One Health

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What is One Health?

One Health is an integrated effort of multiple disciplines working locally, nationally and globally to attain optimal health for humans, animals and the environment.

The Honours Specialization in One Health, leading to a Bachelor of Medical Sciences (BMSc) degree, was created in collaboration with Western University’s Departments of Sociology and Geography in the Faculty of Social Science to enrich the learning experience of students.

The module offers an innovative, interdisciplinary education and research experience for students, which focuses on the intricate link between animal health, environmental health, socioeconomic factors and human health.

Why is the Honours Specialization in One Health unique?

  • It provides access to unparalleled breadth and depth of knowledge in life sciences, physical sciences, social sciences, and the humanities with the focus on attaining optimal human health.
  • It offers research projects in the senior year with access to supervisors from various departments and faculties at Western University.

Courses

One Health 3300A – Foundations in One Health

The One Health concept acknowledges the global interdependence of people, animals, and the environment. This course focuses on the animal component of One Health. Areas of exploration will include wildlife, livestock, and companion animals, in addition to the use of animals in research, and comparative human and animal pathology.

Prerequisite(s): Biology 1001A or Biology 1201ABiology 1002B or Biology 1202B; either Biology 2244A/B or Statistical Sciences 2244A/B; and registration in third or fourth year of a BMSc or BSc degree.
Extra Information: 3 lecture/seminar hours.

One Health 3600B – One Health in Action

Key research designs and methodologic approaches fundamental to the multi-sectoral and collaborative One Health approach are presented in both lectures and in-depth case studies.  Topics covered include the study design and methods, data surveillance systems, engaging stakeholders, and implementing the One Health approach into action and policy change.

Pre-or Corequisite(s): One Health 3300A/B with a minimum mark of 70%.
Extra Information: 3 lecture/seminar hours.

One Health 4100G – Human Health, Animal Health and Comparative Pathology

An introduction to the field of laboratory animal science and comparative human and animal pathology. Major topics include regulatory oversight of animal-based research, animal biology and disease, animals as models of human diseases, genetic manipulation of research animals, and major intrinsic and extrinsic factors affecting biomedical research.

Antirequisite(s): Medical Sciences 4100F/G
Prerequisite(s): Enrolment in Year 4 of one of the following: an Honors Specialization in One Health, a BMSc degree, or an Honors BSc degree.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours.

One Health 4800B – Selected Topics in One Health

Topic(s) will reflect an area of interest in One Health, and may vary each year. Prior to registration, check with the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine for the selected topic.

Prerequisite(s): Registration in either Year 4 of a BMSc degree or Year 4 and Major in One Health in Double Majors (Honours degree)
Extra Information: 2 lecture hours, 1 seminar hour

Topic for January - April 2023: Comparative Approaches to Health Policy for the Biomedical Sciences

One Health 4980E – Seminar and Research Project

Includes: i) theory and practice of research techniques and appropriate use of experimental models, ii) an independent research project supervised by faculty, iii) oral and written communication skills, including the preparation of a research proposal and final written research project report.

Antirequisite(s): Pathology 4980E
Pre-or Corequisite(s): Pathology 3500 with a mark of at least 70% or the former Pathology 3240A and the former Pathology 3245B with marks of at least 70% in each; and registration in Year 4 of the Honors Specialization in One Health.
Extra Information: 10-15 laboratory/research hours per week plus 3 seminar hours per week.