One Welfare and Sustainability Center

What is One Welfare?
Role of the OWSC
Mission and Goals
People
Research Areas
Selected Publications
Training
Contact

The One Welfare and Sustainability Center (OWSC) is a unique center that brings together expertise is ecosystem health, global health and welfare, sustainable production and conservation of wildlife species. An important function of this center is to coordinate and manage all research being conducted by our partners and wildlife scientists through Ohio State to take advantage of the reputation, animal care and use committees, reputable research standards, and education mandates of the university.

The One Welfare and Sustainability Center facilitates a multi-disciplinary collaborative team of expertise capable of establishing health baselines through to addressing an urgent and critical need to monitor, diagnose, interpret, report, and make recommendations on managing our free-ranging environment against natural and anthropogenic stressors. We share this knowledge with our university, scientific and local communities.

What is One Welfare?

Assessing problems from a national, global and holistic perspective

One Welfare theory looks at issues from a wide, national, global and holistic perspective. The concept refers to not only animal welfare but includes human welfare and societal mental health, as well as environmental conservation.

Our goal is to critically and independently assess animals, environments and communities to ensure best practices, health and welfare, and conservation occur for all production species but also contribute broadly to the global knowledge required to sustainably preserve all ecosystems; as well as improve the lives of the human communities that live within the footprint of production. Veterinarians can complement One Welfare by value-adding to the work done by ecologists and biologists through the study of wildlife and production animal health and survivorship under normal and adverse environmental conditions.

Role of the Center

Members of the OWSC will collaborate with other tertiary, government, NGO’s and special interest groups, in times of anomalous or catastrophic events, to assist with creating informed strategies to mitigate short term and/or long-term negative impacts and determine risk factors. The role of the center:

Conduct appropriate research to advance the field of One Welfare
Interact with stakeholders, other academics and government agencies involved with using or preserving our natural environment to knowledge share and achieve common goals
Educate at the community level on all aspects of One Welfare to raise awareness of issues for the current and future generations
Educate professional DVM and graduate students in the appropriate skills needed to contribute to maintaining and improving the health of ecosystem

Mission and Goals

Our mission is to become a center for species welfare and sustainability through research knowledge, training, outreach, and expertise within a network of animal researchers and managers while serving other species of conservation concern.

Goal 1 - Establish the One Welfare Sustainability Center at Ohio State as the global leader in animal population health, welfare and sustainability, with an emphasis on their application to conservation-oriented systems.
Goal 2 - Develop a comprehensive training program in animal population health, welfare, and sustainability targeting professional Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) and graduate students, and veterinary clinical residents.
Goal 3 - Deliver global outreach in support of animal population health, welfare, and sustainability in production systems using novel species,
Goal 4 - Conduct outreach research and serve as the scientific liaison with our center partners in regions where the species of interest occur.
Goal 5 - Promote the OWSC to the industry stakeholders and universities and develop a collaborative relationship with existing bodies.

Our People

By virtue of the interdisciplinary nature of the field of One Welfare, this center is interdisciplinary. Areas of expertise within our ranks span veterinary medicine, conservation science, ecology and biology, the social sciences, economics, and education. The diverse personal and professional backgrounds of our members, partners and collaborators make us able to comprehensively use science from a range of perspectives to approach the potentially controversial topics and opinions that plague all wildlife and production systems, whether an endangered wild species under an anthropogenic stressor, an exotic species used in a high-end fashion industry, or a common domesticated production species housed in a system that is perceived to be inadequate.

Leaders

Staff

Madeline Winans, MS
Research and Administrative Coordinator
winans.26@osu.edu

Ms. Madeline Winans is the Research and Administrative Coordinator for the One Welfare and Sustainability Center. Madeline graduated from The Ohio State University in 2019 with a B.S. in Zoology, and completed her Master’s in Animal Sciences at Ohio State in 2021. Her previous research focused on measuring behavioral and physiological indicators of welfare to evaluate the impacts of facility relocation on a zoo-housed population of California sea lions. Prior to this position, Madeline worked as the Program Coordinator for the Center for Human-Animal Interactions Research and Education (CHAIRE).

Through her current role, Madeline works to facilitate OWSC’s research, training, and outreach programs to continue advancing the center’s mission. Additionally, Madeline is working towards her PhD, and her current research focuses on utilizing a One Welfare approach to assess the welfare of crocodilians in human-care.

