Cultivating resilience and adaptability through hands-on One Health

Area of Science:

• Global Health
• Environmental Health
• Veterinary Public Health

Background:

• The University of Global Health Equity's (UGHE) One Health Field School (OHFS) in Rwanda offers an innovative educational model.
• Traditional public health education often lacks integration of human, animal, and environmental health dimensions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the experiential learning approach of the OHFS program.
• To highlight its role in preparing graduate students for complex global health challenges.

Main Methods:

• The program employs Kolb's experiential learning cycle.
• Students engage in real-world settings like abattoirs, health centers, and mining sites.
• Focus areas include zoonotic diseases, antimicrobial resistance, food safety, and environmental health.

Main Results:

• OHFS equips students with practical skills in observation, analysis, and solution application.
• The program fosters adaptability, resilience, and collaborative problem-solving.
• Graduates gain a holistic understanding of health and leadership capabilities.

Conclusions:

• Experiential learning in diverse field settings is effective for One Health education.
• OHFS prepares a new generation of health professionals to address interconnected global health crises.
• The program's approach is crucial for tackling challenges like climate change and emerging infectious diseases.