On February 9, multiple speakers came together to discuss a wide variety of equine topics in rapid-fire succession for the final session of the virtual 10th Annual University of Kentucky Equine Research Showcase. Equine professionals and students had the opportunity to learn about a broad spectrum of hot topics from safety and welfare initiatives to publication resources to economic impacts on the equine industry as a result of COVID-19. Presenting sponsors for the Research Showcase event included BET, Kentucky Performance Products, McCauley’s, Merck, Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital and Tribute Equine Nutrition.

Kimberly I. Tumlin, PhD, MS, MPH assistant professor in the Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health and the Equestrian Athlete Initiative director for research for the Sports Medicine Research Institute, gave viewers an overview of a new UK certificate program named the One Health Certificate. This graduate certificate program is a culmination of efforts across campus which come together to fulfill the global One Health mission.

The One Health Certificate seeks to provide graduate students with additional training, whether their focus is veterinary medicine, human medicine, molecular biology, public health or other areas of graduate studies. Students in the program will evaluate complex issues among different ecosystem health levels and analyze how those groups interact to address the human-animal-environment triad as well as how the One Health philosophy can assist in solving complex health challenges.

“What we see about One Health is that this systems approach and philosophy integrates all of these disciplines to look at both the infectious risk and non-infectious benefits this triad represents. The understanding of how these complex issues can be solved by a One Health team that is actually working in this triad interface is really core to what this certificate does,” Tumlin said.

The program is fully online and the first course is slated to commence in January 2022. Once completed, the program will provide nine credits as an add-on to the student’s existing program of study. CPH 616, One Health Principles, is a required course of the program which takes a look at social, cultural, economic and legal considerations to explain the One Health philosophy from veterinary, medical and agricultural perspectives.

“Horses will be a spotlight species throughout this course,” Tumlin said.

The certificate program is designed to benefit not only those in agricultural and veterinary fields, but also those studying economics, law, public health and other socio-economic practices. Students interested in obtaining the One Health Certificate will need to be an established graduate student within the UK Graduate School and have been admitted to the College of Public Health. Students will begin the program by completing CPH 616 followed by electives chosen with verification by the director. Upon finishing the program, students will be required to complete a final reflection assignment.

Individuals interested in acquiring more information regarding the certificate program, may contact Erin Haynes, PhD, One Health Certificate Director at Erin.Haynes@uky.edu, or Tumlin, who will be the CPH 616 One Health Principles instructor at Kimberly.Tumlin@uky.edu.

Erin DesNoyers is operations coordinator for UK Ag Equine Programs.