The Passion behind
One Health Lessons
Meeting the global need. One classroom at a time.
One Health Lessons is a 501(c)3 educational charity non-profit organization that inspires children and adults around the world to value the interconnection between our health and the health of the environment, animals, and plants.
Deborah Thomson, DVM
Founder and CEO
Dr. Deborah Thomson develops highly-interactive learning material about One Health for children and adults so that they can understand the inextricable connection between our health and the health of animals, plants, and the environment.
She is passionate about the science field and has taught her One Health lessons in underserved public schools and online. Based on teacher feedback, she has inspired thousands of children to consider a future in science. Her lessons have been taught internationally and are being translated into over 75 languages.
Besides developing curricula (which are delivered virtually or in the classroom) and leading a global team of interns, she is a veterinarian, a science policy advisor, author, an award-winning public speaker and musician, and an overall One Health advocate.
Before becoming a veterinarian, she taught music in a primary school, tutored math to adults, and was a full-time instructor of English Language Learners between the ages of 11 and 65. Throughout veterinary school and for years after graduation, she never lost her passion for teaching. With One Health Lessons, she combines her two passions: One Health and primary/secondary school education.
Future interns:
Internship Application2022-2023 Interns
Verson Nambuzi: Senior Language Expansion/Publication Intern (Malawi)
Verson is a veterinary medicine student at Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) in Malawi and am interested in public health, specifically zoonotic diseases and their therapies. His interest is in understanding how careful interaction of animals, humans, and the environment could prevent and possibly eradicate zoonoses on both local and global scale. Hence, he is a One Health advocate and enthusiast.
Sandara Schimanek : Europe and UK Promotions Intern (Austria)
Sandara is a midwife and is currently completing a master’s degree in “International Health & Social Management” at the Management Center Innsbruck, Austria. After working as a midwife for 7 years, she decided to fulfill her lifelong dream and joined Doctors Without Borders (MSF). Her first mission was in Mosul, Iraq, where she and her national team of midwives treated one of the most vulnerable populations in the area and delivered healthcare to expecting mothers. This was a life-changing experience that made her realize that she wanted to dedicate her life not only to directly caring for patients, but to fighting for a more equitable and sustainable life that allows for the health of all people and ultimately for a healthy life for the whole planet. Thus, the One Health Approach immediately sparked her interest and passion and has become an integral part of what she wants to pursue in the future.
Oluwapelumi Oyinkansola Alabi: Administrative Intern (Nigeria)
Oyinkansola is a final year Biomedical Laboratory Science student at the University of Ibadan in Nigeria. As a medical microbiology and parasitology major, she has an interest in the connection between human, animal, and environmental health, and is invested in building and supporting structures that encourage the peaceful co-existence of all three. She is also passionate about improving global access to healthcare, particularly through the use of technological innovations, driving her venture into digital health and medtech. She has volunteered in many health organizations, such as One Health Lessons and One HealthTech where she lends her content writing and team organizational skills. Oyinkan looks forward to a career in health project management and health economics for health tech organizations. In her leisure time, Oyinkan loves to read, sleep, and spend time with friends.
Rea Demars: American Promotions Intern (USA)
Rae earned her Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo in the United States in 2020. Her prior experience has been in veterinary medicine, where she worked in various settings including- working as a surgical technician, manager of a small animal clinic, laboratory animal technician, and owner of her own pet sitting business. In 2021, Rae relocated cross-country where she started working as a surgical and behavioral animal technician with the aim to better understand the neurological system of mammals. Additionally, she hopes to develop the skills required to study health concerns that affect both animals and humans (One Medicine). Her hopes are to attain a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine after the completion of her Master’s in Public Health program at George Washington University.
Saranya Nethikunta: Youth Empowerment Intern (USA)
Saranya is a final year secondary school student who is looking to pursue a career in medicine. She is passionate about immunology, epidemiology, and public health, and desires to one day work with autoimmune disorders and vaccines. She is dedicated to raising awareness on silent disabilities, climate change, animal welfare, and on the necessity of One Health education. She is currently involved in several academic teams and school clubs and has done community service in various capacities. Additionally, she is a dancer and a visual artist involved in various art galleries.