Trainees

Dr. Brittany Fischer
Postdoctoral Scholar
fischer.747@osu.edu

Dr. Brittany Fischer recently completed her PhD and is now a Postdoctoral Scholar in the One Welfare and Sustainability Center. Prior to beginning her PhD, Dr. Fischer earned her master’s and undergraduate degrees in Animal Sciences, studying animal welfare in a zoological setting. Brittany also worked as Program Coordinator of the Center for Human-Animal Interactions Research & Education (CHAIRE) throughout her master’s and first year of her PhD. She advanced the center’s mission through planning educational programs, outreach events, and managing social media outlets and annual reports.

Dr. Fischer’s previous research focus has been using One Welfare to assess the impacts of public aquarium population management on humans, animals, and the environment. Through several projects, she compared the wellbeing of wild collected fishes and animals raised through aquaculture, assessed sites aquariums visit to collect species from the wild, and designed a One Welfare Model with inclusion of chemical-physical, biological, and socio-economic indicators. Her postdoc research will work to apply this One Welfare Model to the Great Lakes region, with a focus on the charter fishing industry.

Laura Kellow
Zoo and Wildlife Conservation Medicine & Ecosystem Health Resident
kellow.5@osu.edu

Dr. Laura Kellow is the first-year resident in the Zoo and Wildlife Conservation Medicine & Ecosystem Health program. She earned her veterinary degree from Iowa State University in 2019 and completed a small animal rotating internship at VCA Alameda East in Colorado and a Master of Veterinary Science in Wildlife Conservation through Murdoch University. She then completed a wildlife speciality internship at the Clinic for Rehabilitation of Wildlife in Florida and stayed on as an associate veterinarian prior to coming to OSU.

Her previous research has focused on disease impacts to free-ranging wildlife including osprey mercury and selenium ratios, and the prevalence and characterization of a meningeal parasite in anhinga. As a master’s student in the One Welfare and Sustainability Center, Dr. Kellow is investigating the impacts of mining reclamation on free-ranging and captive wildlife. She is also working towards board certification through the American College of Zoological Medicine.

Collin Kramer
One Welfare: Animal Welfare Resident
Email: kramer.543@osu.edu

Dr. Collin Kramer is the first-year resident in the One Welfare: Animal Welfare residency program. He completed a master’s degree in microbiology from Colorado State University and earned his veterinary degree from Colorado State in 2022. His previous research projects include bat microbiome sequencing and the assessment of how climate change is perceived and understood within the veterinary profession.

As a master’s student within the One Welfare and Sustainability Center, Dr. Kramer’s research focuses on the framework of climate change as an animal health and welfare issue. He is also working toward veterinary specialty board certification through the American College of Animal Welfare.

Rachel Long
Zoo and Wildlife Conservation Medicine & Ecosystem Health Resident
Email: long.1742@osu.edu

Dr. Rachel Long is the first-year resident in the Zoo and Wildlife Conservation Medicine & Ecosystem Health residency program. She earned her veterinary degree from The Ohio State University in 2020, and subsequently completed internships at Veterinary Specialty Center of Seattle and Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens before returning to Ohio State as a resident.

Dr. Long’s research interests focus on advancing the care and welfare of wildlife species in both managed and free-ranging settings. Her previous research has included characterizing local human-wildlife conflicts with wildlife rehabilitation hospital data and comparing techniques for assessing snake fungal disease prevalence. Her current research as a master’s student focuses on optimizing freshwater mussel welfare during health assessments via anesthesia techniques. She is also working toward veterinary specialty board certification through the American College of Zoological Medicine.

Emily Vincent
Zoo and Wildlife Conservation Medicine & Ecosystem Health Resident
Email: vincent.136@osu.edu

Dr. Emily Vincent is the second-year resident in the Zoo and Wildlife Conservation Medicine & Ecosystem Health program and is currently gaining clinical experience at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. She earned her veterinary degree from The Ohio State University in 2019 and then completed internships at University of Illinois and the Indianapolis Zoo. Her previous research projects have included a field survey of free-ranging domestic cats, an echocardiography study of prairie rattlesnakes, and a health assessment of wild freshwater turtles.

As a master’s student in the One Welfare and Sustainability Center, Dr. Vincent is investigating the impacts of dredging on free-ranging wildlife and ecosystem health in southwestern Lake Erie. She is also working towards board certification through the American College of Zoological Medicine.

Brenna Braasch
Animal Welfare (MS Candidate)
Email: braasch.4@osu.edu

Brenna Braasch is a first year Master’s candidate of the One Welfare and Sustainability Center studying animal welfare and behavior. Her current research focuses on utilizing artificial intelligence to better understand behavior in African wild dogs.

Prior to beginning her Master’s program, Brenna graduated from The Ohio State University in 2021 with a B.S. in Zoology. Brenna is also employed by the university as a Laboratory Animal Health Technician for University Laboratory Animal Resources (ULAR).

