On Friday, November 4th, Cornell hosted a symposium entitled, One Health + Public Health + Global Health.  This symposium highlighted the connections between environmental health, humans and animals and included speakers representing a wide range of topics and fields of interest.  Speakers focused on disease and environment, and food (and water) security.  Well-being, such as the effects of nature on children’s development was also of focus and speakers represented both research and local community initiatives such as Health Food for All and the Ithaca Children’s Garden.  Interventions were described that ranged from combatting Avian Flu and Rabies in Bangladesh, Plant Medicine and community engagement, farm to hospital programs and food justice. A main theme that permeated across speakers was the need for understanding and emphasizing the context within  which  populations are being studied or helped.   The importance of reciprocity was highlighted as well.

The conference was unique in that it brought together many people from a variety of disciplines and academic and non-academic settings together.  Presenters included community members, faculty, and Cornell students. 

The following programs sponsored this event:

Master of Public Health Program, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Office of Engagement Initiatives, the Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future and the Graduate School. 

This symposium is timely in that Cornell plans to launch a new Master of Public Health program  this Fall, 2017. This program will be run through the College of Veterinary medicine and will highlight the links between the environment, humans and animals. Much of its focus will be on epidemiology, sustainability, infectious disease and food systems. 

More information on this program can be found in the Cornell Chronicle piece: 

http://chronicle.cornell.edu/stories/2016/06/cornell-launch-new-master-public-health-program