Global Disease Biology

Did you know here at UC Davis there are a ton of free on-campus museums open for the public to visit? Here is a guide to help you learn more about the museums open to walk-in visitors and how to visit.

This month’s episode features GDB student, Keerti Vadapalli (she/her). Keerti's practicum project is titled “Validation of Indirect Fluorescent Antibody Test for Sarcocystis neurona in Southern Sea Otters.” She is completing her practicum project under the guidance of her PI, Dr. Woutrina Smith, at the One Health Institute.

Links & Information

The One Health High-Level Expert Panel (OHHLEP) defines One Health as “an integrated, unifying approach that aims to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, animals and ecosystems” [2].

As a UC Davis student, you have many options to move around depending on your situation and what type of transportation you prefer. Whether you like to stay active or take a more convenient way, you will find the option that suits you best.

Hey Hey! I’m Shayla Campbell; a third-year GDB student from Beaumont, California. A core part of my identity comes from the strong Black Jamaican Women in my life, whose support and resilience inspire me daily. They are the reason I aspire to pursue medicine, specifically to advocate for and provide reproductive and sexual healthcare to underserved communities that are often overworked and overlooked.

As GDB students, you’re encouraged to dive into the many dimensions of One Health to better understand the bigger picture of health and disease. A fantastic way to do this is by checking out campus events that highlight different perspectives and disciplines within One Health. To help you get started, I’ve rounded up some exciting events on campus that are definitely worth exploring!

1. UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden Talks/Walks 

Hello everyone! My name is Rama, and I’m a fourth-year Global Disease Biology (GDB) student on the pre-med track. When I transferred to UC Davis, I was immediately fascinated by the wide range of topics the GDB major explores. As a pre-med student, I initially focused solely on the human aspect of diseases and global issues. However, GDB helped me take a step back and see the bigger picture.

Scientific writing, whether for your practicum project or a term paper, can feel like a daunting process. However, it can also be an incredibly eye-opening and beneficial experience that helps you grow as a student, scientist, and writer. This guide is designed for students that aren’t sure where to start with their scientific writing process, or for those that haven’t yet begun their practicum and want to understand what might be helpful to know before they begin.

This month’s special episode features our two senior GDB peer advisors, Emily Jajeh (she/her) and Aydin Linzey (he/him)! Tune in to hear about how both peers found their mentors, completed their research and their insights into the practicum experience!

Links & Information - Emily

Hello everyone! My name is Crystal Ngo Diaz (she/her), and I’m a proud GDB alumna! I completed my degree in three years, graduating in spring 2022. Currently, I’m a first-year physician assistant student at Stanford School of Medicine. 

This post spotlights two influential people in animal health: Dr. Kirsten Gilardi, who works right here at UC Davis directing the Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center, and Dr. Emmanuelle Soubeyran, the Director General of the World Organisation for Animal Health. Both work closely with One Health issues, such as zoonotic diseases, antibiotic resistance, and climate change to ensure a healthier future for animals, people, and the environment. 

• Handshake 

• Career Center 

• UC Center Sacramento 

• Undergraduate Research Center 

If you’re graduating this quarter, you likely already have an idea of what you’ll be doing with your degree or what you’ll be doing to further your education. However, if you’re still a year or so away from graduating, you might be starting to think about your post-grad goals. This post is designed to help connect you with both on and off campus resources to help you figure out your post-grad endeavors!

Whether you’re planning on continuing your education, taking time off to travel, getting involved in research, or starting your career, there are resources for you!

This month’s episode features GDB student, Chiroshree Das (she/her). Chiroshree’s practicum project is titled “Spore Dissemination of Bartlett Pear Branch Canker and Dieback Pathogens.” She completed her practicum project with grad student Celeste Gonzalez Chavez under the guidance of her PI, Dr. Akif Eskalen, in the Eskalen Lab (Department of Plant Pathology).

Links & Information

One Health recognizes human health is closely related to the health of our animals and environment. One Health involves cooperation between experts in human, animal, and environmental health to combat health threats [2]. Pertaining to animal health, the One Health approach is essential to coordinate multi-sectoral prevention, preparedness, and response efforts of zoonotic diseases. Zoonotic diseases include those that can transfer from animals to humans (called spillover) or humans to animals (called spillback).