown knickers and matching bowtie.

And play a game of horse shoes with him.
“Not too far left or too far to the right. Just like public health. It’s not to the left or the right. It’s non-partisan,” Ehlinger chuckles.

Even though some people are better at horse shoes than others, everyone feels comfortable to share their ideas.
Playing a laid back game, on a sunny afternoon.

"Not only to come and tell us what they think but maybe to learn a little bit about what is going on," DFL-Representative Tina Liebling explains.
The biggest topics discussed during Tuesday’s horseshoe match were creating healthier school lunches as well as monitoring emergency rooms and surgeries to cut down accidents and improve care.