The University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment and the One Health Initiative invite the UK campus community, along with local and state stakeholders, to the second annual One Health Symposium on Oct. 20.

Leading into celebrating International One Health Day on Nov. 3, this year’s symposium is designed to further inform and inspire attendees about One Health — a collaborative effort to improve the health of animals, people and the environment. Furthermore, attendees will have an opportunity to join UK’s One Health Center Initiative, a hub for collaborative research, instruction, extension and outreach efforts in advancing One Health.

“We are excited to host the second annual symposium and encourage all who are interested in learning more about One Health or becoming a member of our One Health Initiative to join us,” said S. Reddy Palli, Department of Entomology chair at Martin-Gatton CAFE, state entomologist and The Bill Gatton Foundation Distinguished Professor. “At UK, we are invested in becoming a leader in educating people about the significance of One Health and its impact on everyone’s daily life.”

The speaker lineup will present a wide range of One Health topics, including integrated alpha-gal syndrome management; unraveling the health impacts of alpha-gal syndrome; harnessing an interdisciplinary approach to build resiliency at the human, animal, environment interface; updates on New World screwworm and more.

Keynote speakers include (ordered alphabetically by last name):

• Scott Commins, associate professor of medicine, University of North Carolina — Tick to Table: Unraveling the Health Impacts of Alpha-Gal Syndrome.
• Laura Kahn, co-founder of the One Health Initiative, professor emeritus, Princeton University — Using a One Health Framework to Examine Coronaviruses.
• Yoonseong Park, professor of entomology, Kansas State University — Integrated Alpha-Gal Syndrome Management.
• Sid Thakur, executive director, Global One Health Academy, NC State University — The One Health Imperative: Harnessing Interdisciplinary Approach to Build Resiliency at the Human, Animal, Environment Interface.

Additional invited speakers include:

• Jennifer Way, veterinary coordinator, USDA — Updates on New World Screwworm.
• Jessie Lay, extension animal health veterinarian, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Kentucky — One Health Extension.
• Feng Li, chair, equine infectious diseases, Gluck Equine Research Center, University of Kentucky.
• Wayne Sanderson, professor and director of CARERC and SCHAHIP, University of Kentucky.
• Cheryl Witt, associate professor and associate dean for undergraduate programs, agriculture extension specialist, University of Kentucky.

The UK One Health Initiative is part of The Bill Gatton Foundation Grand Challenges, which includes projects that will significantly impact communities in Kentucky and beyond.
 
“We remain thankful to The Bill Gatton Foundation for supporting work at the intersection of agriculture, health and the environment,” said Laura Stephenson, vice president for land-grant engagement and dean of Martin-Gatton CAFE. “The One Health approach recognizes that the health of Kentuckians, animals and our natural resources are deeply connected. By working together across disciplines and communities, we can improve lives across Kentucky and beyond.”

The symposium will be held online and in-person at the Gluck Equine Research Auditorium on UK’s campus. A virtual link will be provided to those who opted to attend online. Event registration begins at 8 a.m., and speakers are scheduled between 8:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. The afternoon session will be for One Health Center Initiative members, which includes lunch and focus groups on different aspects of One Health.

For more information, agenda and registration, visit https://onehealth.ca.uky.edu/symposium. Attendees are encouraged to register by Oct. 6. 

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Writer: Christopher Carney, Christopher.Carney@uky.edu   

University of Kentucky alum and former trustee Carol Martin “Bill” Gatton bestowed a transformational $100 million gift to the college through The Bill Gatton Foundation. It is the largest gift to the university in its history.   

Four Pillars of The Bill Gatton Foundation’s gift are (1) Scholarships and other initiatives for Student Success, (2) Companion Animal Program, (3) 21st Century Capital Projects and New Initiatives Fund and (4) Faculty Research and Innovation/Research Challenge Trust Fund Program.   

The Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment is an Equal Opportunity Organization with respect to education and employment and authorization to provide research, education information and other services to individuals and institutions that provide equal opportunities for qualified persons in all aspects of institutional operations and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic origin, religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, uniformed service, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information or social or economic status.