RxOH 2023 Alum: Ricardo Rodríguez
My name is Ricardo Rodríguez. I am a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Mexico and the General Manager of the NGO Science and Community for Conservation. With a background in Ecology, I am keen on further developing myself as an expert in Natural Resources Management and Veterinary Health. When I learned about the Rx One Health course and took a look at the syllabus, I immediately recognized it as a significant opportunity worth considering. Today, I want to share what being part of the 2023 cohort meant to me and bring you along on this incredible professional and life changing experience.
Right from the beginning, the application process was remarkably easy. After submitting my request, communication with the organizing team was smooth. Following an interview, I received the exciting news of my selection to be part of the cohort. Weeks later, upon arriving in Davis, I was introduced to 29 fellow experts from around the world, specializing in various topics related to animal health, public health, and conservation. As the course was intensive, the initial days were spent at the One Health Institute facilities on the UC Davis Campus. We were taught by top-tier lecturers who provided a comprehensive perspective on the One Health approach, delving into its scientific foundation, application considerations, and implementation strategies. This was facilitated through diverse teaching techniques, including real-life experiences, case study examples, role-play exercises, and engaging discussions.
The course encompassed on-site visits to different locations, including the Hastings Natural History Reservation, the Agricultural and Land-Based Training Association (ALBA), and the Marine Wildlife Veterinary Care and Research Center in Santa Cruz. These visits offered us the opportunity to learn from specialists who shared their experiences in integrating human, animal, and ecosystem health using the multidisciplinary One Health approach to tackle various situations, including social inequities, disease outbreaks, and environmental crises. In the third section of the course, we ventured to Clover Valley Ranch in northern California. Here, we engaged in learning and hands-on practice related to biosecurity, personal protective equipment (PPE), epidemiological surveillance, and land restoration. Finally, we returned to UC Davis for the last unit of the course, which was the most challenging part – the Capstone project. This wasn't about the assessment, it was about amalgamating the lessons, knowledge, and experiences to formulate One Health solutions for real-life problems addressing one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals established by the United Nations.
Despite the wealth of information presented during lectures and activities, some of the most valuable knowledge was gained through interactions among the cohort members. Spending time together while traveling, camping, and during leisure moments allowed everyone to share their life experiences and enrich conversations, offering diverse perspectives and viewpoints. These interactions not only expanded our professional networks but also led to the formation of lifelong friendships.
Lastly, the Rx One Health course equipped me with specific knowledge about pathogen-reservoir interactions, experience in epidemiological surveillance, and broadened my scope for multidisciplinary collaboration in conservation projects. These valuable lessons are currently being applied in a project I am managing on the southern coast of Mexico. The project deals with the threat posed by invasive species to the ecosystem, where the interfaces between wildlife, domestic animals, and humans are so intertwined that epidemic surveillance is crucial for assessment.