Nicholas Lordi
ULAR Resident (MS Candidate)
Email: lordi.2@osu.edu

Dr. Nicholas Lordi is the second-year laboratory animal medicine resident in the University Laboratory Animal Resources (ULAR) program. He earned his veterinary degree from The Ohio State University in 2020 and then completed a small animal medicine and surgery rotating internship at Oradell Animal Hospital. He has previously done research looking at ways to assess renal function in the cheetah population at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium using a renal biomarker and the serum clearance of a contrast agent.

As a master’s student in the One Welfare and Sustainability Center, Dr. Lordi is investigating the effects of embryo size at time of egg collection on hatch success and post-hatch parameters, such as umbilical scarring, in both farmed and wild Florida Alligators. He is also working towards board certification through the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine.

Research Areas and Topics

We offer umbrella programs in local and global ecosystem health and one welfare which support an array of student projects including:

Investigating the impacts of dredging on free-ranging wildlife and ecosystem health in southwestern Lake Erie.
Optimizing freshwater mussel welfare during health assessments via anesthesia techniques.
Investigating the framework of climate change as an animal health and welfare issue.
Developing and Using One Welfare models to assess the impacts of public aquarium population management on humans, animals, and the environment.
Utilizing artificial intelligence to better understand behavior in African wild dogs
Investigating the effects of embryo size at time of egg collection on hatch success and post-hatch parameters
Survey assessment of ophthalmic diagnostic parameters, conjunctival flora, and ocular health of American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis)
Field applications of alfaxalone in Northern Ohio mallard ducks (Anas platyrhynchos) and determining potential associated pathology
Developing a One Welfare assessment of American alligators across wild and professional settings
Applying a One Welfare model to the charter fishing industry in the Great Lakes region

Selected Books, Chapters and Publications

Our team boasts a diverse range of expertise, encompassing veterinary medicine, conservation science, ecology, biology, social sciences, economics, and education. This expertise is reflected in the diverse range of information OWSC team members have published.

Flint, M. and Junge, R.E. (2024). Repetitive and other abnormal behaviors in wild animals under human care. Chapter 19. Introduction to Animal Behavior and Veterinary Behavioral Medicine. Herron, M. (ed). Wiley Publishing.
Owen, H., de Wit, M., and Flint, M. (2018). Sirenia. Chapter 26. Pathology of Wildlife and Zoo Animals. Terio, K., McAloose, D. and St Leger, J. (Eds). Elsevier, San Diego. ISBN 978-0-128-05306-5
McGuire, M., Francis-Floyd, R., Flint, M. and Flint, J.B. (2017). One in a Thousand: Those Amazing Sea Turtles. Zimmerman, D and Palmer, D. (Eds). UF/IFAS Communications, Gainesville. ISBN 978-0-916287-96-2.
Flint, M. (Section Editor) (2017). Sirenia. Chapters 17-21. Marine Mammal Welfare. Butterworth, A. (Ed). Springer Publishing, Cham. ISBN 978-3-319-46993-5
Bonde, R.K., and Flint, M. (2017). Human interactions- Sirenia. Chapter 17. Marine Mammal Welfare. Butterworth, A. (Ed). Springer Publishing, Cham. ISBN 978-3-319-46993-5
Owen, H., Flint, J.B., and Flint, M. (2017). Marine debris and fisheries- Sirenia. Chapter 18. Marine Mammal Welfare. Butterworth, A. (Ed). Springer Publishing, Cham. ISBN 978-3-319-46993-5
Flint, M., and Bonde, R.K. (2017). Assessing welfare in the wild and in captivity- Sirenia. Chapter 21. Marine Mammal Welfare. Butterworth, A. (Ed). Springer Publishing, Cham. ISBN 978-3-319-46993-5
Stacy, B.A., Work, T.M., and Flint, M. (2017). Necropsy. Chapter 8. Sea Turtle Health and Rehabilitation. Manire, C.A., Norton, T.M., Stacy, B.A., Innis, C.J., and Harms, C.A. (Eds). J. Ross Publishing, Plantation. ISBN 9781604270990
Harris, H.S., Flint, M., Stewart, K.M., and Harms, C.A. (2017). Field techniques. Chapter 34. Sea Turtle Health and Rehabilitation. Manire, C.A., Norton, T.M., Stacy, B.A., Innis, C.J., and Harms, C.A. (Eds). J. Ross Publishing, Plantation. ISBN 9781604270990

