SVEK13112U One Health
MSc in Veterinary Medicine (cand.med.vet.) - Tracking course (elective)
This course is last course of the One Health tracking at
the Danish veterinary education
'One Health' is a methodological approach which
implies interdisciplinary collaboration, joint
efforts and communication in all aspects of veterinary and
public health aiming to protect humans, animals and the
environment. Examples of recent challenges requiring
a One Health approach include the Avian Influenza
epidemics and spread of antimicrobial resistance which have both
highlighted the importance of close collaboration between the
medical-, veterinary-, food and agriculture sectors in the
prevention and control efforts. Furthermore, experience has shown
that collaboration between the research community, authorities,
industry and other stakeholders are essential in prioritizing
decision making and ensuring timely and effective prevention and
control.
The overall objective of this course is that
the participants aquire an in-depth knowledge
about the One Health approach when solving national,
regional as well as global challenges, with special focus
on health problems associated with the spread of
pathogens between animals and humans ('zoonoses').
This includes laboratory characterization of pathogens, e.g.
molecular typing, epidemiological methods used in
surveillance, outbreak investigations and mapping of
zoonotic pathogens and antibiotic resistance. Through case work the
participants will learn how to develop systematic, stepwise
approaches into cost-efficient and sustainable disease
control programmes based on evidence from literature and
new/own investigations of zoonotic diseases. Approaches to handling
both foodborne (e.g. salmonella, campylobacter, VTEC 0157),
waterborne (e.g. cryptosporidia) and air-, vehicle or
vector-borne pathogens (e.g. West Nile Fever, Q-fever) will be
addressed during the course.
Didactic principle: Learning will mainly occur
through active participation in problem-based group work and
practical exercises, and course participants will to a large extend
be expected to seek literature and other types of relevant
information to solve cases using One Health approaches in practice.
The cases and challenges will be chosen according to current
challenges faced not just in Denmark, but also by international
organisations such as WHO, FAO and ECDC both in Europe and in
developing countries. The selected cases will be used to
exemplify control and prevention of zoonoses with
different levels of knowledge about pathogenesis,
occurrence and transmission, and different availability of
diagnostic methods and treatment or intervention options. Course
participants will not only learn scientific methods, but also be
encouraged to practice and develop skills required for taking
leadership in groups aiming to solve problems in the often
complex One Health settings.
Course structure: The course is organised as
follows:
Course week 1 (block week 5 of block 3): Introduction to One
Health and zoonoses
Introduction to One Health and exemplification of One
Health approaches to zoonoses control, incl. historical
perspectives and the added value of One Health.
Introduction to translational medicine and the distinction between
One Health and One Medicine.
Introduction to Danish and international stakeholders and their
roles in One Health disease approaches, e.g. examples of how Danish
veterinarians are involved.
International organisations relevant to veterinary and public
health.
Code of conduct, legislation, practices.
Burden assessment methods and burden estimates of major zoonoses.
Risk analysis elements: Risk assessment, risk communication and
risk management.
Course week 2-4 (block week 6-8 of block 3): Laboratory
typing methods and tracing of zoonotic pathogens
Laboratory methods for typing of pathogens such as MRSA,
salmonella, campylobacter.
Detection of transmission routes and tracing methods
Outbreak investigations
Disease burden estimation
Mechanisms and methods for detection of drug resistance
Introduction to group case.
Course week 5-7 (block week 9 in block 3 and 1-2 in block 4):
Step-wise strategy for disease control
Elements of importance for successfull disease control
programmes
Criteria for eradication of infectious diseases
Leadership, organisation and communication in One Health
challenges
Exemplification of the methods learned so far in the course on a
specific case run as a multi-day scenario (e.g. Danish
experience with control of Salmonella and antibiotic
resistance; a Q-fever outbreak)
Strategies for control of neglected zoonotic diseases
Development of algorithms for disease control
Case study on control and elimination of parasitic
zoonoses in developing countries (e.g. Taenia solium
cysticercosis)
Submission of group report.
Course week 8-12 (block week 3-7 of block 4): Individual case
report work and elective activity
Individual report for two weeks on self-selected case (~3 ECTS)
The individual case report must demonstrate a good understanding
and ability to apply the elements learned in the course.
