One Health brings together professionals from diverse disciplines – including human and veterinary medicine, environmental science, public health, agriculture, and policy – to collaboratively address complex health challenges, like the emergence of infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance, food safety, and climate-related risks.
The One Health Institute at the University of Guelph unites more than 160 faculty across all seven colleges in a multidisciplinary effort to advance research, education, and community outreach at the animal–human–environment interface—addressing challenges like infectious disease, antimicrobial resistance, food safety, and climate change.
Mission
To improve global health and resilience by advancing research, education, and partnerships that unite the biological, environmental, and social sciences – recognizing the interdependence of human, animal, and ecosystem well-being and the societal contexts in which health challenges arise.
Vision
A world where the health of people, animals, and the environment is safeguarded through collaborative, transdisciplinary approaches.
Strategic Direction
Guided by our 2023–2028 Strategic Plan, our Institute focuses on three strategic drivers: enriching student experience, conducting high-impact research, and fostering an engaged One Health community. By promoting collaboration among natural and social scientists, health professionals, and community partners, the Institute aims to develop innovative solutions that advance health equity, sustainability, and resilience both locally and globally.
The One Health Institute includes more than 160 affiliated faculty across all seven colleges. Faculty affiliates’ research spans topics including zoonotic and vector-borne disease modeling, antimicrobial resistance, food safety, environmental and wildlife health, ecosystem interactions, sustainable agriculture, biostatistics, public and animal health policy, and One Health pedagogy, reflecting the Institute’s culture of inclusion and cross-disciplinarity.
Governance
The governance of the One Health Institute is structured to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and strategic leadership across human, animal, and environmental health domains. This governance framework includes a Director, an Advisory Board, and key academic leaders who guide the Institute’s mission and strategic initiatives.
Elizabeth Finnis – Director, One Health Institute
Dr. Elizabeth Finnis serves as the Director of the OHI. A professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology within the College of Social and Applied Human Sciences, Dr. Finnis brings expertise in medical and cultural anthropology. Her research focuses on food systems, rural livelihoods, and health perceptions among small-scale farming communities in Canada, India, and Paraguay. As Director, she emphasizes inclusivity and trans-disciplinary collaboration, aiming to integrate social science perspectives into One Health research and education.
Jeffrey Wichtel – Dean, OVC and Chair, One Health Institute
Dr. Jeffrey Wichtel, Dean of the Ontario Veterinary College, chairs the OHI Advisory Board. In this role, he provides strategic oversight and ensures alignment with the University’s broader mission. Dr. Wichtel advocates for interdisciplinary approaches to complex health challenges, emphasizing the necessity of cross-disciplinary thinking in addressing issues at the intersection of human, animal, and environmental health.
Advisory Board
Barak Aharonson
Associate Professor, John F. Wood Chair in Innovation Management
Department of Management | Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics
Dominique Charron
Visiting Scholar in One Health, University of Guelph
Maya Goldenberg
Professor
Department of Philosophy | College of Arts
Andrew Hamilton-Wright
Associate Professor
School of Computer Science | College of Engineering and Physical Sciences
Carmen Jacqueline Ho
Assistant Professor
Department of Political Science | College of Social and Applied Human Sciences
Simon Jeeves
Student Advisor, One Health Student Committee
PhD Candidate | Department of Pathobiology | Ontario Veterinary College
Jane Parmley
Associate Professor in One Health
Department of Population Medicine | Ontario Veterinary College
Quinn Webber
Assistant Professor
Department of Integrative Biology | College of Biological Science
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