Students will work with the State Public Health Veterinarian on a variety of zoonotic public health projects in the Zoonotic Disease Program at the Ohio Department of Health. Experiences will be tailored to student interests and provide a comprehensive look into the work of State public health agencies and how they work with veterinarians, the general public, local health departments, and other state and federal agencies. Experiences and projects will vary based on the time of year and current zoonotic and One Health topics affecting Ohio. The elective can be virtual or hybrid and may offer the opportunity for fieldwork (seasonally dependent).
The elective will primarily be based within the Zoonotic Disease Program at the Ohio Department of Health. The program consists of three epidemiologists who cover all zoonotic disease surveillance and outreach for Ohio, a State Public Health Entomologist, and a public health entomologist who conducts and oversees vector surveillance, testing, and education, and a State Public Health Veterinarian. DVM students will work alongside the State Public Health Veterinarian and be introduced to other programs within the Bureau of Infectious Diseases, including but not limited to the Outbreak Response and Bioterrorism Investigations Team, the Tuberculosis program, and the Antimicrobial Resistance team.
Depending on the length of the elective, students may be equipped with a state-issued laptop, cell phone, badge, and access to necessary applications.
The Zoonotic Disease Program usually works Monday - Friday 8-4pm or 9-5pm, but there is flexibility dependent on student needs. Students should prepare for a combination of shadow and support work. Shadowing the State Public Health Veterinarian through various meetings and interactions with other teams and state agencies, and support on various projects. The depth of the project will be dependent on seasonal needs and length of elective experience.
The Ohio Department of Health is unable to provide student housing. This elective can also be conducted virtually to accommodate student needs.