(February 14, 2012   Stillwater, OK) – For the first time in Oklahoma’s history, a One Health Conference will be held in Tulsa, Okla., on April 5, 2012, at the Tulsa Convention Center.  Sponsored by Oklahoma State University Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma State Department of Health and One Health Kansas at Kansas State University, this ground-breaking seminar is complimentary and open to physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners, veterinary practitioners, veterinary technicians, public health professionals and all other health care professionals.

“National one health education initiatives have increased awareness of confluent health issues, ultimately improving human and animal health,” explains Carolynn MacAllister, DVM, associate professor and director of Continuing Education at OSU’s veterinary center.  “Oklahoma State is proud to be a partner in Oklahoma’s first one health conference.  This is a regional educational effort between Oklahoma and Kansas dedicated to enhancing awareness and strengthening collaboration among all health professionals.”
A worldwide strategy, one health recognizes that human health, animal health and ecosystem health are intricately linked.  The vision is to improve the lives of all species—human and animal.  Joint educational efforts, like this conference, can help bring that to fruition.
Roger Mahr, DVM, is currently the CEO of the One Health Commission, a globally focused organization dedicated to promoting improved health of people, domestic animals, wildlife, plants and the environment.

“My first commitment towards One Health came when I entered the veterinary medical profession and stated these words in the Veterinarian’s Oath, ‘I solemnly swear to use my scientific knowledge and skills for the benefit of society,’” says Mahr.  “Then when I was preparing to serve as the 2006 president of the American Veterinary Medical Association, I focused on the AVMA mission, ‘Improving Animal and Human Health, Advancing the Veterinary Medical Profession.’ We live in a changing environment, populated by interconnected animal and human contact which creates integrated challenges.  These challenges require integrated solutions and call for collaborative leadership.  It is out of that need for collaboration that I envisioned the One Health concept.”

Research has shown that approximately 60 percent of human diseases are due to multi-host pathogens characterized by their movement across species lines.  Over the last 30 years, about 75 percent of the newly emerging human infectious diseases have been zoonotic.  In other words, these newer diseases can be transferred from animals to humans.

Focusing on tick borne diseases and rabies, One Health Conference speakers will present information on the concept of one health, Rickettsial disease for humans and animals, Lyme disease and Lyme disease-like illnesses, Bartonella, rabies prevention and more.
The One Health Conference is ideal for primary care physicians, practitioners of infectious diseases, internal medicine, and pediatrics, as well as veterinary practitioners, public health and other health care professionals.  The Oklahoma State Medical Association has designated this live educational activity for a maximum of 7 AMA PRA Category 1 creditsTM.

There is no charge to attend; however, registration is required and includes conference materials, continuing medical education, lunch and refreshment breaks.   Register by March 21 by mail, fax, or online at www.cvhs.okstate.edu/conference.  For more information, contact OSU veterinary center’s continuing education office at (405) 744-7672.

The Oklahoma State University Center for Veterinary Health Sciences is the only veterinary college in Oklahoma and one of 28 veterinary colleges in the United States and is fully accredited by the Council on Education of the American Veterinary Medical Association.  The center’s Boren Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital is open to the public and provides routine and specialized care for small and large animals.  It also offers 24-hour emergency care and is certified by the American Animal Hospital Association.  For more information, visit www.cvhs.okstate.edu or call (405) 744-7000.

Sidebar:
The 2012 One Health Conference at the Tulsa Convention Center in Tulsa, Okla., on April 5, 2012, will feature the following presentations:

• “One Health: A Concept for the 21st Century,” Dr. Laura Kahn, Research Scholar, Science and Global Security, Princeton University
• “A 21st Century Appraisal of Rickettsial Disease in the United States,” Dr. Christopher Paddock, Infectious Disease Pathology Branch, Centers for Disease Control
• “Rickettsial Disease of Pets,” Dr. Susan Little, Regents Professor, Krull-Ewing Endowed Chair in Veterinary Parasitology, OSU Center for Veterinary Health Sciences
• “The Human Rickettsioses: A Clinical Perspective,” Dr. Susan Little
• “Lyme Disease and Lyme Disease-Like Illnesses,” Dr. C. Ben Beard, Division Vector-Borne Disease, Centers for Disease Control
• “Bartonella Review (2010),” Dr. Cathleen Hanlon, Director of the KSU Rabies Laboratory
• “Dogs, Lyme Disease and Public Health,” Dr. Susan Little
• “Animal and Human Rabies Prevention and Control: One Health in Action,” Dr. Cathleen Hanlon
• “Appropriate Management of Potential Human Exposures to Rabies,” Dr. Kristy Bradley, Oklahoma Department of Health, and Dr. Cathleen Hanlon

###