Leadership and Innovation in Unprecedented Times: The Only Way Forward is “One Health” for all
One Health is an approach that recognizes that the health of people is closely connected to the health of animals and our shared environment. On Saturday, April 15, 2023, after Opening Remarks by Dr. Margaret Steele, Chair of the AFMC Board of Directors and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Memorial University of Newfoundland, Dr. Marcos Núñez, President of The Pan-American Federation of Associations of Medical Schools will open the session and introduce Dr. John Amuasi, Professor at the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Dr. Jonna Mazet, Vice Provost, Grand Challenges at the University of California, Davis, and Dr. Jakob Zinsstag, Deputy Head of Department, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute . Dr. Margaret Steele will moderate the question-and-answer session following the presentations.
At the end of this session, participants will be able to:
- Explain the importance of the One Health concept to promote health for all
- Consider the essential role of academic medicine as a champion of One Health
- Determine how to apply One Health research and use the One Health approach in health professions education and health services
Health Workforce Planning – From Global to Local
Addressing health workforce issues is a challenge around the world. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), countries at all levels of socioeconomic development face, to varying degrees, difficulties in the education, employment, deployment, retention, and performance of their workforce. ICAM will promote a global conversation on health workforce planning with world-renowned experts. On Saturday, April 15, 2023, Titi Savitri Prihatiningsih, President of the Southeast Asian Regional Association for Medical Education, will open the session and introduce Mr. Jim Campbell, Director of the Health Workforce Department at the World Health Organization, Dr. Meredith del Pilar-Labarda, Physician and Professor at the University of the Philippines Manila School of Health Sciences and Dr. Alika Lafontaine, President of the Canadian Medical Association. A question-and-answer period moderated by Dr. Kirsty Forrest, Dean of Medicine at Bond University and Treasurer of the Executive Committee of Medical Deans Australia and New Zealand, will follow.
At the end of this session, participants will be able to:
- Consider global health workforce trends and the implications of these on health workforce planning for public health and the WHO Sustainable Development Goal on good health and well-being.
- Discuss the interconnectedness between workforce training and admissions in the health professions.
- Describe how to engage community in the development of competent health workforces to address health equity.
Academic Health Institution’s Declaration on Planetary Health Event
As health institutions throughout the world declare a code red emergency for the health of the planet, all academic health institutions are called on to take immediate action to both halt the negative impact of their activities on the planet’s natural systems, and to institute adaptive and regenerative measures, including through advocacy.
On April 15, 2023, the Academic Health Institutions’ Declaration on Planetary Health will be officially unveiled at ICAM. The Declaration provides academic health institutions with an action plan to support implementation of planetary health education, research, and transition to climate-resilient and low-carbon health systems to build a healthy, sustainable, and just future for all.
Dr. Julien Poitras, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Université Laval and co-chair of the AFMC’s International Declaration on Planetary Health Development Committee, joined by Dr. Nicole Redvers, Western Research Chair & Director of Indigenous Planetary Health at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at Western University, will open the event with an overview of the development of the Declaration. Guest speakers will include representatives from municipal, provincial, and national levels, including Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer. Kosha Gala, Liaison Officer for Medical Education Issues of the International Federation of Medical Students Associations, will discuss the perspective of students and learners on this topic. Drs. Poitras and Redvers will close the session by offering next steps and approaches participants can take and a photo opportunity will follow the event.
At the end of this session, participants will be able to:
- Explain the responsibility that academic health institutions have to address the impacts of human disruptions to Earth’s natural systems on human health and all life on Earth.
- Identify tangible solutions and actions academic health institutions can immediately implement to both halt the negative impact of their activities on the planet’s natural systems, and to institute adaptive and regenerative measures, including through advocacy.
- Recommend that their academic health institution commit to the Academic Health Institutions’ Declaration on Planetary Health.
