Alabama One Health Symposium to explore solutions to shared challenges
From emerging zoonotic diseases to food recalls to hurricane season, public health experts and policymakers must plan for and monitor a range of potential threats that overlap human, animal and environmental health.
It’s a complex and constant process of air traffic control, necessitating clear and consistent communication and the ability to see around corners.
Auburn University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, in collaboration with the Alabama Department of Public Health and the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health, will host the inaugural Alabama One Health Symposium to explore collaborative solutions to multifaceted health challenges facing the state.
The event will be held on Monday, Nov. 16, at The Hotel at Auburn University & Dixon Conference Center, and will help policymakers, professionals, researchers, students, and community leaders explore a variety of topics connected to One Health and emergency preparedness. While the symposium is free to attend, thanks to support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, registration is required.
“Because meaningful collaboration is essential to addressing complex health challenges, we encourage participation from a wide range of disciplines and sectors,” said Dr. Andrea Perkins, director of Auburn’s Public and One Health undergraduate program and clinical assistant professor of infection control and biosecurity in the College of Veterinary Medicine. “We hope to bring together professionals from human, animal, plant, and environmental health, along with leaders from academia, government, healthcare, industry, and community organizations. By creating opportunities to connect, learn from one another, and share expertise, we aim to strengthen partnerships and identify innovative solutions that advance One Health across Alabama.”
“One Health” refers to a collaborative approach that recognizes interconnectivity between the health of people, animals, plants, and the environment. The concept brings together experts from human medicine, veterinary medicine, public health, environmental science, agriculture, wildlife conservation, and other fields to address complex health challenges.
This year’s symposium theme is preparedness, reflecting the need for coordinated responses to infectious disease outbreaks, natural disasters, food safety concerns and other public health issues.
“While we cannot predict every challenge we may face, we can strengthen our ability to respond,” Perkins said. “By improving planning, communication, coordination and collaboration before an event occurs, we can respond more quickly, effectively and efficiently when health threats arise, ultimately reducing their impact on our communities.”
Among the featured programs is an appearance by the Auburn University Raptor Center, as well as “The Art of Discovery: A One Health Community Exhibit.”
Speakers and presenters will cover such topics as health communication, veterinary emergency response, respiratory viruses, parasitology, disease surveillance and biosafety.
Public and One Health