Annabel Sharon Anyang: Lesson Leaders Program and Ambassadors Coordinating Intern (Nigeria)
Annabel Sharon Anyang is a research veterinarian who is keen about combining her veterinary medical background with her passion for infectious disease research. She aims to work towards impacting her society through researching solutions to Africa’s infectious disease challenges through a computational lens. Her passion for One Health advocacy has led her to be involved with several clubs and organizations aimed at spreading One Health awareness. One of her greatest passions lies in science communication, and she wants to travel the world to teach, advocate and inspire people about her research, science, health and our home- the planet. In her leisure time, she pursues other passions including creating artistic pieces that showcase the beauty, diversity and strength of the contemporary African woman.
Tajudeen Abdulkareem: Nigeria Promotions Intern / Language Expansion Intern (Nigeria)
Tajudeen is a 4th year Microbiology student at Obafemi Awolowo University in Ife, Nigeria. He is a Global Outreach-Student member of the American Society for Microbiology. He is fond of educating people on several microbiological terms and is a passionate advocate of One Health and public health. He has a keen interest in public health, epidemiology, food microbiology, as well as microbial ecology-related talks, and research related to these fields.
Victoria Olatunji - Africa Promotions Intern (Nigeria)
Victoria is a Microbiologist who graduated from the Federal University of Technology in Akure, Nigeria. She is passionate about promoting a healthier and sustainable world through strategic advocacy, sensitization, and collaborations. Victoria’s career goal is to explore the growing field of Epidemiology and Public Health as an accomplished Doctoral Researcher and Educational Instructor.
Akanbi-Hakeem Hauwa Bolanle- One Health Social Media Intern (Nigeria)
Bolanle is a graduate of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Abuja in Nigeria. She is a passionate One Health and Public Health Advocate. She loves photography and making professional videos and she is always dedicated to interacting with people. Her favorite quote is: “Always think positive and positive things will happen.”
2021 Winter Interns
Tajudeen Abdulkareem - Nigeria Promotions Intern / Language Expansion Intern, Nigeria
Tajudeen is a 4th year Microbiology student at Obafemi Awolowo University in Ife, Nigeria. He is a Global Outreach-Student member of the American Society for Microbiology. He is fond of educating people on several microbiological terms and is a passionate advocate of One Health and public health. He has a keen interest in public health, epidemiology, food microbiology, as well as microbial ecology-related talks, and research related to these fields.
Adefolakunmi Adio-Yinusa - One Health Lessons Leader Coordinator, Hungary/Nigeria
Adefolakunmi is a final year Masters of Public Health student at the University of Debrecen, in Hungary where she specializes in epidemiology, health promotion, and environmental health. She is dedicated to improving awareness on the relationship between humans, animals and the planet, and how all can coexist in a sustainable way.
Kondwani Chiumya - Senior Language Expansion Intern, Japan/Malawi
Kondwani earned a Bachelor of Education (Science) degree with a major in Biology from Chancellor College at the University of Malawi. He is currently a graduate research student at Okayama University in Japan where he is pursuing a master's degree in agriculture (Animal Pathophysiology). Kondwani has worked as a Chief Laboratory Technician in the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Malawi, where he instructed and guided undergraduate veterinary students in their research. He also thinks that One Health is a solution to the main health challenges that face humans and animals, and he has pledged to propagate the One Health message throughout his career. In his leisure time, Kondwani enjoys viewing documentaries, attending symposiums, and volunteering in the community.
Lani Jane Chong — Northern Africa Promotions Intern / Language Expansion Intern, Ghana
Lani is a final-year medical student at Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University in Shanghai, China. Currently, she is working as a Medical Intern at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital in Ghana. She is service oriented and is driven to offer assistance whenever possible, which is evidenced by her commitment to various committees within her medical school as well as her volunteering with various organisations. Having recently taken up an interest for research and systematic review, she has contributed to a Cochrane Review Protocol as a consumer peer-referee. When not immersed in medicine, she loves traveling and exploring various culinary cultures. She is greatly interested in orthopedic medicine and hopes to enter the field of surgery after medical school.
