Bringing together experts from across the College, CAHNR conference showcases leadership in One Health approaches in research, teaching, and Extension
Attendees were encouraged to actively participant and generate ideas for future initiatives (Jason Sheldon/UConn Photo)
In 2025, CAHNR brought together faculty, students, and extension professionals in a dynamic forum focused on One Health, emphasizing the interconnected health of humans, animals, plants, and the environment. The conference centered on interactive round-table discussions and student poster sessions to drive the conversation forward.
From soil microbiology to human physical activity, CAHNR's broad disciplinary reach sets it apart in the One Health arena. CAHNR's One Health initiative aligns with all five of the college's Strategic Vision areas and functions as a sub-committee of the Enhancing Health and Well-Being Strategic Vision Implementation Committee (SVIC).
"The One Health approach reminds us that human, animal, environmental, and plant health are deeply interconnected," says Kumar Venkitanarayanan, CAHNR interim dean. "It also reminds us that the challenges we face from emerging diseases, food security, climate change, and environmental conservation, and so many others can't be solved in isolation. They demand collaboration, innovation, and a shared sense of purpose. That is exactly what this conference embodies."
CAHNR continues to lead UConn's efforts to expand One Health education and collaboration. The One Health minor, housed in the College and launching in the fall of 2026, offers undergraduates an interdisciplinary foundation in human, animal, and environmental health systems. Students will explore how climate and the environment, food production, and disease ecology intersect - gaining the tools to work across sectors and disciplines. The minor draws on courses from Nutritional Sciences, Pathobiology and Veterinary Science, Kinesiology, and Natural Resources and the Environment, among others, making it one of UConn's most integrative academic programs.
The conference's round-table sessions invited faculty, students, and staff to co-design pathways forward - addressing themes like ecosystem change, the human-animal-environment interface, and equity from global to local scales. Student poster presentations spanned topics from zoonotic-disease surveillance to human heat-stress adaptation, underscoring how CAHNR prepares the next generation of problem-solvers.
"Working across focus areas and industries, the 2025 One Health Conference brought together nearly 100 faculty, staff, students, and community partners interested in transforming dialogue into collaborative actions and outcomes," says Sara Tomis, assistant extension educator of One Health and one of the event organizers. "CAHNR is uniquely positioned to lead change in this space through the integration of teaching, research, and extension within all four domains of the One Health framework."
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