RxOH 2022 Alum: Celeste Snyder

Celeste Snyder

My name is Celeste Snyder, and I am an Oakridge Institute for Science and Educations (ORISE) research fellow with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) National Animal Disease Center. I work as part of a team investigating dynamics of influenza A virus (IAV) at swine and human interfaces. As I have become involved in topics of zoonosis in agriculture, I had become interested in learning a fuller picture of the meaning of one health.

My two weeks participating in the Rx One Health Field Institute course were enriching beyond what I had imagined. The cohort consisted of students and working professionals from all over the world. We had a wide variety of interests and education, but all working towards one health. The vast ecosystems of California allowed us to explore new ideas and new problems. Even more enriching were the discussions, whether they were professional, educational, or just friendly. To discuss a variety of topics such as science, health, policy, research, and personal aspirations with colleagues in the one health field excites me for the future.

Throughout the course we visited many diverse spaces. Some of these were in the vast Sierra Nevada Mountains, and along the beautiful coast at farms and Hasting Natural History Preserve. It was incredible to listen to such a wide range of experts in their field. This was done through hands-on learning experiences, case studies, lectures, group discussions and field exercises. All the information shared with us highlighted the one health model and its interconnectedness. This course has shown me how important it is to collaborate with people in fields different from our own. It helps us to stay curious and sparking the connections between the health of between people, animals, and our environment.

The course faculty and guest lecturers were creative in bringing together dynamic hypotheticals for the cohort to work through. One activity that highlighted this was the simulation of an environmental disaster that brought together organizations and concepts we had learned over the two weeks. This displayed how one health plays an integral role during emergencies, when the health of animals, humans, and the environment can be compromised.

I could not have asked for a better experience in the RX One Health Field Course. Before meeting the cohort, I did not know anyone who shared my passion for one health. Not only have I gained knowledge, but I have also gained a network of individuals who work to improve one health. I value these new relationships and hope to maintain them for a lifetime!