One Health: Epidemiology

The Arctic is warming three to four times faster than the rest of the planet, and rural communities in Alaska rely on and live closely with animals. This makes our communities particularly vulnerable to climate change. Epidemiology for One Health introduces the foundational principles and methods used to study the distribution and determinants of disease in human and animal populations. Through real-world examples, students will learn to analyze data, assess risk, evaluate study designs and preventive health interventions, and monitor emerging health threats. Emphasis is placed on climate change impacts in the Arctic and how epidemiology can guide community-level action to improve outcomes for humans, animals, and the environment. This course is offered in partnership with the University of Alaska Fairbanks One Health Program.

• Analyze and interpret data to inform evidence-based decision-making within a One Health framework.
• Describe the levels of preventive health using examples of each and interpret screening test results used in human and veterinary clinical practice.
• Critically evaluate epidemiologic studies and apply findings to human, animal, and environmental health contexts.
• Assess causality and risk factors for disease in populations, with attention to climate-related and emerging health threats.
• Apply epidemiologic methods to design and evaluate interventions that protect the health of communities and ecosystems.