A local (Texas, USA) health department’s One Health approach to bridging the gap between veterinary and medical professionals

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.