Published on: 28th May 2025
One Medicine Month stepped up a gear last week as clinicians, scientists, and educators came together at RNOH to discuss how they can begin to bridge the divide between animal and human medicine.
Several members of Humanimal Trust’s Task and Finish Group and Science Committee were in attendance, along with Humanimal Trust Founder Professor Noel Fitzpatrick. Clinicians and scientists from the RNOH and other organisations also dropped by, bringing fresh perspectives to the discussions - in true One Medicine style.
Round table topics ranged from current regulatory and funding barriers for vets and doctors wanting to do One Medicine research, to how best to harness data to help improve veterinary research and collaboration – with the ultimate aim of making sure that more animals and humans can access the medical care that they need.
After the round table event, Professor Fitzpatrick gave a ‘Grand Rounds’ talk to members of the public and staff from across the hospital.
Among those attending was a very lovable doggy patient of Professor Fitzpatrick’s, who is currently being treated for bone cancer. This same bone cancer can affect humans too, and both species desperately need better treatments.
Professor Fitzpatrick explained how there are many similarities between the two diseases, and many opportunities for vets and doctors to learn from each other.
It was a moving end to the day, and an important reminder of just how vital this One Medicine mission is.
One Medicine is a progressive approach to medical care that aims to bring human and veterinary medicine together, for the benefit all human and animal patients.
It focusses on improving how vets, doctors and researchers share their medical knowledge and skills with each other, to find common ground, so they can work together to understand, diagnose and treat diseases that are found in both human and animal patients.