The individual case report must be submitted before the end of
block week 8 in block 4.
Three weeks are available for 'elective activity' (~ 4
ECTS)
Time spent on individual case report and elective activity(ies) is
up to the course participants to organise and agree with their
respective groups mates.
The 'elective activity' is a very flexible course
element that allows participants to follow relevant course
activities offered elsewhere; visits to other countries for
relevant work/projects/practical experience (e.g. practical work
with One Health projects in developing countries);
or internships (external practise training, EPT) at Danish or
foreign institutions/industries, international organisations,
universities abroad, etc. The activities performed during this
period must be recorded (e.g. logbook or small
report). Through this elective activity the students will
obtain experience in how private and public institutions work
with different One Health challenges. The elective activity
must be pre-approved by the course responsible or a relevant
supervisor appointed by the course responsible.
Oral exam in course week 9 (block week 4 of block 4) based on
submitted group report, presentations and opponent performance for
other reports and group presentations. The course participants will
be assessed on both their own work (written report and oral
presentation) and their ability to critically evaluate and provide
constructive critiscism to other course participant's written
work and oral presentations (see also exam
details).
After the course, the objective is that the students will
Knowledge
- Understand the One Health concept and interdisciplinary aspects
- Understand the distinction between One Health and One Medicine
- Know and be able to describe characteristics and challenges of different One Health cases and topics with a focus on zoonoses
- Know about methods to analyse the impact on human and animal health issues related to microbial contamination of food and the environment
- Understand the principles for prioritising and choosing between intervention strategies for diseases control
- Know the principles for identifying optimal methods for prevention and control of infectious diseases, food safety threats and antimicrobial resistance
- Understand the advantages and challenges of applying One Health approaches in industry and public administrations
- Understand the potentials and benefits of veterinarians taking leadership in One Health challenges
Skills:
- Be able to apply various scientific methods to specific One Health problems
- Be able to critically discuss and respond to One Health challenges
- Be able to identify the roles, responsibilities and needs of key stakeholders in prevention and control of infectious diseases
- Be able to search for and find materials needed to apply One Health methodology in appropriate ways including scientific literature, national and international legislation, online materials of key organisations etc.
- Be able to take part in the work in an interdisciplinary group aiming to solve a complex health challenge in a constructive manner drawing on own core competences (i.e. veterinary sciences for veterinary student)
Competences:
- Be able to identify infectious disease challenges that need One Health approaches to be solved or mitigated, and be able to contribute critically to the implementation of the One Health approach when needed
- Be able to identify health problems that would not benefit from use of the One Health approaches
- Be a valuable collaborator to stakeholders in One Health challenges by being aware of the core compentences that each participant in a working group brings into the One Health collaborative groups
- Be able to critically evaluate other people/organisations' suggestions to solutions to One Health challenges
- Be able to apply leadership competences required for One Health solutions to be applicable and successful
- Be able to communicate orally and in writing about One Health cases and approaches in a clear manner
Teaching material will to some extend be provided and to some extend be collected by the course participants themselves by use of different information search techniques (part of the learning objectives)
Approved course certificate on following courses:
SVEK13004U Veterinary Imaging
SVEK13002U Akutmedicin, obstetrik, intensiv terapi og klinisk anæstesiologi
SVEK13023U Almen klinisk praksis familiedyr
SVEK13008U Almen klinisk praksis, store husdyr
SVEK13006U Praktisk besætningsrådgivning og kødkontrol
SVEK13044U Veterinary Paraclinics
Passed the following courses:
Medicin, kirurgi og reproduktion - mindre og store husdyr SVEK13005 og SVEK13004.
Other participants:
Post-graduate (MSc) education within the science area or extensive working experience within food safety or One Health. Good communication skills in oral and written English are essential.
