The hottest topics related to health will be the focus of the two-day Oregon Public Health Association Conference that starts Monday at Oregon State University.

Health officials, researchers and the public will gather starting at 9:30 a.m. Monday at LaSells Stewart Center, 26th Street and Western Boulevard in Corvallis.

"This conference is the only meeting of its kind in Oregon, drawing together public health experts from throughout Oregon's state and county public health departments, colleges and universities," said Charlie Fautin, co-chair of the conference program committee and a key health official for Benton County. "This year's conference includes keynote speakers focusing on critical public health challenges including the health effects of climate change, our aging population and health system reform."

Dr. Melvin Kohn, interim public health director for the state of Oregon, will open the conference Monday morning. Other notable speakers include Phil Mote, director of the new Oregon Climate Change Research Institute at OSU, discussing the impact of climate change on public health. Karen Hooker, director of OSU's Center for Healthy Aging Research, will address the trends and latest research in aging.

For registration information, see www.oregonpublichealth.org