Welcome to One Health Wednesdays — where we explore the interconnected health of people, animals, and the environment, one system at a time. Hosted by Dr. Ginger Dixon, DrPH a public health strategist and systems consultant, and Co-Host, Dr. Julia Zammit, DVM veterinarian and One Health specialist, each episode surfaces the often-invisible infrastructure that helps (or hinders) collaborative health efforts. 📅 New episodes every Wednesday! Listen on your favorite podcast app or visit OneHealthWednesdays.com. Stay updated—subscribe to the OLES newsletter: https://swiy.co/OLES-newsletter!
In this episode of One Health Wednesdays , guest host Dr. Julia Zammit sits down with Dr. Glen Cousquer for a deeply reflective conversation on awareness based systems change, One Health justice, and what it means to move from thinking about connection to truly practicing relational health. Together, they explore how language shapes the way we see the world, why outdoor and place based learning matters in health sciences, and how the shift from interdependence to intradependence can deepen our understanding of people, animals, ecosystems, and the more than human world. Dr. Cousquer invites us to look beyond narrow frameworks and fixed categories. From rivers and badger sets to veterinary campuses and biodiversity, this conversation asks what becomes possible when we bring more presence, humility, and reflexivity into One Health work. This episode is for anyone working in veterinary medicine, public health, conservation, education, environmental justice, or systems change who is ready to sit with deeper questions about care, responsibility, and the future we are shaping together.
In this special 50th episode celebration of One Health Wednesdays, Dr. Ginger Dixon and Dr. Julia Zammit turn the mic toward each other for a candid conversation about the journey so far, the guests who have shaped the show, and the future they hope to keep building together. They reflect on what continues to draw them to One Health, from community-based data and wildlife epidemiology to agriculture, gender equity, education, and breaking down silos through real human connection. Along the way, they share what they have learned from their guests, what they are reading, what keeps them grounded in this work, and why this community matters so deeply. We’re celebrating 50 episodes, but what really stands out is the community around this work. It’s the people connecting ideas across disciplines, the researchers and practitioners doing thoughtful work, and the educators and advocates showing up with real heart, all of it in service of a stronger future for the next generation. Here’s to 50 episodes, and to the next 50!
In this episode of One Health Wednesdays , Dr. Ginger Dixon sits down with Adam Schaefer , a One Health epidemiologist whose career has taken him everywhere from hospital infectious disease work to marine mammal health assessments, shark sampling, necropsy labs, conservation, and multidisciplinary public health research. Adam brings a rare blend of epidemiology, project management, and research leadership to the conversation, offering a practical look at what it means to do One Health in ways that are collaborative, strategic, and deeply grounded in real communities. Together, they explore how sentinel species can help us detect risks before they fully surface in human populations, why environmental data deserves more attention in One Health work, and what it takes to translate complex science into action. Adam shares powerful examples from his work tracing environmental exposures across wildlife, waterways, food systems, and human health, showing how the most meaningful solutions often emerge when the right disciplines and communities are at the same table. This conversation is a thoughtful reminder that One Health works best when we build trust, connect silos, and stay curious enough to see patterns others might miss. If your work centers on public health and epidemiology, environmental health, conservation, data with community in mind, or the future of cross-sector collaboration, this is an episode you will want to hear.
What if one of the most powerful tools for tackling antimicrobial resistance, food insecurity, and even climate pressure starts with animal vaccination? In this episode of One Health Wednesdays , Dr. Julia Zammit sits down with Dr. Flavie Vial to explore how animal health shapes the future of human health, ecosystem resilience, and global development. From rabies prevention and dog vaccination campaigns to livestock health, antibiotic use, emissions, and the urgent need to invest upstream in prevention, this conversation brings One Health into sharp focus. Dr. Vial shares why vaccines matter far beyond disease control, how better animal health systems can reduce antimicrobial use, and why the real challenge is no longer knowing what works. It is having the courage and coordination to fund, build, and sustain the systems that do. In this episode, we explore: • why vaccinating animals can help reduce antimicrobial resistance• what rabies teaches us about prevention, coordination, and political will• how animal health connects to food security and climate outcomes• where global investment is most needed to strengthen One Health in practice This is a grounded and timely conversation for anyone working across public health, veterinary medicine, wildlife, food systems, or environmental change.
