MDARD, MDHHS, MDNR and MSU CVM Proudly Recognize One Health Day

Working as one to protect all: Maintaining animal, public, and environmental health through collaboration and partnership

LANSING, Mich. - Together, the Michigan Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), Health and Human Services (MDHHS), and Natural Resources (MDNR) along with the Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine (MSU CVM) proudly recognize One Health Day a day devoted to highlighting the interconnectedness of animal, public, and environmental health as well as the collaboration needed to address specific threats to these areas. By working as one, we can protect all.

"The One Health approach recognizes how everyone has a role to play in ensuring animal health, public health and environmental health," said MDARD Director Tim Boring. "We all have a shared responsibility to directly address complex threats effectively and efficiently to limit their impacts. By working with federal, state, local, academic, industry, and community partners, we can achieve the rapid, robust, and comprehensive responses needed to keep Michigan healthy."

The One Health approach has long been the definitive model used to tackle issues such as highly pathogenic avian influenza, rabies, ticks, mosquito-borne diseases (like eastern equine encephalitis and West Nile virus), bovine tuberculosis, harmful algal blooms and more.

"By paying attention to changes in animal health, we can often identify and respond to potential threats to human health sooner," said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive. "When veterinarians, physicians, scientists and communities work together, we strengthen our ability to detect emerging threats early and keep both people and animals healthy."

"We always say conservation is a team sport, and that sentiment holds true when it comes to the strategic monitoring of wildlife diseases," said Mitch Marcus, DNR wildlife health supervisor. "By working closely with state, county and local partners, as well as with Michigan's vigilant outdoorsmen and women, we are better prepared to protect the health of Michigan's wild animal populations and the people who enjoy spending time in the great outdoors."

"One Health is at the heart of what we do as veterinarians. Our expertise extends from diagnosing and managing animal disease outbreaks, to caring for beloved pets, to advancing new therapies through research that benefits both animals and people," said Dr. Kimberly Dodd, DVM, Ph.D., MS, Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Michigan State University. "Just as we rely on our partners in public health, agriculture, and natural resources, they rely on us and together, we make our communities and our world healthier. That's what One Health is all about."

The goal of the One Health approach is to create better health. By inviting collaboration and unifying different disciplines, perspectives, and objectives, complex health threats can be addressed with a full and thorough response, resulting in a healthier, more resilient Michigan.

For more information on One Health Day, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention s website. For more on One Health issues in Michigan, visit MDHHS's Emerging Diseases website.

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