One Health

 

It's National Public Health Week! Sponsored by the American Public Health Association, this is a time to celebrate all that the field of public health has accomplished and renew our commitment to promoting the health of our communities.

The theme for NPHW 2026 is Ready. Set. Action! I love this theme because public health is active not passive. It's fighting for access to nutritious food, stable housing, and clean water and air for everyone. We have come so far thanks to the hard work and contributions of so many individuals. It's our turn to continue to advocate and work for the health and well-being of everyone around us.

APHA has a website full of resources that your organization can use to celebrate National Public Health Week:

• Tuesday, get your team moving with the Keep It Moving Challenge!
• On Wednesday, take to social media for the Flood the Feed campaign! The goal is to fill people's news feeds with positive public health messages alongside some calls to action.
• And more!

What will you be doing this week to mark National Public Health Week?! I for one am excited to help my family and friends learn a little more about public health and how it affects their everyday lives. 

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Kaitlyn Andres, MS, MPH
Research Associate
Center for Pet Family Well-Being
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
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Public health really hits home when you think about how it connects all parts of our lives-not just people, but our pets and the environments we share. Clean water, safe housing, access to food-those things don't just impact human health, they shape the well-being of entire households, including animals. When one part of that system is off, everything feels it.

That's why this kind of work matters so much. It's not abstract-it shows up in everyday life. It's making sure families (and their pets) can stay healthy together, that neighborhoods are safe places to live and walk, and that the air and water we all rely on are actually safe.

Also love the idea of "Flood the Feed"-it's such an easy, tangible way to help people see how public health connects to their daily routines in ways they might not have thought about before.

Excited to see how people bring this to life this week!

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T' Fisher, Director of Operations
Center for Pet Family Well-Being
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