In this episode of One Health Wednesdays, Dr. Ginger Dixon speaks with Dr. Ife Akanbi, a public health veterinarian, lecturer, and rabies educator from Nigeria. Dr. Akanbi shares how she integrates community engagement, vaccination programs, and policy advocacy into a systems-based approach to rabies prevention.

Her work reaches dog owners, hunters, school children, market traders, and healthcare workers, adapting education and intervention strategies to cultural contexts. She addresses challenges such as mistrust, limited vaccine access, and traditional practices that increase rabies risk. Initiatives like mobile vaccination clinics, the Zero Rabies app, and youth engagement programs help bridge gaps between policy, community needs, and available resources.

Dr. Akanbi’s vision focuses on strengthening laws for responsible dog ownership, improving vaccine distribution systems, and fostering collaboration between animal, human, and environmental health sectors to reduce rabies cases and strengthen One Health systems.

🎧 Listen now to hear how coordinated systems and culturally informed strategies can save lives.

We’ll add these links to the show notes for reference.

So Sad! She lost Her First Son to Rabies
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ifeoluwapo-akanbi-7568a9101_worldrabiesday-endrabiesnow-onehealth4all-activity-7113262281471275008-K2f8?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_android&rcm=ACoAABnwWvIBqgUI5KTrqt3Z3uegvp5XIb0Ug7Y

A Nursing Mother Dies of Rabies Shortly after Delivering her Baby
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ifeoluwapo-akanbi-7568a9101_rabies-rages-lets-join-forces-to-combat-activity-7279833134433529856-pg6w?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_android&rcm=ACoAABnwWvIBqgUI5KTrqt3Z3uegvp5XIb0Ug7Y

Rabies Education for Children
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ifeoluwapo-akanbi-7568a9101_rabiesawareness-publichealtheducation-healthcommunication-activity-7320816245207887872-V0ZQ?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_android&rcm=ACoAABnwWvIBqgUI5KTrqt3Z3uegvp5XIb0Ug7Y

Saving Lives with Rabies Vaccine
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ifeoluwapo-akanbi-7568a9101_worldimmunizationweek-worldimmunizationweek2025-activity-7325081481121267712-Q50U?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_android&rcm=ACoAABnwWvIBqgUI5KTrqt3Z3uegvp5XIb0Ug7Y

Antimicrobial Resistance Club launch
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ifeoluwapo-akanbi-7568a9101_antimicrobialresistance-amr-antimicrobialstewardship-activity-7334156114135035904-U7_t?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_android&rcm=ACoAABnwWvIBqgUI5KTrqt3Z3uegvp5XIb0Ug7Y

Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Campaign
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ifeoluwapo-akanbi-7568a9101_fcahptib61stanniversary-amr-amu-activity-7313339491342020610-YOFr?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_android&rcm=ACoAABnwWvIBqgUI5KTrqt3Z3uegvp5XIb0Ug7Y

In this week’s episode of One Health Wednesdays, guest host Dr. Julia Zammit speaks with PhD researchers Jennifer Collins and Ana Krause about how One Health systems succeed (or stall) when implementation is overlooked.

They explore why most antimicrobial resistance (AMR) plans neglect environmental health, how terminology gaps and siloed thinking disrupt collaboration, and what it means to embed sustainability into infection control. From refugee camp operations to evidence reviews, this conversation draws a clear line between field realities and global guidance.

With a focus on implementation science, real-world research, and sustainability-driven practice, this One Health episode offers a grounded look at how to make meaningful systems change. You’ll hear practical ideas for building strong cross-sector partnerships and the case for turning One Health goals into shared responsibility.

🎧 Listen in to hear what One Health looks like when collaboration and context drive the work.

In this solo “Field Notes” episode of One Health Wednesdays, Dr. Ginger Dixon steps into the woods and into the heart of a growing public health concern: Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). While no human cases have been confirmed, this prion disease is reshaping the landscape of wildlife management, food security, and community traditions.

Dr. Dixon demystifies the science of prions, misfolded proteins with a haunting ability to cross species, and explains why CWD echoes the hard lessons of Mad Cow Disease. More than just science, this episode serves as a field-ready guide for front-line hunters and conservationists.

From prevention practices to field dressing and sanitization protocols, listeners will walk away with grounded tools and a clearer sense of their role in collective protection. Because when hunters lead with vigilance, they become stewards of ecosystems, food systems, and public health.

🎧 Tune in to learn what it means to be on the front lines of a resilient response.

In this solo "Field Notes" edition of One Health Wednesdays, Dr. Ginger Dixon, public health strategist and founder of One Life Epi Solutions, explores the evolving landscape of case investigations through the lens of the H5N1 outbreak. With over a thousand dairy herds across 17 states affected and growing concern over zoonotic spillover, this episode underscores the urgency of applying systems thinking to our surveillance and response efforts.

Drawing from her background as both an epidemiologist and former nurse, Dr. Dixon unpacks how H5N1 is challenging traditional public health models—and what a systems-first, One Health approach could look like in practice. Along the way, she shares candid reflections on professional resilience, behind-the-scenes case investigation challenges, and why grounding our response strategies in real-world complexity matters more than ever.

Listeners will walk away with a deeper understanding of outbreak dynamics, intersectoral collaboration, and the small but mighty shifts that can restore flow in broken systems.

Tune in to learn how resilience, data, and cross-sector insight can shape a stronger future for One Health.

