News

A momentous, milestone presentation at the American Veterinary Medical Association Convention by *Lonnie J. King, DVM, MS, MPA, Diplomate ACVPMs

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 *Dr. King is an acknowledged renowned leader in the late 20^th and early 21 centuries’ One Medicine-One Health movement (‘One Medicine−One Health’: An Historic Perspective by One Health Initiative team, Pages 18 -27.  Contained in Official Journal of The World Medical Association, WMJ_2023_02_one_health_one_medicine.pdf :

“...Dr. King was recognised as a living “giant” in the One Health movement, as the then director of CDC National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID) | NCEZID | CDC  and member of the AVOHS (FORMERLY AVES) Board of Directors. In 2009, he proposed and established the CDC One Health Office (‘One Medicine−One Health’: An Historic Perspective www.cdc.gov/onehealth/index.html). Currently, Dr. Casey Barton Behravesh is the director of the CDC One Health Office. ...” and https://onehealthinitiative.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/OH-Initiative.pdf:

“ ... Other associated giant figures included *Roger Mahr, DVM and *Lonnie King, DVM, MS, MPA, DACVPM, select members of the 2008 AVMA OneHealth task force, and some other worldwide leaders, many still active today. ...”

King is also, a longstanding prominent Board Member and leader of

American Veterinary One Health Society (avohsociety.org)
www.facebook.com/embracingOneHealthsince1964

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Abstract

The most challenging societal needs of the 21st century involve improving the health and well-being of humans, animals, and plants as well as the enhancing the resilience and sustainability of environmental, agricultural and ecological systems. All are threatened by complex multi-dimensional factors, largely driven by human activities on a global scale. Veterinarians have a responsibility and obligation to prevent diseases, optimize health, and mitigate risk in these broad domains. The need for a broader scope of the profession has never been greater. Without transformational changes and a new commitment to a broader mandate, a One Health mandate, the profession’s relevance and impact on society will be diminished. Serious global health threats will not be adequately addressed.

Preparing for a One Health Transformation

A transformation is a profound change or shift in perspectives, behaviors, and mindsets. It involves growth, learning, and adapting to new circumstances or insights. Historically, veterinary medicine has undergone four major transformations over the last three centuries and is now facing a fifth which we will refer to as the One Health Transformation. The first transformation was foundational, transpiring from the Middle Ages to the end of the 18th century. During this time, horses were highly valued assets that would help win wars. The importance of their health needs helped to establish the early roots of the profession.

The second transformation occurred from about 1750 – 1870. Europe and other parts of the world experienced severe animal epidemics including outbreaks of rinderpest that resulted in losses of millions of livestock and profound human famines. The need for expertise in livestock diseases led to the establishment of the first veterinary college in 1762 in Lyon, France.

The third transformation occurred from 1870 – 1970, resulting from the growing economic value of food animals and the need for improving food security. During this time, automobiles replaced horses for transportation, and the emphasis in veterinary medicine shifted from an equine-centered focus to include animal research, government veterinary and military services, and food animal health for global trade. New veterinary colleges helped to meet these needs.

The fourth transformation began around 1970 and continues today. It is characterized by the rapid growth of companion animal practices, recognition of the human-animal bond, advent of specialty colleges, and a shift from traditional food animal practices to serving large farms and corporate production systems.

The fifth, One Health, veterinary transformation is underway, beginning at the start of the 21st century. A seminal 2003 National Academy of Medicine report called Microbial Threats to Health discussed the factors that were influencing the emergence and reemergence of infectious diseases, the majority of which were zoonotic. Drivers influencing zoonotic disease emergence included increasing human populations and their demand for animal proteins, economic development and land use, increases in travel and trade, new technologies, global poverty, and microbial adaptations.

The veterinary profession must respond to these societal challenges that are impacting our professional lives and those we serve. In addition to new zoonoses, antimicrobial resistance, food security and safety challenges, expansion of public and global health, loss of biodiversity, and new threats to wildlife and ecosystems characterize this era and the need to adopt the One Health framework.

Today, the success of the profession is based on inter- and trans-disciplinary work to achieve new horizons and opportunities in our highly interconnected world and to ensure our on-going and future relevance and impact. While the One Health Transformation is underway, it hasn’t been fully embraced by the veterinary profession or other critical partners and there is a lack of cohesiveness within the profession at a time when we are becoming increasingly specialized and fragmented.