Evaluation model: Survey-based model
- Category
- Hours
- Lectures
- 26
- Preparation
- 54,5
- Theory exercises
- 60
- Exercises
- 90
- Practical Training
- 110
- Project work
- 160
- Seminar
- 60
- Guidance
- 18
- Exam Preparation
- 10
- Exam
- 3
- Total
- 591,5
Credit transfer students:
Credit transfer student at SUND – University of Copenhagen
(ku.dk)
Other external students:
https://healthsciences.ku.dk/education/student-mobility/guest-students/
- Credit
- 21,5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
- Written assignmentOral defence
- Type of assessment details
- 1) Written assignment: Individual case-report that must be
submitted before end of block week 8 of block 4. Will count 50% of
final grade.
2) Oral defence: Individual presentations of group report that must be submitted before end of block week 2 in block 4, and opponing of other group's presentations and reports. Will count 50% each of the final grade.
3) Elective activity (EPT): Submission and approval of logbook type of report - Exam registration requirements
Passed course SVEK13113U/SVEK13114U Besætningsrådgivning og veterinær folkesundhed/ Herd Health Consultancy and Veterinary Public Health.
- Aid
- All aids allowed
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- No external censorship
No sensorship. One internal examiner.
- Exam period
Oral exam in block week 3 in block 4. Written assigement submission end of block 8 in block 4.
Criteria for exam assesment
To achieve the maximum grade of 12, the student shall be able to:
Knowledge
- Understand the One Health concept and interdisciplinary aspects
- Understand the distinction between One Health and One Medicine
- Know and be able to describe characteristics and challenges of different One Health cases and topics
- Know about methods to analyse the impact on human and animal health issues related to microbial and parasitic contamination of food and the environment
- Understand the principles for prioritising and choosing between intervention strategies for different health issues
- Know the principles for identifying optimal methods for prevention and control of infectious diseases, food safety threats and antimicrobial resistance
- Understand the advantages and challenges of applying One Health approaches in industry and public administrations
- Understand the potentials and benefits of veterinarians taking leadership in One Health challenges
Skills:
- Be able to apply various scientific methods to specific One Health topics
- Be able to critically discuss and respond to One Health challenges
- Be able to identify the roles, responsibilities and needs of key stakeholders in One Health cases
- Be able to search for and find materials needed to apply One Health methodology in appropriate ways including scientific literature, national and international legislation, online materials of key organisations etc.
- Be able to take part in the work in an interdisciplinary group aiming to solve a complex health challenge in a constructive manner drawing on own core competences (i.e. veterinary sciences for veterinary student)
Competences:
- Be able to identify challenges that need One Health approaches to be solved or mitigated, and be able to contribute critically to the implementation of the One Health approach when needed
- Be able to identify challenges that would not benefit from use of the One Health approaches
- Be a valuable collaborator to stakeholders in One Health challenges by being aware of the core compentences that each participant in a working group brings into the One Health collaborative groups
- Be able to critically evaluate other people/organisations' suggestions to solutions to One Health challenges
- Be able to apply leadership competences required for One Health solutions to be applicable and successful
- Be able to communicate orally and in writing about One Health cases and approaches in a clear manner
Course information
- Language
- English
- Course code
- SVEK13112U
- Credit
- 21,5 ECTS
- Level
- Full Degree Master
- Duration
- The course runs over 13 block weeks inclusive the exam
- Placement
- Block 3 And Block 4
Teaching and project work starts in block week 5 of block 3 and continues until block week 6 in block 4. There is no teaching in block week 7 in block 4 .The Exam consists of two parts with a presentation of a group report in week 3 of block 4 and assessment of an individual report in block week 7 or 8 of block 4.
- Schedule
- Detailed time schedule for seminars, workshops, cases, exercises and project work within course weeks are published on Absalon (the learning platform) prior to course start
- Course capacity
- 50 students of which 20 places are reserved for Danish veterinary students following the One Health track of the veterinary candidate curriculum.
Study board
- The Study Board for Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science
Contracting department
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences
Contracting faculty
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
Course Coordinators
- Anders Dalsgaard (adal@sund.ku.dk)
Course responsible
Lecturers
Anders Dalsgaard, Professor, IVH
Hanne Ingmer, IVH
Liza Rosenbaum Nielsen, Professor, IVH
Annemarie Kristensen, Professor, IKV
External lectures by Danish Veterinary and Food Administration,
Statens Serum Institute, others
(and more)