Applied One Health in the Galapagos

Program Overview

Island ecosystems provide a unique opportunity to observe and influence the health of humans, animals and the environment. In collaboration with World Veterinary Services and Mission Rabies, students will gain hands-on experience in domestic animal medicine, public health outreach, and One Health research at a veterinary clinic located on Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos, Ecuador. Treatment of injured wild animals may also occur. This 2-credit study abroad course includes information and clinical skills needed to address One Health issues in the Galapagos Islands. Students will complete online modules, create a handout/brochure about a One Health problem identified during the study abroad experience, and will write a reflective paper about how the experience impacts their view of global veterinary medicine and One Health and how it might impact their career. Four students can participate in each offering.

Upcoming Program Details

To be announced.

Program Dates

The elective will be offered twice in 2024 and will accept a maximum of 4 students each time (total of 8).

• Trip 1 – January 6—19, 2024
• Trip 2 – May 18—June 1, 2024

Application Deadlines

Winter Session: October 31, 2023

Summer Session: February 15, 2024

Decision Date

Rolling admission. Applicants will receive notification of their application status from their program contact.

Academic Credit

To be announced.

Course Section

VMP 873 – Applied One Health

Credits

2 UT Knoxville Credits

Syllabus

View the Syllabus.

Program Costs

$4,900

Program Contact

Marcy Jan Souza

Professor & Associate Dean, Veterinary Medicine Administration

msouza@tennessee.edu

Student Testimonies

January 3 – 17, 2023

In addition to practicing my clinical and surgical skills, I gained incredible insight into the increasingly necessary role that veterinarians play in the Anthropocene on the one health stage. Seeing the impact that a single clinic can have on greater conservation efforts was very eye-opening and inspiring as I move forward with my career.

Isabel Correia

Class of 2025

May 20 – June 3, 2023

I will be forever grateful for the opportunity to study abroad in the Galapagos, it opened my eyes to how veterinary medicine is practiced in other countries. It also made the inseparable relationship between humans, animals, and the environment much more apparent than any textbook or presentation could.

Taylor Demers

Class of 2025

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