Paris Emmerson — One Health Lessons Ambassador Coordinating Intern, Switzerland/UK
Paris is in the process of completing a Masters of Global Health at the University of Geneva. This current semester, she is studying as an exchange student at the Swiss TPH at the University of Basel. Since graduating from her undergraduate program, she has worked for the Ministry of Education as a Health Science Coordinator in the Middle East. She is greatly invested within the One Health approach and her future aspiration is to pursue a career in infectious disease control and management.
Nadhira Khairani - Asia and Oceania Promotions Intern, Indonesia
Nadhira has been working as an Environmental Consultant. Currently, she is pursuing a Master’s of Public Health at Gadjah Mada University in Indonesia and is focusing on environmental health. She is passionate about how the physical environment, animals, and human society are interconnected. She would love to continue to promote these matters in the future throughout her career. While assessing the environmental impacts related to human activities, Nadhira has served as a mentor for the science club in State Islamic Junior High School 3 in Jakarta. In her leisure time, she teaches, knits, writes, and loves traveling to new places.
Celine Kiberu - Arts & Culture / Language Expansion Intern, Hungary/Uganda
Celine is a final year Masters of Public Health student from Uganda studying at the University of Debrecen in Hungary. She aspires to help others improve their quality of life through health promotion and hopes to leverage her background in music, art, and public health to spread awareness and advocacy for a One Health approach, which entails the acknowledgement of the interrelation between our health and that of plants, animals, and the environment at large. She also has an interest in promoting good mental health practices and creative expression.
Precious Mastala - Southern Africa Promotions Intern / Language Expansion Intern, Malawi
Precious is a veterinarian, recently graduating from Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resource (LUANAR) in Malawi. He is a One Health and animal welfare enthusiast and advocate. Precious believes that multisectoral collaboration is a win to the emergencies at the Human-Animal-Ecosystems interface. Aside from being the Southern Africa Promotion and Language Expansion Intern with One Health Lessons, he is junior Veterinarian with the Lilongwe Society for the Protection and Care of Animals (LSPCA) and a Board Member of Veterinary Education Malawi. He is interested in the research and advocacy of zoonotic diseases and the One Health approach to mitigate the associated risks. He has since fundamentally contributed towards rabies control around Lilongwe under an internship with the LSPCA and voluntary activities through research, advocacy, and participation in animal vaccination. During his free time, he likes to volunteer, surf the internet, read, and hike.
Phillip Makwasi - Uganda Promotions Intern / Language Expansion Intern, Uganda
Phillip is a recent graduate of the Environmental Health Science program from the Makerere University School of Public Health with a certificate in One Health Principles. He wants to see a world where every person lives in good health. He is passionate about research, public health, and health promotion, with an emphasis on the development and implementation of working policies. He greatly agrees in using the One Health approach in achieving better health and environmental solutions as it brings multiple stakeholders together. He likes learning new things, and is active in sports and IT. He strongly believes in equity, equality, and justice for all, and lastly, lives by the mantra of “let us all be loving to mankind, animals and the environment”.
Mabel Johana Ortiz de Leo - Americas & UK/Europe Promotions / Language Expansion Intern, England/Mexico
Mabel is a physician from Mexico with previous experience in clinical medicine and infectious disease. She has a wide background in public health campaigns in sexual and reproductive health that specifically teach sexually transmitted diseases and HIV. She is currently finishing an Masters in Antimicrobial Resistance at the University of Sheffield in the UK. She is passionate about the One Health approach and acknowledges how working across sectors can improve the health of animals, plants, and humans. In addition, she is interested in research, public health, microbiology, and antimicrobial stewardship. Her future goals are to work along international organizations in implementing programs to prevent the spread of infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance. She expects to inspire people in getting involved to learn more about One Health and provide them with educational tools that will empower the decisions they take in regards to their health.
Erin Ashley Suganda - Administrative Intern, Canada/Indonesia
Erin is a third-year undergraduate student from Indonesia studying animal biology at the University of Guelph in Canada. She aims to go to veterinary school and has an interest in oncology as well as a passion for working with marine life and other wildlife. She aspires to dedicate her career to developing and improving the animal health industry in Indonesia because she believes in the importance of growth in this ever-evolving field. In her free time, she enjoys playing ultimate frisbee and working on her photography.
