ASPHER Core Curriculum Programme

As part of European Public Health Week 2025, the EUPHA Global Health Section and WHO convened a timely virtual event, “One Health in the Global Health Agenda," spotlighting the urgent need for cross-sectoral collaboration to protect human, animal, and environmental health. The discussions-rooted in the One Health framework-also reinforced a core theme in the ASPHER Core Curriculum.

Global health is an emerging international priority. It is simultaneously an aspiration, and a mindset based on understanding that the global environment is the scene where people can be developed mentally and physically, aiming to live in balance. It builds on shared common values and norms, and a commonly agreed approach to tackling health problems with worldwide prevalence or a geographical dimension.

An approach to critically consider in the global health agenda priorities is that of One Health. One Health recognizes that the health of people is interconnected to the health of animals and our shared environment. With megatrends at interplay, i.e., climate change and environmental degradation, changing demographic trends and patterns of trade and travel, increasing urbanization, incl. in low- and middle-income countries seeing the fastest urbanization globally, and with the emergence of digital and frontier technologies, there is an urgent need to integrate this approach in our global health agenda. Critically, with global inequalities are high and rising, with growing discontent that can impact on political stability, it is critical to consider security aspects and mechanisms to safeguard resilient systems and societies, safeguarding a sustainable future for all.

This interdisciplinary event will examine key aspects, governance mechanisms and activities to be considered in priority settings and for future actions to this effect. From policy to research and capacity-building, due consideration will be given to the Quadripartite activities, the work for the pandemic accord, innovative projects to transform collaboration and decision-making and, capacity-building for the global public health workforce to ensure capacity in expertise and in numbers across settings and borders.

Panel: Building the One Health Workforce: competencies for the future

Moderator: Elena Petelos

A strong, collaborative, and competent One Health workforce is essential to addressing current and emerging global health challenges. This panel will present potential education and training programs that emphasize core competencies and cross-sector integration, aiming to bridge existing gaps and support sustainable One Health solutions.

· Simon Rüegg, Scientist Collaborator, University of Zürich, Switzerland

· Karl F. Conyard, ASPHER Core Curriculum Fellow, University College Dublin, Ireland & Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, University of Medicine and Health Science, Dublin, Ireland

· Mary Codd, ASPHER Core Curriculum Lead, Associate Professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University College Dublin, Ireland