The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), based in Lakewood, has released the 2025 AAHA One Health Guidelines: Navigating Cross-Disciplinary Partnerships. This marks a significant step toward integrating human and veterinary medicine, creating a roadmap for improved collaboration between the two fields.
The guidelines address the need for veterinary and human medical teams to work together in a comprehensive approach to healthcare. For the first time, a task force of experts from both fields has come together to develop solutions for overcoming communication barriers and enhancing care that considers pets and humans as part of the same family unit.
“The highest quality care—for individuals, families, communities, and our shared environments—depends on true interprofessional collaboration,” said Dr. Brian Sick, co-chair of the AAHA One Health Guidelines. “The AAHA One Health Guidelines aim to bridge that divide.”
The guidelines provide practical solutions for health scenarios that involve both humans and animals, covering topics such as zoonotic diseases, disability accommodations, mental health issues and family welfare concerns. Key features include standardized terms for better communication, clear criteria for when to apply a One Health approach, and structured protocols for engaging with other healthcare professionals.
Co-chair Cheryl Roth, DVM, a diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners in canine and feline practice, emphasized the importance of these guidelines in enhancing care for animal patients and supporting their families: “By fostering connections between these two fields, we can more effectively address zoonotic diseases, share insights on preventive care for the whole family, and create comprehensive wellness plans that consider the health of both pets and their owners.”
The guidelines recognize the need for coordinated responses to various health challenges across medical disciplines. They aim to facilitate better communication and resource sharing among health professionals to provide comprehensive care that meets the needs of families and their animal companions. The guidelines can be found at aaha.org/onehealthpartnerships.