Some ancient Japanese ivory carvings consist of an intricate, often two-faced exterior shell within which a second or even a third, equally complex, figure is embedded. In like fashion, two of the most important questions confronting pediatrics today are closely related and contain within them several other equally profound puzzles. The first is how to prevent accidents—the leading killer of children in our time. The other is how to change health behavior, not only to reduce accidents or their consequences, but also in hope of promoting life-styles that will lead to positive health in other spheres. A second layer of questions pertains to the role and responsibilities of the health profession relative to others and, within health, to the role of practicing physicians relative to public health agencies, both in accident prevention and health promotion.