Bhima Thapa - Senior Promotions Intern, Nepal
Bhima is a veterinarian who graduated from the Agriculture & Forestry University of Nepal. Since she is passionate about animal welfare, Bhima has volunteered for several animal shelters during her undergraduate years and has also served as the President for Veterinary Students for Animal Welfare (Vet-SAW), which is a student-led organization that educates, increases awareness, and advocates for the importance of animal welfare. She is also the Chapter President of Zero Debris Nepal, whose mission is to educate, empower, and create awareness for the environment and its future on a global scale. She also uses social media to create content on the veterinary profession and conduct live interviews with various veterinary personalities. Her career aspirations are motivated by her interest in animal welfare, sustainability, and One Health.
Amanda Yonica - Social Media Intern, Indonesia
Amanda is a final year veterinary student at Universitas Gadjah Mada in Indonesia. She is passionate about the relationship between people, animals, and our shared environment, with a particular interest in how technology can develop our understanding of zoonotic diseases, wildlife health, and conservation. Some of Amanda’s other passions are social media strategies, photography, and graphic design. She is a digital enthusiast and she truly believes that technology and art can be used to spread awareness of One Health issues like zoonotic diseases and conservation. Overall, she always had a never-ending thirst to create powerful messages and share them with the world.
2021 Summer Interns
Muhammad Abdullah - Asia Promotions and Language Expansion Intern, Pakistan
Muhammad Abdullah is a 4th year Veterinary student at the PMAS Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi in Pakistan. He is a member of United Nation Association of Pakistan (UNAP) and is working as a head of the Monitoring and Evaluation team in Multiomics, a youth organization that helps youth in both Academic and Non Academic fields. Muhammad also volunteers at Kher-khun, an NGO dedicated to serve society in the most impactful ways. He is passionate about One Health and wants to educate children about One Health in his community. He aspires to be a small animal Veterinarian.
Adefolakunmi Adio-Yinusa - Africa Promotions Intern, Nigeria/Hungary
Adefolakunmi is currently completing a Masters in Public Health degree at the University of Debrecen, with a specialisation in epidemiology, health promotion and environmental health. She is dedicated to improving awareness on the relationship between humans, animals and the planet, and how all can coexist in a sustainable way. She loves reading, languages, traveling and learning new things.
Ainhoa Bereziartua - Europe Promotions and Language Expansion Intern, Basque Country/Netherlands
Ainhoa graduated from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona with a degree in Biomedical Sciences and currently is a One Health MSc student at Utrecht University in the Netherlands. She has special awareness and sensitivity to health risks at the interface between humans, animals, and the ecosystem. Her passions include education, science communication, sports, travelling, and an endless list of other interests that would be best summarised as: adventure and learning. In the near future, she would like to become a scientist that supports cooperation and high-quality communication between professionals working in public health, animal health, environmental health, and society.
Maddie Burns — Administrative Intern, USA
Madison Burns is a second-year undergraduate student studying Public Health at the George Washington University in Washington, D.C. She is interested in animal welfare, environmental sustainability and eliminating health disparities worldwide. She is currently volunteering with The Hope For Silent Voices Organization, which helps to stop child exploitation in Cambodia. She has dreams of pursuing medical school and bringing underserved communities the comprehensive care they deserve.
Paris Emmerson — Senior Promotions Intern, UK/United Arab Emirates
Paris is currently enrolled in the Masters of Global Health Programme at the University of Geneva. Her main interests are learning about infectious disease and especially neglected tropical diseases. In her professional background, she has worked the last few years in the Middle East teaching Health Education. Through her experiences, she is now invested in linking her two passions: Education and One Health. Her favourite hobbies are reading and socialising with friends and her career aspiration is to be involved in working towards a Rabies-free world.
Skylar Gay - Americas Promotions & Language Expansion Intern, USA
Skylar graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Medical Laboratory Science while studying Global Health Anthropology in 2018 from the University of Vermont. She is currently pursuing a Masters in One Health while working as a veterinary technician at an emergency practice in Florida. She is interested in exploring different relationships to resolve public health issues and recognizes the potential of a multidisciplinary health approach. When she isn’t at the animal hospital, Skylar enjoys going to the beach and nature preserves with her dog, Maple.