In this week’s One Health Wednesdays, host Dr. Ginger Dixon sits down with Sonmani Choudhary of Heifer International to talk about what One Health looks like when it moves from a policy idea into everyday practice.Sonmani shares how her team in Bihar, India is supporting more than 𝟳𝟭,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗿𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀 through goats, sustainable agriculture, and a community-led model that connects animal health, household resilience, and ecosystem care. You’ll hear about their Farmer Field School Plus approach, why women’s leadership is central to lasting change, and what gets missed when systems operate in silos, from vaccine access to data that never reaches the people who need it most. In this episode, we explore: * How healthy herds can strengthen livelihoods and local food systems * Why markets and economics belong in One Health conversations * What community-owned data could unlock for faster, smarter decisions * A bold vision for “One Health microsystems” that reduce poverty and build climate resilience. If Sonmani’s work sparks something for you, contact her here at sonmani.choudhary@heiferindia.com and follow Heifer International’s Passing Gifts team as they scale sustainable livelihood development in Bihar, expand Farmer Field School Plus, launch more goat-focused field schools that double as incubation hubs, and grow women-led farmer-producer organizations that build real market power at the ground level.
Agronomist Thomas Lecomte joins Dr. Julia Zammit to explore how regenerative farming connects soil health, food systems, and human well-being. From managing vast cattle ranches in Africa to consulting on agroecological projects across Latin America, Thomas shares practical insights into restoring land and the deeper impact that has on our health.
This week on One Health Wednesdays , Dr. Chanchal Bhattacharya joins us from India to talk about what it really looks like to operationalize One Health across scale, season, and sector. With decades of experience in veterinary public health and cross-sector collaboration, he shares field-tested insights: from strengthening antimicrobial stewardship in backyard poultry to designing solar-powered cold chains for rural vaccine storage. We explore what makes One Health work in communities with dense human-livestock cohabitation, where public health depends as much on data as it does on trust, infrastructure, and adaptation. This is an episode about making One Health not just a framework, but a function.
This episode of One Health Wednesdays, hosted by Dr. Ginger Dixon with guest host Dr. Julia Zammit, features a dynamic group discussion on frameworks and gender equity in One Health. The conversation highlights the work of the Network for Ecohealth and One Health (NEOH) and its Gender Working Group, which has been advancing equity-focused approaches to public health, sustainability, and systems change for over a decade. Panelists include Dr. Julie Garnier, Dr. Evan Griffith, Elena Boriani, Dr. Brigitte Banyole, Carla Berger, and Dr. Sara Savic, each bringing expertise spanning veterinary medicine, anthropology, chemistry, and international development. Together they unpack the importance of mainstreaming gender equity into One Health practices, from global action plans to local community resilience. The discussion explores key milestones such as the One Health Evaluation Handbook , the newly released open-access textbook on One Health competencies, and the groundbreaking gender-responsive implementation guide for national One Health action plans. Tune in to learn how equity-focused frameworks are reshaping the future of One Health collaboration worldwide. Explore More about NEOH: 🌐 NEOH resources and membership: https://neoh.network 📘 Open-access textbook: https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/10.1079/9781800623002.0000 💼 LinkedIn community: https://www.linkedin.com/company/107974566/admin/dashboard/ ▶️ YouTube webinars: https://www.youtube.com/@neoh-ecohealthint.europech5439
