How to Build an Interdisciplinary, Multisectoral Global Health Workforce: Lessons From One Health Professionals

Background: In recognition of the interconnected nature of complex challenges such as COVID-19, a collaborative, multisectoral, and transdisciplinary approach, referred to as One Health, has been employed to address sustainable development and strengthen global health security. Although significant investments have been made to build global health capacity, there has not been a large-scale effort to capture the lived experiences of those working in One Health-related sectors. Methods: We collected and analyzed perspectives from students, graduates, workers, and employers in One Health through a multinational online survey across numerous health disciplines and sectors. Respondents were recruited through professional networks. Findings: A total of 828 respondents from 66 countries participated, representing governmental and academic institutions and students, among others; 57% were female, and 56% had completed professional health degrees. Interpersonal communication, communication with non-scientific audiences, and the ability to work in transdisciplinary teams were valued in the workplace. Employers indicated difficulty recruiting workers, while workers indicated limited availability of positions. Interpretation: Successful One Health workers use interpersonal skills and scientific knowledge to address complex health challenges. A misalignment in One Health definitions and expectations may be hindering the matching of job seekers and employers. As One Health has evolved to address food insecurity, emerging diseases, and antimicrobial resistance, it holds promise for supporting an interdisciplinary global health workforce that can make substantial progress on Sustainable Development Goals and improve global health security for all. Funding Information: This research was supported in part by and benefited from intellectual contributions from USAID’s PREDICT Project (JM and ET) and One Health Workforce -- Next Generation Projects (JM) Declaration of Interests: We declare no competing interests. Ethics Approval Statement: The project was determined to be exempt by the University of California, Davis, Institutional Review Board (IRB ID: 1312001-1).