Doris Ma - Lesson Leaders and Program Coordinator Intern, Hong Kong
Doris is a recent graduate at University of California, Berkeley studying Integrative Biology who will be heading to Scotland for veterinary school in September. During her UC Berkeley career, she enjoyed doing research on turtle skulls in the lab and teaching kids. In her spare time, she plays badminton, draws, and fosters animals in need. She is also an avid music lover, playing the piano, flute, and the ukulele. She is passionate about One Health and animal behavior and wants to dedicate her career to educating the next generation to respect all living beings and to share the planet.
Youstina Makhlouf - Social Media Intern, Canada
Youstina is a fourth-year undergraduate student studying animal biology at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada. She aspires to be a veterinarian with the goal of improving the well-being of humans, animals, and ecosystems through research and education. She is also a collector of hobbies—you never know if she'll be reading, painting, learning to play an instrument, or learning a new language in her spare time!
2021 Spring Interns
Charles Adegbole - Africa Promotions Intern, Nigeria
Charles is a final year veterinary medical student at the University of Ilorin in Nigeria. He is passionate about improving the health and wellbeing of humans and animals. He also believes One Health is a solution to the major health issues that people and animals experience; therefore, he has committed himself to spreading the message of One Health. In addition, Charles loves cooking, traveling and meeting new people.
Ahmad Shakoor Bhutta-- Pakistan Promotions/Rotary Club Liaison Intern, Pakistan
Ahmad S Bhutta is a final year veterinary student at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad in Pakistan. His core interests are zoonosis, infectious diseases research, epidemiology, and veterinary public health. Currently, he is volunteering at CLEP, a non-profit organization that works to promote education and simultaneously eradicate child labor. He is also volunteering at Kher-Kun, a non-profit organization dedicated to serve society in the most impactful ways. Apart from these, he is a hobbyist photographer and loves to capture natural landscapes and cityscapes.
Madison Burns— Senior Promotions Intern, USA
Madison Burns is a second-year undergraduate student studying Public Health at the George Washington University in Washington, D.C. She is interested in animal welfare, environmental sustainability and eliminating health disparities worldwide. She is currently volunteering with The Hope For Silent Voices Organization, which helps to stop child exploitation in Cambodia. She has dreams of pursuing medical school and bringing underserved communities the comprehensive care they deserve.
Angel Natania Hidayat — Asia Promotions & Language Expansion Intern, Indonesia
Angel is a third-year undergraduate dental student in the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Indonesia and is a member of the International Association of Dental Students. Besides studying dentistry and oral health, she is passionate about teaching and have experience in teaching music to children as well as doing campaigns and raising people’s awareness, particularly regarding One Health.
Ivana Kurian — Toastmasters International Liaison Intern, U.S.A.
Ivana has experience working with individuals and groups in the healthcare, business, tech, law, hospitality and fitness industries. She is passionate about public speaking, coaching, operations & office management and is accomplished at problem solving, independent thinking, collaboration, communication, content creation, product education and sales. She lives in California and has been an active Toastmasters member for years.
Doris Ma - Lesson Leaders & Ambassadors Program Intern, Hong Kong
Doris is a graduating senior at University of California- Berkeley studying Integrative Biology with plans to pursue veterinary medicine. When she’s not researching turtle skulls in the lab or teaching kids, she likes to play badminton, draw, and foster animals in need. She is also an avid music lover, playing the piano, flute, and the ukulele. She is passionate about One Health and animal behavior and wants to dedicate her career to educating the next generation to respect all living beings and to share the planet.
Vanessa Nichols - Social Media & Administrative Intern, Canada
Vanessa is a fourth-year undergraduate student studying Medical Science with a specialization in One Health at Western University in Ontario, Canada. She is passionate about and devoted to improving health outcomes for humans, animals as well as the planet, particularly in a sustainable and innovative manner. She loves learning new things about people, places, the sciences and everything in between!
Doğa Nur - Europe/UK Promotions & Language Expansion & Hacettepe Liaison Intern, Turkey
Doğa Nur is a student at Hacettepe Medical School in Ankara, Turkey. She is a motivated science enthusiast with a dream of solving one of humanity’s greatest challenges. She is interested in eliminating health disparities worldwide, creating a sustainable environment and improving animal well-being. She loves all living beings and truly believes that the interdisciplinary approach of one health is the key to overcoming major health crises, all over the world.