Ehrlich, M., C. Madden, D. S. McBride, J. M. Nolting, D. Huey, S. Kenney, Q. Wang, L. J. Saif, A. Vlasova, P. Dennis, D. Lombardi, S. Gibson, A. McLaine, S. Lauterbach, P. Yaxley, J. A. Winston, D. Diaz-Campos, R. Pesapane, M. Flint, J. Flint, R. Junge, S. A. Faith, A. S. Bowman, and V. L. Hale (2023). Lack of SARS-CoV-2 Viral RNA Detection among a Convenience Sampling of Ohio Wildlife, Companion, and Agricultural Animals, 2020-2021. Animals 13:2554.
Flint, M., K. Sagrera, K. Wainwright, and J. B. Flint. 2023. Field Based Assessment of Clinical Signs of Irreversible Loss of Consciousness and Death Confirmed by Brain Destruction in Juvenile American Alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) After Penetrating Captive Bolt Stunning or Electrostunning with Probe Pithing. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science:23: https://doi.org/10.1080/10888705.2023.2236550
Campler, M.R, Cheng, T-Y., Arruda, A.G., Flint, M., Kieffer, J.D., Youngblood, B., and Bowman, A.S. (2023). Refinement of water-based foam depopulation procedures for finisher pigs during field conditions: Welfare implications and logistical aspects. Preventive Veterinary Medicine. 217:105974
Flint, J.B., Flint, M., and Miller, J.D. (2023). Step by step protocol for the Laparoscopic examination of American alligators. Protocols.io. https://www.protocols.io/view/step-by-step-protocol-for-the-laparoscopic-examina-36wgqj8r5vk5/v1
Maneja, R.H., Miller, J.D., Flint, J.B., Alcaria, J.F.A., Basali, A.U., Flandez, A.V.B., Gopalan, J., Vasanthi, T.D., Abrogueña, J.B.R., Bawazier, A.A., Das, P.B., Manokaran, S.P., Asiri, Y.Y., Qasem, A., Asfahani, K., Qurban, M.A.B. (2023) Extreme conditions reduce hatching success of green turtles (Chelonia mydas L.) at Karan Island, the major nesting site in the Arabian Gulf. Marine Pollution Bulletin. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114801
Fischer B., Pempek J., George K.A., Flint J., Wittum T., and Flint M. (2023). Using ecosystem health and welfare assessments to determine impacts of wild collection for public aquariums. PLoS One. 18(5): e0285198. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0285198.
Vincent, E.C., Fayette, M.A., Griffioen, J.A., Litwiler, G., Adamovicz, L., Ospina, E., and Allender, M.C. (2023). Health assessment of painted turtles (Chrysemys picta) in a restored wetland habitat in Northwestern Indiana, USA. Journal of Wildlife Diseases. 59(2):245-258.
Fischer, B., Flint, M., Cole, K., and George, K.A. (2021). Development of an evidence-based welfare approach for cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) under human care. Animal Welfare. 30:295-306.
Putillo, A.R., Flint, M., Seminoff, J.A., Spencer, R.G.M., Fuentes, M.M.P.B. (2020). Plasma biochemical profiles of juvenile green turtles (Chelonia mydas) from the Bahamas with potential influence of diet. Journal of Wildlife Diseases. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7589/JWD-D-20-00009
Kruse, T., Messenger, K., Bowman, A.S., Aarnes, T.K, Wittum, T.E., and Flint M. (2019). Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of alfaxalone after a single intramuscular or intravascular injection in mallard ducks (Anas platyrhynchos). Journal of Pharmacology and Therapeutics. 42:713-721.
Chapman, P.A., Cribb, T.H., Flint, M., Traub, R.J., Blair, D., Kyaw-Tanner, M.T., and Mills, P.C. (2019). Spirorchiidiasis in marine turtles: the current state of knowledge. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms. 133(3): 217-245.
Flint, M., Brand, A-F., Bell, I.P., and Madden Hof, C. (2019). Monitoring the health of green turtles in northern Queensland post catastrophic events. Science of the Total Environment. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.1001.1065.
Gaus, C., C. A. Villa, G. Dogruer, A. Heffernan, S. Vijayasarathy, C. Lin, M. Flint, C. Madden Hof, and I. Bell. (2018). Evaluating internal exposure of sea turtles as model species for identifying regional chemical threats in nearshore habitats of the Great Barrier Reef. Science of the Total Environment: DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.1010.1257.
Mathieu, A., M. Flint, P. M. Stent, H. M. Schwantje, and T. E. Wittum. 2018. Comparative health assessment of urban and non-urban free-ranging mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) in southeastern British Columbia, Canada. PeerJ 6:e4968.
Flint, J.B., Flint, M., Limpus, C.J. and Mills, P.C. (2017). The impact of environmental factors on marine turtle stranding rates PLoS ONE 12(8): e0182548.
Chapman, P.A., Owen, H., Flint, M., Soares Magalhães, R.J., Traub, R.J., Cribb, T.H., Kyaw-Tanner, M.T., Mills, P.C. (2017). Molecular epidemiology and pathology of Spirorchiid infection in green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas). International Journal of Parasitology – Parasites and Wildlife. 6(1): 39-47
Gillett, A.K., Ploeg, R., Flint, M., and Mills, P.C. (2017). Postmortem assessment of Australian sea snakes (Hydrophiinae): anatomy, common conditions and pathology. Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation. doi: 10.1177/1040638717710056
Flint, J.B., Flint, M., Limpus, C.J. and Mills, P.C. (2017). Status of marine turtle rehabilitation in Queensland. PeerJ 5:e3132 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.3132.
Flint, M., Mills, P.C., Loban, F., Simpson, T., Lui, S., Fujii, R., Whap, D., Flint, J.B., and Owen, H. (2017). Development of a humane slaughter device for green turtles for use by Traditional Owners in the Torres Strait Islands, Australia. PLoS ONE. 12(1):e0167849. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0167849
Villa CA, Flint M, Bell I, Hof C, Limpus CJ, and Gaus C. (2017). Trace element reference intervals in the blood of healthy green sea turtles to evaluate exposure of coastal populations. Environmental Pollution 220(B): 1465-1476, DOI:10.1016/j.envpol.2016.10.085.
Fischer, B., Pempek, J.A., Flint, J.B., Wittum, T., and Flint, M. (2024) Application of a One Welfare-Based Ecosystem Model to assess wild collection for public aquariums. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 34(2). https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.4098

