Enhancing Health and Well-Being Locally, Nationally, and Globally
While our origins may be in traditional agricultural and environmental studies, the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources (CAHNR) has expanded in recent years to include disciplines that incorporate all aspects of human health as well. Our departments now include Allied Health Sciences, Kinesiology, Nutritional Sciences, Pathobiology, and Plant Science and Landscape Architecture. Given our understanding of the One Health approach, which connects human, animal, and environmental for the well-being of our world, CAHNR is uniquely positioned to initiate and support efforts to enhance health in Connecticut and beyond.
The Enhancing Health and Well-Being Locally, Nationally, and Globally Strategic Vision Implementation Committee was formed to generate a transformational vision and plan that will place the College among the most preeminent colleges in the nation regarding its teaching, research, and service/extension initiatives in human, animal, plant, and environmental health.
- Promote health and prevent disease
- Build connections at the nexus of human, animal, plant, and environmental health
- Develop and apply digital health technology to optimize health
- Foster health equity, including food security, using a broad range of approaches, including community engagement
- Maximize sport and physical performance and improve injury prevention, recovery, and rehabilitation
- Develop and test personalized lifestyle interventions informed by basic science
In the news
Enhancing Health
The Connecticut Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (CVMDL) helped detect a highly contagious pathogen, which is often fatal in domestic and wild rabbits
Our Progress
Since the formation of this strategic vision area, our goal has been to identify opportunities for growth and explore ways to leverage CAHNR expertise in this important field. From big picture ideas, to integral incremental advances, and identification of staffing needs, we are proud of our current progress with an eye to our future path forward.
Education
- Established online professional master's degree program in exercise prescription set to launch Fall 2023
- Conducted and completed comprehensive inventory of CAHNR's educational programming in One Health, including programs delivered to the public through UConn Extension
UConn One Health
- Search underway for Director of One Health and Equity
- Development of UConn One Health website
- Launched UConn One Health podcast series
- Established UConn One Health student intern position
- Finalizing One Health minor
- Continue to submit grant proposals to develop regional One Health educational programs for K-12 students
Moving Forward
Moving forward, the Enhancing Health and Well-Being strategic vision area will seek to build on existing momentum and further establish the College's expertise in research, education, and extension outreach related to all aspects of human, animal, and environmental health. As the world continues to display the interconnected nature of health, we will strive to help UConn and CAHNR fulfill our land-grant mission in these areas. Some efforts include:
- Develop a One Health Expo Day, including a small group, such as UConn 4-H youth and their parents, coming to campus and experience lab settings, Extension areas, and food lab activities in a workshop style approach. We will seek external funding for programming and research support
- Continue to finalize efforts for a College-wide One Health minor
- Conduct a symposium to bring together CAHNR researchers and students with interests in basic health science and lifestyle interventions
- Create an environment for collaboration between programs; develop a Working Group connecting all CAHNR programs; help identify synergies and overlaps at the nexus of human, animal, plant, and environmental health
Support CAHNR's Strategic Vision
CAHNR faculty and staff are strongly encouraged to join one of the strategic vision implementation committees to lend their perspectives and ideas to this College-wide initiative
Contact the Committee
Cheryl Ordway
Lecturer & Academic Advisor, Allied Health Sciences
cheryl.eckert@uconn.edu