Jacob Michael Othieno - Uganda Promotions Intern, Uganda
Jacob is a second-year student pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda. Jacob is passionate about the field of health and he is working to create easy-to-use tools like puzzles, flow charts and art to ease the understanding of complicated health concepts. He strives to inspire and educate the next generation while aiming to greatly improve Global Health standards. As Albert Einstein said, "If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough."
Ahlanna Toms — American Sign Language & Language Expansion Intern, U.S.A.
Ahlanna is from Maryville, Tennessee in the United States. She is an American Sign Language Interpreting Major finishing her last semester of her last year at Maryville College. Ahlanna’s goals after graduation are to grow her connections with the deaf community and pursue a career in interpreting ASL in order to aid in facilitating equal opportunity and access to information.
Caridad Villegas — Americas Promotions Intern, U.S.A.
Caridad is a University of California- Davis graduate with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Animal Science and a Minor in Spanish. She plans to be a veterinarian and is passionate about working alongside communities to enhance awareness about the interconnection between animal, human, and environmental health. When she’s not working on her vet school applications, she loves to travel, listen to Bad Bunny, and post on her one-eyed cat’s Instagram!
Maryam Zakariya - ISOHA and Nigeria Liaison Intern, Nigeria
Maryam Zakariya is a Fifth Year Veterinary medicine student that studies at the University of Ilorin. She is very hardworking, selfless, someone that's willing to learn, open to challenges and ready to make a difference in the World. She likes raising awareness about One Health topics, animal welfare issues and other animal related issues. She also loves educating people and learning from people them too. In her spare time, she may be seen reading inspirational books, novels or educational books. She has great career aspirations and hopes to attain a level where she can exert a great influence in the Veterinary Profession. She has worked with numerous organizations and she is currently working as one of the graphics designers for the International Veterinary Students Association (IVSA) Standing Committee of One Health(SCOH).
2020 Winter Interns
Hristina Crenn - Social Media and UK/Europe/Middle East Promotions Intern, Turkey
Hristina is a student at the Sorbonne Law School (France) and at Ibn Haldun University (Turkey) pursuing a Bachelor of Law and a Double Major in History & Political Science and International Relations, respectively. She is completing an intercontinental and interdisciplinary education in two different countries in order to grasp the divergent perspectives of multicultural civilizations. Her main research interest is focused on the study of women’s contributions in history and legal history on a societal level. She is an active learner of International Law, particularly International Humanitarian Law and Conflict & Peace Studies.
Yifan Shen - Language Expansion Intern/Asia Promotions Intern, Taiwan
Yifan graduated from the University of Rochester in 2020 with a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology and a Bachelor of Arts in Business. He was born in Taiwan, raised in China, and attended college in the United States. He is currently applying to veterinary school and aspires to be a small and exotic animal veterinarian. He loves physical activity and the outdoors. In his spare time, he plays tennis, goes rock climbing, and enjoys photographing anything that moves. He is passionate about improving both animal and human lives through collaborative research between veterinarians, physicians, and environmental scientists.
Madison Burns - ISOHA Liaison Intern/ The George Washington University Liaison Intern, USA
Madison Burns is a second-year undergraduate student studying Public Health at the George Washington University in Washington, D.C. She is interested in animal welfare, environmental sustainability and eliminating health disparities worldwide. She is currently volunteering with The Hope For Silent Voices Organization, which helps to stop child exploitation in Cambodia. She has dreams of pursuing medical school and bringing underserved communities the comprehensive care they deserve.
Stephanie Phillips – Rotary Club and 1HOPE Liaison Intern/North and South Americas Promotions Intern, USA
Stephanie Phillips is currently pursuing a Master of Public Health at George Washington University, Milken Institute of Public Health. She graduated from Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine and has been a practicing veterinarian for more than 20 years. In pursuing a second career in public health, she is a One Health advocate and interested in sustainable agriculture, environmental conservation and zoonotic diseases. In her free time, she likes to hike, bike and camp with her family.
