Auburn University is taking a proactive approach to addressing global health challenges by launching a new undergraduate degree program in Public and One Health (PAOH). This innovative program, housed within the College of Veterinary Medicine, embodies the One Health concept, which acknowledges the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health.
The PAOH program goes beyond traditional public health education by emphasizing the crucial role of collaboration across disciplines. It recognizes that addressing complex health issues requires a holistic approach, bringing together experts from diverse fields such as human medicine, veterinary medicine, environmental science, and beyond.
This unique program, a first of its kind at Auburn, aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the complex health landscape of the 21st century. Graduates will be prepared to tackle a wide range of public health issues, from zoonotic diseases and pandemic preparedness to environmental health and food security.
The PAOH curriculum draws upon the expertise of eight different colleges across Auburn University, providing students with a comprehensive understanding of health communication, data analysis, social and behavioral health, disease ecology, environmental health, nutrition, zoonotic diseases, and more.
Andrea Perkins, co-director of the PAOH program, highlights the program’s emphasis on taking meaningful action to improve global health. “One Health is very focused on action: how we need to develop, implement, assess, and modify,” she says. “Ideally, we aim to promote more meaningful and actionable steps toward the long-term improvement of health.”
The PAOH program is not just for aspiring public health professionals. Graduates will have the foundation to pursue advanced degrees in medicine, veterinary medicine, public health, or biomedical sciences, further expanding their opportunities to make a difference in the world.
Auburn University’s commitment to One Health extends beyond this new undergraduate program. The university also offers a One Health graduate certificate program in partnership with the College of Forestry, Wildlife, and Environment and the School of Public Health at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Through these programs, Auburn University is shaping the future of public health education and preparing a new generation of leaders to tackle the complex health challenges of our interconnected world.
