One Health can provide a safe, 'no judgment zone' for many needed conversations surrounding our most difficult global and environmental health challenges. ‘Narratives of One Health in Action’ is a page where many items can be shared, from peer reviewed scientific case studies to examples of One Health successes (or missed opportunities) to Op Eds and Opinion Pieces. Opinions expressed here are not necessarily approved by the One Health Commission but are shared ‘because’ this is a safe, no judgement zone and we need to hear from many perspectives on many of today’s challenges. Thoughtful articles written in a professional tone will be considered for posting. Submit suggested items to cstroud@onehealthcommission.org.
Disasters such as Hurricane Katrina and Harvey stressed the importance of the human-animal bond aspect during disaster preparedness and recovery. Harris County Veterinary Public Health (HCVPH), a division of the local health department Harris County Public Health, has created an opportunity to address this issue in order to build a healthier, more resilient community in the Houston, Texas area….. The 1st Annual Zoonotic Disease Conference held March 28, 2009 offered 6 continuing education (CE) hours to 88 attendees covering critical and relevant public health and zoonotic disease information…. The 10th annual conference held September 30 – October 1, 2017 changed its name to the One Health Conference, included over 325 attendees from a variety of health professions, and offered CE credits to physicians and nurses for the first time.
Using this creed, researchers from the University of Pretoria and the University of California, Davis, led by Amanda Berrian, DVM MPH, PhD, developed the One Health Training and Leadership (OHTL) program. This program sought to turn 10 residents of the Bushbuckridge Local Municipality, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa into community One Health leaders. These selected individuals underwent professional development to strengthen and broaden their leadership and communication skills. These individuals learned the concepts of inquiry-based learning and how to effectively facilitate a training workshop. Trainees then hosted a workshop series for the broader community where they implemented an experiential One Health curriculum which was developed in response to a 2013 study in which residents shared their knowledge and practices regarding human, animal, and environmental health.
By Tracy Farone, DVM, Professor of Biology Grove City College, Grove City, Pennsylvania
While many “One-Health” courses exist within our veterinary and graduate schools, few programs exist within undergraduate pre-health curricula. Historical reports credit the earlier days of the medical professions with having a minimal gap between the medical and veterinary professions. This minimal gap still exists today within our undergraduate, pre-health programs. We should take this opportunity to connect and educate health professionals at an “early age”, when they are naturally learning together. As undergraduates, these students are excited about integrating new ideas, and their academic schedule may be more accommodating to a variety of classes. Presenting One-Health concepts to students at this stage of their education could have a positive impact on their awareness and attitudes toward public health and zoonotic disease.
