University, Partner Organizations Collaborate to Promote One Health
Monday, Oct. 14, 2024
OLATHE — Kansas State University’s Olathe campus and College of Veterinary Medicine are working together to spotlight the interconnectedness of human, animal and environmental health, known as One Health, and how its impacts affect community health.
One Health Day, an international event held every fall, is geared toward bringing awareness to the topic and promoting an exchange of information across disciplines. Kansas City One Health Day is a regional celebration that will be held Nov. 1. The annual event is a partnership by the Johnson County Education Research Triangle (JCERT) members, including K-State Olathe, the University of Kansas Clinical Research Center and KU Edwards Campus. The K-State College of Veterinary Medicine and BioNexus KC also collaborate on the annual event.
“One Health Day is an opportunity to bring together experts from multiple sectors, including veterinarians, physicians, ecologists, environmental scientists, public health and more to discuss the important connections between human, animal and environmental health,” said Margaret Kincaid, teaching professor of public health at K-State Olathe. “Food as Medicine, the theme for this year’s event, is a perfect example of the importance of a collaborative, interdisciplinary approach, recognizing that the health of people is directly linked to the health of animals and the environment.”
At KC One Health Day, participants will explore how nutrition affects overall health of humans and animals and the role the environment plays in the availability of healthy, nutritious foods. Attendees will hear from experts and interact with students who are conducting research in the area. To learn more and register, visit the event website.
High school, college and graduate students are invited to present posters highlighting research they have completed on Food as Medicine. Judges meet with the students to provide a space for further discussion of each topic. Cash scholarships are awarded for the top three student posters. The deadline for abstract submissions is Nov. 1.
The university also hosts the nation’s One Health Newsletter, which is a collaborative effort of a diverse group of scientists and health professionals, as a way of supporting discovery and innovation related to One Health. In early 2024, the newsletter management shifted from the College of Veterinary Medicine to the Olathe campus with the goal of growing the publication’s reach.
“Our goal for the newsletter is to promote a unified approach to optimizing the health of people, animals and ecosystems,” said Ellyn Mulcahy, Master of Public Health program director, K-State College of Veterinary Medicine, and member of the One Health Newsletter Editorial Board. “By leveraging the university’s strengths and engaging new readers and authors, K-State is helping foster critical communications and linkages between key sectors.”
The theme of the next One Health Newsletter is the History of Public Health and One Health. It is expected to publish later this month. Those interested in receiving the newsletter can subscribe at K-State’s One Health Newsletter.