One Health Conference 2023 I What is One Health? I How is the department involved? I Collaborative I Workgroups I Resources
Washington State One Health Conference, 2023
The Washington State Department of Health is hosting this year’s Washington One Health Conference on August 16, 2023 at Central Washington University in Ellensburg. This is an opportunity for cross-sector sharing and collaboration on human, animal, and environmental health issues. To volunteer at the event, email lauren.sarkissian@doh.wa.gov.
Register for the 2023 conference!
We are planning to offer an optional in-person only meeting on August 17 at this same location for collaborative discussions resulting from the One Health Needs Assessment. You don't have to have participated in the One Health Needs Assessment workshop to participate in these discussions.
Discussion topic areas will likely cover:
- antimicrobial resistance and stewardship
- healthy environments
- data systems
- zoonotic & vector-borne diseases
- moving prevention work upstream
- One Health engagement.
What is One Health?
One Health is a collaborative effort of multiple disciplines working locally, nationally and globally to improve the health of our ecosystem, including humans, animals, plants, and our environment. One Health promotes multi-sectoral and cross-disciplinary collaboration to solve health challenges.
One Health Needs Assessment
In 2022, WA DOH received Foundational Public Health Services funding to conduct partner engagement and perform a One Health Needs Assessment. The objective of the assessment was to identify gaps, opportunities, and priorities related to One Health work in Washington to guide funding, program activities, and policy decisions moving forward, as well as leveraging existing resources and strengthening partnerships.
The workshop took place in March 2023. A Needs Assessment Advisory Committee, with 15 representatives from state agencies, local public health, academia, and tribal organizations, helped design and plan the workshop over several months. At the workshop, topics within several areas were discussed: antimicrobial resistance and stewardship, healthy environments, data systems, zoonotic & vector-borne diseases, moving prevention work upstream, and One Health engagement.
Washington State One Health Assessment Report is scheduled to be released Summer 2023.
How is Department of Health Involved?
One Health requires relationship-building, communication, collaboration, and coordination among professionals in multiple sectors. Several offices and programs at the Department of Health use a One Health approach, including Communicable Disease Epidemiology, Environmental Public Health Sciences, and the Climate and Health program.
DOH is one of the coordinating agencies for the One Health Collaborative (below). In addition, DOH worked with the Governor's Office for recognition of One Health Day, on November 3rd, to raise awareness about the necessity of an interdisciplinary approach to solving health challenges.
Governor's Proclamation for One Health Day (PDF)
One Health Collaborative
The One Health Collaborative in Washington State seeks to improve the lives of human and animal Washingtonians and our shared environment through pragmatic relationship-building, cross-agency collaboration, and constructive communication. We meet quarterly to facilitate a One Health approach among people working in government agencies and institutions related to One Health.
One Health Collaborative Mission and Vision Statement (PDF)
Participating Agencies
- Washington State Departments of Agriculture, Fish and Wildlife and Health
- University of Washington’s Center for One Health Research and Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Services
- Washington State University’s College of Global Animal Health, Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, and College of Veterinary Medicine
- United States Department of Agriculture – Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and Wildlife Services
- Eastern Washington University
- Washington Invasive Species Council
- Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board - Environmental Health
- United States Army
- Federal Bureau of Investigation
- Public Health Seattle & King County
Workgroups
Surveillance and Data Systems Workgroup
The vision of this workgroup is that Washington state has the capability to capture, share and integrate human, animal and environmental data in a coordinated way that allows for common analysis and interpretation to enhance surveillance and prevention of conditions and diseases impacting One Health. Group members are working together across agencies, organizations, and universities to improve data capture, sharing and integration for conditions and diseases that impact One Health. Contact hanna.oltean@doh.wa.gov for more information.
One Health Combating Antimicrobial Resistance Workgroup
This group is not currently meeting. They are examining how best to move forward with promoting activities that improve antimicrobial stewardship and combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in human healthcare, animal health, and the environment. A Previous projects included beginning to develop a state plan for One Health antibiotic stewardship and AMR surveillance and integrating surveillance of AMR in humans, animals, and environmental samples to provide data for decision making by clinicians and health officials.