One Health,
One Year
A look back at OHAP's first year in action.
From the moment our funding was received in May 2023, One Health Against Pathogens was taken from a grant proposal to a full-scale experiential training program in only four months. From the beginning, our first year in operation was lovingly known as our "learning year" — our opportunity to adjust and refine our activities to reflect the realities of running a multi-year, multi-million dollar training program spanning four major universities.
Though it was not without its hiccups, our first year was also a time of great success. We developed a meaningful visual identity and robust web platform, delivered on all of our major programming, and attracted partnerships from the Smithsonian Institution to the highest rungs of the federal government.
As a testament to our continued dedication to learning and improving, an exhaustive report and recommendations were prepared, outlining our plans to grow our programming, internal organization, communications, outreach, and recruitment. This report was largely based on the feedback and suggestions of our first cohort of trainees. We thank them for their endless patience, encouragement, and understanding.
Here you can read our full Feedback Report and Recommendations
Year One by the Numbers
A snapshot of our first year, detailing our progress in recruitment and programming.
Recruitment
Our first cohort counted 17 students, with 13 more recruited for the 2024 cohort. An unexpected abundance of non-stipend and priorly funded applicants means we will likely be able to exceed our recruitment quotas, offering more opportunities to interested students than we initially hoped for.
Skill Development Studios
11 skill development studios were offered throughout 2023-2024, with 86% average participation.
Non-Academic Mentorships
For our first cohort, 100% of our trainees were paired with non-academic mentors from the public sector. These mentors meet with trainees regularly to help guide their professional paths, exposing them to careers outside of academia.
Our First Annual Policy Challenge
Our first Policy Challenge was a year-long activity, culminating in a week-long retreat hosted at McGill's Gault Nature Reserve. The event featured speakers from organizations like Health Canada, the Office of the Chief Science Advisor, and the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, alongside prominent voices from academia.
The last day of the retreat was punctuated by final presentations from our PhD and Masters students, showing off their policy proposals and promotional media.
Policy Solutions
Three teams of our PhD trainees were asked to propose policy solutions to the following question:
An effective human vaccine against Lyme disease has existed since the mid 1990's. However, the anti-vaccine movement and subsequent disappointing vaccine uptake led the manufacturer to discontinue its commercial production. Thousands of people are now needlessly suffering from Lyme disease and symptoms associated with post-Lyme disease. While new vaccines are currently in stage three clinical testing, some fear they may meet the same fate. What public policies need to be put in place in Canada to ensure access to safe and effective vaccines against Lyme disease for those who want to be immunized?
You can find the policy briefs they created to pitch their proposals here:
Lyme Disease Vaccine for Canadians: Policy Brief
Ivan Drahun, Alexandra Foley-Eby, Cody Koloski, & Yuxiao Lu
Lyme Disease Prevention: Enhancing Vaccine Access and Public Awareness Initiatives
Gillian Cameron, Fiona Hui, Natalia Lorenc, & Alla Yushchenko
Towards Trust: Policy Initiatives for Vaccine Confidence through Transparency and Education
Audrey Corbeil, Rafael Fernandes Ferreira, Cody Malone, & Taylor Volappi
Promotional Media
Our Masters' students were tasked with creating promotional media, with three students paired with PhD teams to promote their policy proposals and one student promoting Lyme awareness.
Promotional Media: Towards Trust
Giuliana Matta
Promotional Media: Lyme Disease Vaccine for Canadians
Sarah Donald
Promotional Media: Lyme Disease Prevention
Yuxin Hu
Promotional Media: Lyme Disease Awareness
Paul Glenn
Student Spotlight
Highlighting trainees who went above and beyond in their first year.
Taylor Volappi
Trainee Representative to our Steering Committee
Cody Koloski
Virtual Discussion Forum Organizer
☆ Perfect Attendance ☆
Gillian Cameron
Audrey Corbeil
Rafael Fernandes Ferreira
Natalia Lorenc