Keywords: One Health, H5N1, case investigations, public health systems, zoonotic disease, resilience, Dr. Ginger Dixon

On this episode of One Health Wednesdays, presented by One Life Epi Solutions (OLES), guest host Dr. Julia Zammit welcomes Dr. Evan Griffith, a veterinarian, One Health researcher and PhD candidate at Tufts University. With a background spanning conservation medicine, public health, and veterinary science, Dr. Griffith shares how his fieldwork with pastoralist communities in Turkana, Kenya, led to the creation of the Community One Health Index (COHI).

COHI is a participatory, data-driven tool that measures health, environment, and social indicators through a community-led lens. The episode explores the value of traditional ecological knowledge, gender-responsive data collection, and integrated service delivery, especially in nomadic populations where human, animal, and environmental health are deeply intertwined.

Evan also discusses how COHI could scale through real-time dashboards and GIS mapping, helping governments and NGOs make data-informed decisions.

Whether you're in public health, veterinary care, environmental science, or policy, this episode offers actionable insight into building sustainable, inclusive One Health solutions.

🎧 Tune in to hear how community voices are transforming One Health strategy on the ground.

In this episode of One Health Wednesdays, Dr. Ginger Dixon explores the complex dynamics of foot and mouth disease (FMD), a highly contagious viral illness affecting cloven-hoofed animals. With recent outbreaks reported in China and Hungary, this timely discussion unpacks the virology, transmission pathways, and significant agricultural and economic impacts of FMD.

Dr. Dixon breaks down the science behind the foot and mouth disease virus, highlighting its rapid mutation rate, environmental resilience, and the critical role of monitoring, surveillance, and biosecurity in controlling its spread. She also examines the limitations and challenges of current vaccination strategies and reflects on the ethical complexities surrounding culling practices during outbreaks.

From the global threat posed by respiratory transmission to the vital role of cross-sector collaboration, this episode offers a clear, evidence-based overview of why FMD matters in the broader context of One Health.

Tune in to learn how proactive prevention, communication, and surveillance can help protect animal health, food systems, and global health security.

Join guest host Dr. Julia Zammit on One Health Wednesdays as she reconnects with Dr. Dauda Onawola, a field veterinarian and founder of a leading zoonosis education initiative in Nigeria.

In this powerful follow-up conversation, Dr. Onawola shares his on-the-ground experiences in wildlife health, community engagement, and youth-driven One Health advocacy.

They explore how cultural traditions and economic pressures complicate disease prevention, and how his ZCard project and the far-reaching Zoonoses Education Campaign are helping close the communication gap between science and society. From antimicrobial resistance to the economics of health interventions, Dr. Onawola emphasizes why localized, bottom-up approaches are key to sustainable global health solutions.

Whether you're involved in veterinary science, public health, or development work, this episode offers real-world insight into implementing One Health principles where they matter most.

🎧Tune in to hear how African youth are leading the charge toward integrated, resilient health systems—and what the world can learn from their momentum.

In this episode of One Health Wednesdays, we welcome back Dr. Chanchal Bhattacharya, a seasoned veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in the field, and a recognized expert in One Health. Dr. Bhattacharya returns to provide a comprehensive update on avian influenza (H5N1), focusing on the crucial role of veterinarians in disease surveillance, biosecurity measures, and zoonotic disease prevention.Throughout the conversation, Dr. Bhattacharya explores the current state of avian flu outbreaks and the measures that can help mitigate their impact on both animal and human health. He stresses the importance of biosecurity in animal populations, especially in the context of poultry farming, and how robust surveillance systems are essential for real-time data collection and decision-making.Dr. Bhattacharya also discusses the ongoing challenges in combating zoonotic diseases, particularly the need for greater collaboration between veterinary and human health sectors, to strengthen global health security.This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of veterinary medicine, public health, and biosecurity. Don’t forget to subscribe and be part of the discussion!For questions about bird flu H5N1, reach out to Dr. Chanchal Bhattacharya at [email protected] or Dr. Ginger Dixon at [email protected].

In this special solo episode of One Health Wednesdays, Dr. Ginger Dixon shares a heartfelt message about the current challenges facing public health, environmental health, and the broader One Health community.

With recent shifts in U.S. policy and funding, many public health professionals, advocacy groups, and communities are experiencing uncertainty and hardship. Dr. Dixon, an epidemiologist and former nurse, reflects on her journey in public health, the human side of policy changes, and the real impact on vulnerable populations. While acknowledging frustration and concern, she offers a powerful message of hope—emphasizing resilience, community support, and the strength of collective action.

Tune in to hear her perspective on how we can come together, support one another, and find innovative ways to move forward in the face of adversity.

Connect with our host:

Dr. Ginger Dixon LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ginger-dixon/ ⁠⁠

In this episode of One Health Wednesdays, Dr. Ginger Dixon sits down with Bolanle (Hauwa) Akanbi-Hakeem, a passionate veterinarian and advocate for One Health in Nigeria. Bolanle shares her journey from veterinary medicine to becoming a dynamic force in public health research, community education, and One Health advocacy.

Her work bridges clinical practice with public health, focusing on zoonotic disease prevention, antimicrobial resistance, and effective communication strategies within communities. She discusses the importance of building trust, using innovative education techniques, and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration to address global health challenges.

Tune in to learn how Bolanle’s One Health Series on LinkedIn is amplifying diverse voices, promoting sustainable practices, and inspiring the next generation of health advocates.

Connect with our host and guest:

Dr. Ginger Dixon LinkedIn: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ginger-dixon/ ⁠⁠

Bolanle (Hauwa) Akanbi-HakeemLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bolanle-akanbi-hakeem/