Charles Adegbole - Africa Promotions Intern/ University of Ilorin Liaison Intern, Nigeria
Charles Adegbole is a final-year veterinary student at the University of Ilorin, Nigeria. He is passionate about improving the health and wellbeing of both humans and animals. He also believes One Health is the solution to the major health issues worldwide and is committed to spreading the message. Charles loves cooking, traveling and meeting new people.
Juliette Nye - Language Expansion Intern/Tufts University Liaison Intern, USA
Juliette Nye is a student at Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine completing a Masters in Conservation Medicine, with the hopes to pursue zoological and conservation veterinary medicine. When she isn't studying or working with animals, Juliette enjoys traveling, hiking, watching nature documentaries, and learning new languages! She is passionate about using the One Health approach to educate others on the interconnectedness of our planet and the importance of interdisciplinary work in solving problems that simultaneously impact animals, humans, and the environment.
Doris Ma - Senior Promotions Intern, Hong Kong
Doris is a graduating senior at University of California- Berkeley studying Integrative Biology with plans to pursue veterinary medicine. When she’s not researching turtle skulls in the lab or teaching kids, she likes to play badminton, draw, and foster animals in need. She is also an avid music lover, playing the piano, flute, and the ukulele. She is passionate about One Health and animal behavior and wants to dedicate her career to educating the next generation to respect all living beings and to share the planet.
Jacob Michael Othieno - Makarere University Liaison Intern, Uganda
Jacob is a second-year student pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda. Jacob is passionate about the field of health and he is working to create easy-to-use tools like puzzles, flow charts and art to ease the understanding of complicated health concepts. He strives to inspire and educate the next generation while aiming to greatly improve Global Health standards. As Albert Einstein said, "If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough."
Vanessa Nichols - Administrative Intern, Canada
Vanessa is a fourth-year undergraduate student studying Medical Science with a specialization in One Health at Western University in Ontario, Canada. She is passionate about and devoted to improving health outcomes for humans, animals as well as the planet, particularly in a sustainable and innovative manner. She loves learning new things about people, places, the sciences and everything in between!
2020 Autumn Interns
Korede Adekanye - ISOHA Liaison Intern
Korede graduated from the University of Ilorin in Nigeria in 2017 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology. He is currently in his second year of medical school at Vinnitsa National Medical University in Ukraine. His interests are in infectious diseases, global health interventions and youth education. Korede is a One Health advocate and understands the need for the One Health approach in tackling complex health problems such as zoonoses and antimicrobial resistance. Korede is a member of the European Medical Students’ Association (EMSA) and the International Christian Medical Association (ICMA) in Ukraine. In his free time, he likes to play the guitar, cook and watch movies.
Oscar Arac - Senior Promotions Intern
Oscar is a second-year student pursuing a Bachelor of Sciences degree in Environmental Health at Makerere University in Uganda. His area of expertise is in disease prevention and emergency planning in the public health sector. He uses the One Health approach to mitigate public health disasters such as infectious disease outbreaks, food insecurity, and climate change.
Miriam Avila - North America, Latin America and Caribbean Promotions Intern
Miriam is a second-year Master of Public Health student at Kansas State University and her specialty area is Physical Activity. She is passionate about understanding health behaviors and how many factors such as social, environmental and cultural practices influence and shape an individual’s behavior. She loves the idea of educating people and raising awareness about how multiple factors have an effect on their health.
James Natweta Baguma – Social Media and Lions Club Liaison Intern
James is a third-year student pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Health at Makerere University’s School of Public Health. He is passionate about ensuring sustainable health for all. He is self-motivated and believes in teamwork in order to achieve goals and objectives. In his free time, he enjoys traveling, sports, photography and meeting new people.
Doris Ma - Senior Promotions Intern, Hong Kong
Doris is a graduating senior at University of California- Berkeley studying Integrative Biology with plans to pursue veterinary medicine. When she’s not researching turtle skulls in the lab or teaching kids, she likes to play badminton, draw, and foster animals in need. She is also an avid music lover, playing the piano, flute, and the ukulele. She is passionate about One Health and animal behavior and wants to dedicate her career to educating the next generation to respect all living beings and to share the planet.