In this episode of One Health Wednesdays , Dr. Ginger Dixon speaks with Dr. Ife Akanbi, a public health veterinarian, lecturer, and rabies educator from Nigeria. Dr. Akanbi shares how she integrates community engagement, vaccination programs, and policy advocacy into a systems-based approach to rabies prevention. Her work reaches dog owners, hunters, school children, market traders, and healthcare workers, adapting education and intervention strategies to cultural contexts. She addresses challenges such as mistrust, limited vaccine access, and traditional practices that increase rabies risk. Initiatives like mobile vaccination clinics, the Zero Rabies app, and youth engagement programs help bridge gaps between policy, community needs, and available resources. Dr. Akanbi’s vision focuses on strengthening laws for responsible dog ownership, improving vaccine distribution systems, and fostering collaboration between animal, human, and environmental health sectors to reduce rabies cases and strengthen One Health systems. 🎧 Listen now to hear how coordinated systems and culturally informed strategies can save lives. We’ll add these links to the show notes for reference. So Sad! She lost Her First Son to Rabies https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ifeoluwapo-akanbi-7568a9101_worldrabiesday-endrabiesnow-onehealth4all-activity-7113262281471275008-K2f8?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_android&rcm=ACoAABnwWvIBqgUI5KTrqt3Z3uegvp5XIb0Ug7Y A Nursing Mother Dies of Rabies Shortly after Delivering her Baby https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ifeoluwapo-akanbi-7568a9101_rabies-rages-lets-join-forces-to-combat-activity-7279833134433529856-pg6w?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_android&rcm=ACoAABnwWvIBqgUI5KTrqt3Z3uegvp5XIb0Ug7Y Rabies Education for Children https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ifeoluwapo-akanbi-7568a9101_rabiesawareness-publichealtheducation-healthcommunication-activity-7320816245207887872-V0ZQ?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_android&rcm=ACoAABnwWvIBqgUI5KTrqt3Z3uegvp5XIb0Ug7Y Saving Lives with Rabies Vaccine https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ifeoluwapo-akanbi-7568a9101_worldimmunizationweek-worldimmunizationweek2025-activity-7325081481121267712-Q50U?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_android&rcm=ACoAABnwWvIBqgUI5KTrqt3Z3uegvp5XIb0Ug7Y Antimicrobial Resistance Club launch https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ifeoluwapo-akanbi-7568a9101_antimicrobialresistance-amr-antimicrobialstewardship-activity-7334156114135035904-U7_t?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_android&rcm=ACoAABnwWvIBqgUI5KTrqt3Z3uegvp5XIb0Ug7Y Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Campaign https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ifeoluwapo-akanbi-7568a9101_fcahptib61stanniversary-amr-amu-activity-7313339491342020610-YOFr?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_android&rcm=ACoAABnwWvIBqgUI5KTrqt3Z3uegvp5XIb0Ug7Y
In this week’s episode of One Health Wednesdays , guest host Dr. Julia Zammit speaks with PhD researchers Jennifer Collins and Ana Krause about how One Health systems succeed (or stall) when implementation is overlooked. They explore why most antimicrobial resistance (AMR) plans neglect environmental health, how terminology gaps and siloed thinking disrupt collaboration, and what it means to embed sustainability into infection control. From refugee camp operations to evidence reviews, this conversation draws a clear line between field realities and global guidance. With a focus on implementation science, real-world research, and sustainability-driven practice, this One Health episode offers a grounded look at how to make meaningful systems change. You’ll hear practical ideas for building strong cross-sector partnerships and the case for turning One Health goals into shared responsibility. 🎧 Listen in to hear what One Health looks like when collaboration and context drive the work.
