One Health: The Human – Companion Animal Bond - English - November 22, 2024

Graduated in Veterinary Medicine, she obtained a PhD in Epidemiology and Control of Zoonotic Diseases. Full Professor of animal infectious diseases, she leads the One Health International Study Centre at the Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences University of Bologna. Her scientific interests lie in the inter and transdisciplinary approach of One Health in research to deepen the interactions between humans, animals and ecosystems triggering the occurrence of health emergencies and to effectively manage endemic diseases with high social economic impact. Member of the board of the International Society for Infectious Diseases (ISID) and associate Editor of IJID -One Health Journal. Member of the WHO One Health Working group on Skin Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs). At present, she leads the UNA- One Health Self Steering Committee of the UNAEUROPA Alliance. In October 2023, she received the One Health Award as best Italian scientist in the field.

Rachel qualified as a Registered General Nurse from the former Adelaide Hospital (RGN 1996). She is a graduate from Trinity College Dublin with a Master’s Degree in Nursing (MSc. 2005) and a Post Graduate Diploma in Clinical Practice. Rachel is also a graduate from Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin (RCN 1998) and UCD with a Higher Diploma in Nursing Studies and a Graduate Certificate in Nursing (Nurse Education; RNT 2010). Rachel also holds a Professional Certificate in Active learning with Technology in University Teaching and Learning from UCD and is currently completing a Digital Badge in Universal Design for Learning with UCD. Rachel registered for a PhD in August 2019 and is currently a Stage 2 candidate in UCD with Prof. Thilo Kroll as supervisor.

Prof. Bruno Gonzalez-Zorn, DVM, PhD is Head of the Antimicrobial Resistance Unit at the Complutense University in Madrid, and Adjunct Professor of Biotechnology at the University for Development Studies in Ghana. He gained his DVM in 1996 studying in Spain and Germany and his european PhD in 2001. After his Postdoc at the Pasteur Institute in Paris he received a Ramon y Cajal tenure-track contract from the Spanish Ministry of Science to return to Spain. He achieved in 2008 his position as Professor in Complutense University of Madrid. In 2011 he was awarded the National Microbiology Award, the bianual Jaime Ferran Award from the Spanish Society for Microbiology, and in 2018 the National Award for Antimicrobial Resistance. Currently he leads ARU working on molecular microbiology and the ecology of antimicrobial resistance in Madrid. His research interests focus on the role the ecology of antimicrobial resistance, including humans, animals, food and the environment, focusing his research on genomics from a One Health perspective. He is the former president of the Group for Molecular Microbiology of the Spanish Society for Microbiology, and is part of numerous Committees on Antimicrobial Resistance at National and International Institutions. His teaching activity is devoted to Microbiology in Veterinary Medicine, Pharmacy, Food Science and Technology, Medicine and Biology.

Dr. Paula M. Kinnunen is a veterinarian and zoonosis expert specialized in infectious animal diseases. Furthermore, she holds the title of Associate Professor (Docent) of Zoonotic Microbiology at the University of Helsinki, focusing on zoonotic infections and pathogens in animals and humans. With over 20 years of experience, she has worked in clinical practice, as well as in research and teaching in medical and veterinary medical faculties. Her expertise spans senior and leadership roles at the Defence Forces and Food Authority. Since 2019, Dr. Kinnunen has been the Nordic Veterinary Manager in the Companion Animal Business Unit of MSD Animal Health, where she also serves as Innovation Ambassador and One Health Champion. Dr. Kinnunen is passionate about preventing and controlling of animal diseases and zoonoses, with strong commitment to promoting One Welfare and One Health.