One Health and the Veterinary Oath

Not only is One Health Transformation necessary to address new societal challenges, but it is also consistent with, and integral to, the Veterinary Oath. All veterinarians have made a solemn vow regarding their actions and behaviors, committing to a wide array of health needs across multiple domains. No other professional oath is as comprehensive or as broad in scope as the Veterinary Oath. We have promised to use our skills and knowledge to benefit society, improve public health, conservation and the health of all animal species and their welfare. In 2019, the World Veterinary Association created a model veterinary oath that further stressed disease prevention including zoonoses, sustaining ecosystems, reducing negative environmental impacts and contributing to animal, human and environmental health. The U.S. Veterinary Oath was last revised 25 years ago to acknowledge our acceptance of animal welfare and wellbeing. Since that time, societal values and thinking have changed dramatically. Technology, social values, life events including 3 pandemics, cultural, and global views have been significantly altered and have created difficulty and complex challenges and vexing health problems. Emerging and reemerging zoonoses, some non-infectious disease issues, and eco- and environmental health demand the involvement of veterinary medicine. A One Health approach is now being recognized as an important framework to help prevent or mitigate pandemics and is a crucial part of our national security. There has been no time in the history of the profession that veterinarians have been needed more nor our potential societal impact greater. Previous transformations in veterinary medicine have followed substantial societal changes and span boundaries; however, none of these past eras can compare with today’s challenges nor with our compelling need to transform and adapt. Today, we must prepare new graduates to be competent, confident, and committed to the broad dimensions of the oath and effectively work in an integrated One Health platform across broad health sectors with diverse partners and communities.

Conclusion: A Call to Action

At the AVMA Convention held in Washington DC in 2007, AVMA made One Health a key point of emphasis. Both the AVMA and AMA presidents, Drs. Roger Mahr and Ronald Davis, respectively, used the meeting to launch an agreement to collaborate on One Health issues. Concurrently, an AVMA One Health Task Force issued its recommendations for a series of essential One Health activities. Eighteen years later, there is concern that the profession has lost focus and lacks the coherence to expand its mission. It is time to re-focus our attention and create a national program to enlarge our professional impact and influence for the future. Outstanding progress is being made but the profession has not reached a tipping point or a broad commitment to embrace the full dimensions nor the requirements of the One Health approach. However, the good news is that our future is not predetermined and can still be created to ensure that we meet contemporary societal needs and the perhaps, our greatest professional calling in history. It is time for veterinary medicine to launch a “One Health 2.0 Initiative”. The fifth transformation can be achieved by building on what was started 18 years ago by establishing a new vision and new commitment to a national program, effective leadership, and a national action plan. As in the previous transformations, changing societal circumstances have created a galvanizing moment with the prospects of a renewed purpose, meaning, and fulfilling careers. As veterinary professionals, we must rethink and reimagine the deepest sense of who we are and how we will contribute. The arc of our future must bend toward improving the health and wellbeing of all species, across the multiple and connected domains of One Health, ensuring that we keep our Veterinary Oath relevant for society’s most pressing needs.

Note: Edited version 8/28/25

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NOTABLY, Dr. King highlighted One Health’s landmark entrée as a transformational societal conceptual approach towards achieving a “worldwide strategy for expanding interdisciplinary collaborations and communications in all aspects of health care for humans, animals and the environment. The synergism achieved will advance health care for the 21st century and beyond by accelerating biomedical research discoveries, enhancing public health efficacy, expeditiously expanding the scientific knowledge base, and improving medical education and clinical care. When properly implemented, it will help protect and save untold millions of lives in our present and future generations.”— About - One Health Initiative

 “At the AVMA Convention held in Washington DC in 2007, AVMA made One Health a key point of emphasis. Both the AVMA and AMA presidents used the meeting to launch an agreement to collaborate on One Health issues. Concurrently, an AVMA One Health Task Force issued its recommendations for a series of essential One Health activities.”  ...

 

One Health AVMA Task Force Report - Historic "One Health" 1st Step realized July 15, 2008

Executive summary of the AVMA One Health Initiative Task Force report in: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association Volume 233 Issue 2

Published…Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA)  http://www.avma.org/onehealth

AND

“... The fifth veterinary transformation is underway and began with the start of the 21^st century.  A seminal National Academy of Medicine report called Microbial Threats to Health was published in 2003 and discussed new factors that were converging and influencing the emergence and reemergence of infectious diseases, and the majority were zoonotic. ...”

MICROBIAL THREATS TO HEALTH

EMERGENCE, DETECTION, AND RESPONSE

SEE: https://nap.nationalacademies.org/read/10636/chapter/1

From National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2003. Microbial Threats to Health: Emergence, Detection, and Response. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/10636