In this solo “Field Notes” episode of One Health Wednesdays , Dr. Ginger Dixon steps into the woods and into the heart of a growing public health concern: Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). While no human cases have been confirmed, this prion disease is reshaping the landscape of wildlife management, food security, and community traditions. Dr. Dixon demystifies the science of prions, misfolded proteins with a haunting ability to cross species, and explains why CWD echoes the hard lessons of Mad Cow Disease. More than just science, this episode serves as a field-ready guide for front-line hunters and conservationists. From prevention practices to field dressing and sanitization protocols, listeners will walk away with grounded tools and a clearer sense of their role in collective protection. Because when hunters lead with vigilance, they become stewards of ecosystems, food systems, and public health. 🎧 Tune in to learn what it means to be on the front lines of a resilient response.
In this solo "Field Notes" edition of One Health Wednesdays , Dr. Ginger Dixon, public health strategist and founder of One Life Epi Solutions, explores the evolving landscape of case investigations through the lens of the H5N1 outbreak. With over a thousand dairy herds across 17 states affected and growing concern over zoonotic spillover, this episode underscores the urgency of applying systems thinking to our surveillance and response efforts. Drawing from her background as both an epidemiologist and former nurse, Dr. Dixon unpacks how H5N1 is challenging traditional public health models—and what a systems-first, One Health approach could look like in practice. Along the way, she shares candid reflections on professional resilience, behind-the-scenes case investigation challenges, and why grounding our response strategies in real-world complexity matters more than ever. Listeners will walk away with a deeper understanding of outbreak dynamics, intersectoral collaboration, and the small but mighty shifts that can restore flow in broken systems. Tune in to learn how resilience, data, and cross-sector insight can shape a stronger future for One Health. Keywords: One Health, H5N1, case investigations, public health systems, zoonotic disease, resilience, Dr. Ginger Dixon
On this episode of One Health Wednesdays , presented by One Life Epi Solutions (OLES), guest host Dr. Julia Zammit welcomes Dr. Evan Griffith, a veterinarian, One Health researcher and PhD candidate at Tufts University. With a background spanning conservation medicine, public health, and veterinary science, Dr. Griffith shares how his fieldwork with pastoralist communities in Turkana, Kenya, led to the creation of the Community One Health Index (COHI) . COHI is a participatory, data-driven tool that measures health, environment, and social indicators through a community-led lens. The episode explores the value of traditional ecological knowledge, gender-responsive data collection, and integrated service delivery, especially in nomadic populations where human, animal, and environmental health are deeply intertwined. Evan also discusses how COHI could scale through real-time dashboards and GIS mapping, helping governments and NGOs make data-informed decisions. Whether you're in public health, veterinary care, environmental science, or policy, this episode offers actionable insight into building sustainable, inclusive One Health solutions. 🎧 Tune in to hear how community voices are transforming One Health strategy on the ground.
In this episode of One Health Wednesdays , Dr. Ginger Dixon explores the complex dynamics of foot and mouth disease (FMD), a highly contagious viral illness affecting cloven-hoofed animals. With recent outbreaks reported in China and Hungary, this timely discussion unpacks the virology, transmission pathways, and significant agricultural and economic impacts of FMD. Dr. Dixon breaks down the science behind the foot and mouth disease virus, highlighting its rapid mutation rate, environmental resilience, and the critical role of monitoring, surveillance, and biosecurity in controlling its spread. She also examines the limitations and challenges of current vaccination strategies and reflects on the ethical complexities surrounding culling practices during outbreaks. From the global threat posed by respiratory transmission to the vital role of cross-sector collaboration, this episode offers a clear, evidence-based overview of why FMD matters in the broader context of One Health. Tune in to learn how proactive prevention, communication, and surveillance can help protect animal health, food systems, and global health security.
Join guest host Dr. Julia Zammit on One Health Wednesdays as she reconnects with Dr. Dauda Onawola, a field veterinarian and founder of a leading zoonosis education initiative in Nigeria. In this powerful follow-up conversation, Dr. Onawola shares his on-the-ground experiences in wildlife health, community engagement, and youth-driven One Health advocacy. They explore how cultural traditions and economic pressures complicate disease prevention, and how his ZCard project and the far-reaching Zoonoses Education Campaign are helping close the communication gap between science and society. From antimicrobial resistance to the economics of health interventions, Dr. Onawola emphasizes why localized, bottom-up approaches are key to sustainable global health solutions. Whether you're involved in veterinary science, public health, or development work, this episode offers real-world insight into implementing One Health principles where they matter most. 🎧Tune in to hear how African youth are leading the charge toward integrated, resilient health systems—and what the world can learn from their momentum.
