What is One Health? I One Health Collaborative I Current One Health Efforts I Resources
One Health Conference
Submit your abstract
Abstract submissions due October 25, 2024 11:59 pm
Please fill out this form to submit your abstract
About the conference
The Washington State One Health, Zoonotic and Vector-borne Disease conference is an opportunity for cross-sector sharing and collaboration on human, animal, and environmental health issues. The next conference will be held on March 26-27, 2025, at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, WA. This free conference will:
- Have a virtual attendance option
- Award continuing education credits for veterinarians and registered sanitarians
- Provide an opportunity for individuals across the state to network and share ideas regarding issues at the human, animal, and environmental interface
Tentative logistics:
- The conference is anticipated to run from 9am-5pm both days, but may end early on the second day.
- Day one will focus on presentations, and day two will be more interactive and include breakout sessions and workshops.
- Only day one will be virtually streamed.
More details regarding a call for abstracts, registration, hotel blocks, and more will be forthcoming. Keep checking back here for updates. Contact Lauren Sarkissian at lauren.sarkissian@doh.wa.gov with any conference related questions.
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 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, Zoonotic and Vector-borne Disease Program, Environmental Public Health Sciences, and the Climate and Health program. Additionally, Global and One Health is one of five priorities in the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) Transformational Plan. The Transformational Plan outlines commitment to leading the development and implementation of One Health.
One Health Collaborative
WA DOH is one of the coordinating agencies for the One Health Collaborative, along with Washington State Department of Agriculture, Washington State Department of Fish & Wildlife, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture – Animal and Plant Inspection Service (APHIS). The One Health Collaborative 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.
In 2019, the Collaborative 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 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
Current One Health Efforts
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 17 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 and vector-borne diseases, moving prevention work upstream, climate and health, and One Health engagement.
One Health Needs Assessment Report, Washington State 2023 (PDF)
One Health Needs Assessment Summary (PDF)
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. Contact Hanna Oltean for more information.
One Health and Antimicrobial Resistance Workgroup
The concept of One Health applies to antimicrobial resistance. Antibiotic resistance can spread in many ways, In addition
- Antibiotics used in animals contributes to antibiotic resistance in humans.
- Antibiotic resistant germs (and non-resistant germs) can spread between people and animals.
- Soil and water contaminated with antibiotic resistant germs from human and animal waste can cause infections in people and animals.
- Antibiotics released into waterways can increase antibiotic resistant germs in the environment.
- Open Letter to Washington State on Combating Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria (PDF)
- Governor's Proclamation for Antibiotic Awareness Week (PDF)
- Antimicrobial Stewardship, WA DOH
LHJ One Health Community of Practice
Local health jurisdictions collaborate to share strategies, ideas, successes, lessons learned, and other topics related to applying the One Health approach in local public health practice. Contact lauren.sarkissian@doh.wa.gov to learn more.
Resources
- One Health Commission
- CDC One Health
- University of Washington, Center for One Health Research
- American Veterinary Medical Association
- US Department of Agriculture One Health
- World Health Organization
- World Bank
- Quadripartite One Health Joint Plan of Action
- WA Department of Health One Health Needs Assessment Report (PDF)