Building a Statewide One Health Network: Report from the Inaugural Pennsylvania One Health Consortium Annual Meeting,...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Veterinary Medicine
• Environmental Science
• Ecology
• Agriculture

Background:

• The Pennsylvania One Health Consortium convened its first annual meeting, uniting diverse stakeholders.
• Key areas of focus included zoonotic diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and environmental health.
• Participants represented academia, government agencies, and various industry and community sectors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a unified One Health agenda across Pennsylvania.
• To identify and address critical health threats impacting humans, animals, and the environment.
• To foster collaboration among diverse sectors for a comprehensive One Health approach.

Main Methods:

• The meeting agenda featured discussions on zoonotic threats, antimicrobial stewardship, wildlife and ecosystem health, invasive species, and climate impacts.
• Participants engaged in dialogues regarding data sharing, genomic epidemiology, and surveillance integration.
• Discussions also covered cross-disciplinary education and governance models.

Main Results:

• Agreement was reached on the importance of privacy-preserving data exchange.
• Initiatives integrating genomic epidemiology with field and environmental surveillance were supported.
• A phased roadmap for an integrated statewide One Health framework was developed.

Conclusions:

• The consortium established a foundation for a collaborative, integrated One Health framework in Pennsylvania.
• Key priorities include advancing data integration, interdisciplinary training, and robust governance.
• The roadmap provides a strategic plan for addressing complex health challenges through a One Health lens.