In this episode of One Health Wednesdays, we welcome back Dr. Chanchal Bhattacharya, a seasoned veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in the field, and a recognized expert in One Health. Dr. Bhattacharya returns to provide a comprehensive update on avian influenza (H5N1), focusing on the crucial role of veterinarians in disease surveillance, biosecurity measures, and zoonotic disease prevention.Throughout the conversation, Dr. Bhattacharya explores the current state of avian flu outbreaks and the measures that can help mitigate their impact on both animal and human health. He stresses the importance of biosecurity in animal populations, especially in the context of poultry farming, and how robust surveillance systems are essential for real-time data collection and decision-making.Dr. Bhattacharya also discusses the ongoing challenges in combating zoonotic diseases, particularly the need for greater collaboration between veterinary and human health sectors, to strengthen global health security.This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of veterinary medicine, public health, and biosecurity. Don’t forget to subscribe and be part of the discussion!For questions about bird flu H5N1, reach out to Dr. Chanchal Bhattacharya at chanchalvph@gmail.com or Dr. Ginger Dixon at gdixon@onelifeepisolutions.com.
In this special solo episode of One Health Wednesdays , Dr. Ginger Dixon shares a heartfelt message about the current challenges facing public health, environmental health, and the broader One Health community. With recent shifts in U.S. policy and funding, many public health professionals, advocacy groups, and communities are experiencing uncertainty and hardship. Dr. Dixon, an epidemiologist and former nurse, reflects on her journey in public health, the human side of policy changes, and the real impact on vulnerable populations. While acknowledging frustration and concern, she offers a powerful message of hope—emphasizing resilience, community support, and the strength of collective action. Tune in to hear her perspective on how we can come together, support one another, and find innovative ways to move forward in the face of adversity. Connect with our host: Dr. Ginger Dixon LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ginger-dixon/
In this episode of One Health Wednesdays , Dr. Ginger Dixon sits down with Bolanle (Hauwa) Akanbi-Hakeem, a passionate veterinarian and advocate for One Health in Nigeria. Bolanle shares her journey from veterinary medicine to becoming a dynamic force in public health research, community education, and One Health advocacy. Her work bridges clinical practice with public health, focusing on zoonotic disease prevention, antimicrobial resistance, and effective communication strategies within communities. She discusses the importance of building trust, using innovative education techniques, and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration to address global health challenges. Tune in to learn how Bolanle’s One Health Series on LinkedIn is amplifying diverse voices, promoting sustainable practices, and inspiring the next generation of health advocates. Connect with our host and guest: Dr. Ginger Dixon LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ginger-dixon/ Bolanle (Hauwa) Akanbi-HakeemLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bolanle-akanbi-hakeem/
In this episode of One Health Wednesdays , we welcome back Dr. Laura Kahn—physician, policy researcher, and co-founder of the One Health Initiative. Dr. Kahn discusses her latest book, One Health and the Politics of COVID-19 , sharing insights on the intersections of science, politics, and public trust. From the origins of pandemics to the role of One Health in global sustainability, she unpacks the importance of ethical research, transparency, and the need for cross-disciplinary collaboration. Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation on the future of science and policy in a rapidly evolving world. Connect with our host and guest: Dr. Ginger Dixon LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ginger-dixon/ Dr. Laura Kahn LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-kahn-79b01510/ Book: https://www.press.jhu.edu/books/title/12713/one-health-and-politics-covid-19 Site: http://www.laurakahn.com
