Midwestern University Pays Tribute to One Health Day

Midwestern University’s One Health Club honored the national One Health Day in November, a national day to raise awareness about collaboration to take on global health concerns, including climate change and zoonotic diseases, that impact the health of humans, animals, and the environment. A lunchtime celebration featured information about One Health concepts such as the health connection between people, animals, and the environment. There was a trivia wheel where participants could answer questions relating to categories including animals and the environment. The One Health Club also provided information about proper methods of recycling. Attendees had the opportunity to sort through images of items and guess if they belonged in the trash, recycling, composting, or specialized recycling. They were informed if their guesses were correct. 

Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine (CCOM) student Juliet Shelton (CCOM ’27) and president of the One Health Club described, “The whole basis of the One Health Club is that we’re a campus-wide organization. We have all different types of healthcare professionals in our group. We’re all coming together not only to learn about interprofessionalism by working together to plan these events, but also toward the idea that we’re going to have patients. In order for our patients to be healthy, we need to have a healthy environment and communities.” She emphasized the importance of collaboration among students to advocate for a cause they are passionate about, and utilizing the experience in the future to advocate for patients and continue promoting environmental awareness. 

Juliet continued. “This event is important in increasing student awareness of proper recycling methods. We want to start the conversation of having more precise recycling at our school. She also shared her hope that the information provided would lead to less contamination and more composting. “Instead of telling people to recycle or compost at home, we want to give them the proper methods of doing it, give them the chance to try it, and then have the realization that it’s not as hard as they thought. At home they can start composting, and at school they can make sure to be mindful about what they’re putting in the bins,” Juliet described. 

As part of the event, there was information on display about One Health Day, examining a worldwide focus on the interdisciplinary approaches for working together on interconnected challenges relating to animals, the ecosystem, and people. Attendees also learned about recyclable items such as newspapers, paperback books, and glass jars and bottles that are clear, green, or brown. Information was also displayed about items that cannot be recycled, including pizza boxes, foam packing, and mirrors. Attendees also learned about composting, a process where organic matter is recycled into fertilizer for plants and soil. Items for composting include fireplace ashes, grass clippings, hair, and coffee grounds, while items that would be unacceptable for composting include coal, eggs, pet litter, and diseased plants. 

“We’re hoping to inspire others to see what they can do on their own. It helps you feel like you’re contributing to counteracting the environmental problems in the world by taking responsibility for your own weight. Students can feel like they make a change,” Juliet discussed. 

Attending students expressed gratitude for acquiring more knowledge about recycling, composting, and One Health overall.

Physical Therapy student Sarah Davies (CHS-Downers Grove PT ’27) said the event was “a good way to incorporate the elements of One Health. The One Health Day helps us keep in mind that there’s more than one element in issues going on with patients.”

Dental student Samantha Michniak (CDMI ’27) described her appreciation for the information provided. “People don’t know what they can and can’t recycle,” she stated. Physical Therapy student Casey Schaefer (CHS-Downers Grove PT ’27) concurred that people might not be aware of how to properly recycle a paperback book or a pizza box. 

Medical student Arjun Sharma (CCOM ’27) and CCOM Liaison for the One Health Club shared his hope that the awareness of recycling and composting will increase. He said, “We need to take better care of our environment and promote sustainability.” He also expressed how environmental issues such as climate change and forest fires directly impact human health, such as respiratory illnesses. “Even though we’re healthcare professionals, we play a role in protecting animals and the environment. The health of the environment is tied to our health,” Arjun said.