News

One Health in ACTION …

 

One Health Meeting Initiated Between Local Physician and Veterinarian Associations in Florida (USA)

 

A first ever local Capital Medical Society/Big Bend Veterinary Medical Association joint meeting was held in Tallahassee, Florida (USA) on April 19, 2011 to discuss “One Health.”  In addition to practicing clinicians (physicians and veterinarians), the State Agriculture Veterinarian, State Medical Epidemiologist, State Environmental Health Director and the County Health Department Medical Director were in attendance.  

Prior to the formal meeting, pictures of attendees and their companion animals were shown to the crowd of over 100 people.  The three goals of the meeting were:

·         For physicians, veterinarians and public health professionals to become aware of and able to attenuate contributors to disease in our community;

·         Encourage health professionals’ contributing to the community's resiliency; and

·         Begin a process for community health professionals to regularly collaborate. 

 Additional meetings are being planned by the two local professional doctor organizations.

Reported by Lisa A. Conti, DVM, MPH, director of the Florida State Health Department’s Division of Environmental Health (USA).  Dr. Conti also serves on the One Health Initiative Website’s Honorary Advisory Board http://www.onehealthinitiative.com/advBoard.php.