Training

A teacher addresses a group of students.

The One Welfare and Sustainability Center provides comprehensive training and education programs aimed at fostering a deep understanding of the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental well-being. Our offerings span a wide range of disciplines, equipping individuals with the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainability and conservation.

VETPREV7710 - Ecosystem Health Conservation Medicine: Through lectures, readings, field practicum, discussions and self-directed learning, this elective course introduces the principles and practices of ecosystem health with emphasis on the role of the veterinarian. Conservation medicine will be examined using the One Health One Medicine paradigm.
VETPREV7700 - Aquatic Animal Health and Medicine: An entry-level class exposing professional veterinary and graduate students to the diverse field of aquatic animal health, medicine, and welfare. It aims to equip veterinarians with an interest in aquatic medicine and higher research degree earning students with an interest in the disease ecology of aquatic species to gain skills directly applicable to their profession. Concepts will cover principles of aquaculture, the natural aquatic environment, common diseases, and treatments.
VMCOLL6120 - One Health & One Welfare: Historical, philosophical and scientific developments that have led to our current understanding of animal welfare and how it should be assessed. An overview of the tenancies of One Health and One Welfare, the role of the veterinarian in a range of disciplines and how this framework may be applied to our everyday clinical practice.

Zoo and Wildlife Conservation Medicine and Ecosystem Health Residency Program: A three-year, ACZM-accredited residency in Zoo and Wildlife Conservation Medicine and Ecosystem Health. This is a unique cooperative program between the Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and the Wilds. This program provides trainees with coursework, zoological medicine training and field experience emphasizing a One Health approach to the study of nondomestic animal health and leading to a Master’s degree at the completion of the residency. This program is uniquely designed to train ACZM eligible candidates and prepare conservation medicine clinicians to advance the field through further research and training nationally and internationally.

Zoo and Wildlife Conservation Medicine and Ecosystem Health Residency
One Welfare: Animal Welfare Residency Program: A three-year, ACAW accredited residency in One Welfare - Animal Welfare. The goal is to train veterinarians in One Welfare, which looks at issues from a wider, national, global and holistic perspective, focusing on the inter-relationships between animal welfare, human wellbeing and the environment. The concept refers to not only animal welfare but includes human welfare and societal mental health, as well as environmental conservation. Graduates of the Program will be board eligible with the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Veterinary Board of Veterinary Specialties (VBVS) after the completion of a 3-year didactic and experiential individually tailored program that includes a Research Masters degree (MS) from the College of Veterinary Medicine at Ohio State University.

Pending approval, this certificate will provide graduate-level and professional training in the emerging discipline of One Welfare as part of their degrees or in a non-degree earning modality. It is anticipated this training will be available globally through its unique online delivery methods. Participants will be able to earn the certificate without the need to enroll in a degree-seeking program. The outcome of this certificate will be valuable training in the application of One Welfare in the workplace.