Ian Mujjabi - Economics Intern, Uganda
Ian is a second-year student pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Makerere University. Ian is also an active member of the Rotaract club, and enjoys participating in community outreach and development. He believes in preparation for the worst, while doing the work necessary to tilt the odds to ensure that the best will happen. He is an aspiring health economist, working towards a future where effects of economic policies on the health sector are strongly regarded before implementation.
Anastacia Nabyonga - Rotary Club Liaison Intern, Uganda
Anastacia is a student of Biomedical Sciences at the College of Health Sciences of Makerere University in Uganda. She sees the world as the beautiful place it has the potential to be. She is creative, a problem-solver and is enthusiastic about community engagement. She is currently serving as the Vice President of the Rotaract Club of Mulago and is the Women’s Affairs Minister at her college in a bid to contribute positively to her community.
Natasha Nakkazi - 1HOPE Liaison Intern, Uganda
Natasha is a second-year cytotechnology student at Makerere University College of Health Sciences. She is passionate about solving health challenges and teaching children. She loves reading, creative problem-solving and youth empowerment. She is self-motivated, open-minded and focused. She loves collaborating with others and expanding her knowledge base.
Vanessa Nichols - Administrative Intern, Canada
Vanessa is a fourth-year undergraduate student studying Medical Science with a specialization in One Health at Western University in Ontario, Canada. She is passionate about and devoted to improving health outcomes for humans, animals as well as the planet, particularly in a sustainable and innovative manner. She loves learning new things about people, places, the sciences and everything in between!
Anxious Niwabiine - Statistics Intern, Uganda
Anxious is an aspiring statistician at Makerere University. He is a second-year undergraduate student, a team player, as well as an enthusiastic leader. He is experienced in data collection, analysis, presentation and dissemination. He aims to be a One Health Champion and is eager to see a positive change in the world.
Malik Olatunde - Blog Intern, Nigeria
Malik is a sixth-year Medical Student, at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria. He is also a blogger, writer, researcher, public enthusiast, and mental health advocate. He is currently the West-African Regional Coordinator of Oli Health Magazine Organization (OHMO), Turkey and co-founder of Masaab Academy, Cameroon. Due to his passion for One Health, Malik is a volunteer with the One Health Initiative in Nigeria (OHIN) and a member of the International Student One Health Alliance (ISOHA), under the umbrella of the One Health Commission. His hobbies include traveling, reading, writing, and watching movies.
Jacob Michael Othieno - Global Promotions Intern/Makerere University Liaison Intern
Jacob is a second-year student pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda. Jacob is passionate about the field of health and he is working to create easy-to-use tools like puzzles, flow charts and art to ease the understanding of complicated health concepts. He strives to inspire and educate the next generation while aiming to greatly improve Global Health standards. As Albert Einstein said, "If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough."
Gabriela Viçosa - Language Expansion Intern, Brazil
Gabriela is a PhD-trained microbiologist and veterinarian with a passion for communicating science and bringing about transformative changes to the lives of others. She has worked on multiple research projects within the field of microbiology, such as food, veterinary, and medical microbiology. She has a genuine passion for learning and sharing knowledge and is also fascinated by the creative process happening at the heart of every human endeavor, from science to art.
Jackson Were - Publications Intern, Uganda
Jackson is a public health enthusiast, and graduated from Makerere University School of Public Health in 2019 with a Bachelor of Environmental Health Science. He also holds certificates in governance and health from Johns Hopkins University, and a certificate in leadership and management in health from the University of Washington. Jackson’s main interests are in health policy and epidemiology. He is passionate about knowledge improvement and societal transformation for better health.
2020 Summer Interns
Olivia Oberholster, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
"Nelson Mandela said that "education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." I consider myself lucky to be involved in a program that works towards educating people about One Health. Humans, animals, and the environment are strongly connected and educating people about that connection can have an incredible impact on our world."
Karla López, Quito, Pichincha, Ecuador
“One Health is an opportunity for all of us to change our lives completely and finally reach a sustainable world. We must always keep a One Health-One World mindset to coexist and respect every living being on this planet and in the ecosystem that surrounds us.”
A special thanks goes to Dr. Kyle Novak, mathematician and member of the Noun Project, who designed the One Health Lessons logo.