Penn Vet Certificate
A new certificate program at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine aims to train cross-disciplinary health leaders
The University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine has launched a new graduate certificate program to prepare students to address complex health challenges affecting people, animals, and the environment. According to Jennifer A. Punt, VMD, PhD, Penn Vet's associate dean for One Health, the program is designed to complement students' existing disciplinary expertise with the skills needed to collaborate across professional and academic boundaries.
Program Overview
The One Campus, One Health Certificate Program brings together graduate and professional students from across Penn's schools, including the Dental School, School of Nursing, Penn Vet, and Penn Carey Law. The program is based on the One Health framework, which recognizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, plant, and environmental health.
The inaugural cohort includes students from various disciplines, with the program intended to eventually draw participants from across the University. As reported by the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, the certificate program is designed to help students understand how specialists from different fields can work together to design interventions, evaluate outcomes, and address problems that do not fit neatly within a single discipline.
Curriculum and Faculty Mentorship
Students completing the certificate will take a Foundations of One Health course and 3 electives intended to strengthen interdisciplinary problem-solving skills. They will also complete a One Health in Practice experience, working with a faculty mentor whose expertise aligns with their interests. The program includes the following courses and experiences:
Faculty mentorship is another central component of the program, with each student paired with a member of Penn's One Health in Action faculty. This mentorship is intended to guide academic and career development while connecting students with opportunities across Penn's broader One Health community.
Career Opportunities
Graduates of the program are expected to be positioned for careers in government, health care, academia, research, nonprofit organizations, international development, and community organizations. In these settings, cross-disciplinary collaboration is increasingly essential to improving health outcomes. As noted by the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, the program is designed to give students experience collaborating across fields they may not otherwise encounter during their professional training.
The University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine's new certificate program is a significant development in the field of One Health, and its impact will be closely watched by experts in the field. With its broad interdisciplinary base and emphasis on practical collaboration, the program has the potential to train a new generation of health leaders who can address complex challenges spanning human, animal, plant, and environmental health.
