Evolution of a transdisciplinary “One Medicine–One Health” approach to global health education at the University of California, Davis

• Main Authors: Conrad, Patricia A, Mazet, Jonna A, Clifford, Deana, Scott, Cheryl, Wilkes, Michael
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: eScholarship, University of California 2009
• Subjects: Veterinary Sciences; Agricultural; Veterinary and Food Sciences; Animal Production; Emerging Infectious Diseases; Prevention; Infectious Diseases; Good Health and Well Being; Quality Education; Animal Diseases; Animals; California; Education; Veterinary; Humans; Public Health; Zoonoses; One Medicine; One Health; Global health; Zoonotic disease; Medical education; Veterinary education; Calvin; Avian flu
• Online Access: https://escholarship.org/uc/item/26f2r2j1

In today's world health events in one nation or geographic area often have repercussions for the health and well-being of populations beyond that region; sometimes even globally. In recent years many factors, most notably concern about emerging infectious diseases, have contributed to an increasing appreciation of the interdependency of human, animal and ecosystem health worldwide. Integrated global approaches to improve the health of humans, animals and their shared environments are proving to be in the best interest of many countries. A special symposium and award were established in memoriam to the internationally renowned epidemiologist, Dr. Calvin W. Schwabe, who (while at the University of California, Davis) was a significant advocate of the "One Medicine" approach to public health, calling upon all health professionals, including veterinarians, to work collaboratively and comparatively to improve human health. This paper discusses the evolution of the "One Medicine" concept into a global "One Health" approach to research, training capacity and service infrastructure, focused not only on disease, but also on health at the individual, population, and ecosystem levels. Projects involving UCD faculty which attempt to integrate a One Health approach include the Health for Animals and Livelihood Improvement (HALI) Project in Tanzania, Envirovet Summer Institute, Avian Flu School and Newcastle Immunization Program in Africa, a web-based virtual global health training program, and the Calvin Schwabe One Health Project.