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Advancing One Health Systems for Pet Families and Communities

One Health Systems connect people, pets, and communities by aligning veterinary care, social services, public health, and animal welfare. PPHE advances these systems through research, education, and collaboration to improve access to care for pet families

PPHE is an interdisciplinary organization housed at the University of Tennessee, dedicated to promoting the health and happiness of people and their pets through research, education, communication, and collaboration.

Closeup of a young white male and his orange cat showing affection

Our Mission

To advance pet family well-being by transforming fragmented systems into integrated, community driven One Health Systems.


Our Vision

A future where communities unite to ensure every pet family—regardless of their circumstances—can access the services and care they need to thrive.


We engage students, professionals, and community partners through education and training opportunities, and we foster cross-sector collaboration and learning through initiatives such as the One Health Forum, the Journal of One Health Systems, and the One Health Systems Summit.


One Health Community

A public forum in collaboration with the University of Tennessee Program for Pet Health Equity and Maddie’s Fund®, aimed at enhancing collaborative efforts across the full spectrum of care for individuals, their pets, and their environment.

Our joint mission is to champion and streamline national cooperative initiatives, shape public policy, and dismantle obstacles to healthcare for pet-inclusive families.

Journal of One Health Systems

A peer-reviewed, open access journal committed to advancing health equity for families that include pets.

Recognizing companion animals as essential members of the family, JOHS synthesizes perspectives so that care systems—including veterinary, human health, public health, and social services—can be aligned with economic, infrastructure, and policy supports to advance the health and well-being of pet families.

A large conference room filled with attendees listening to a presentation projected on a screen during the One Health Systems Summit.

One Health Systems Summit

The One Health Society Summit convenes leaders to advance health equity for people and pets through collaboration, policy, and research.

By fostering a multidisciplinary approach, the Summit aims to foster more sustainable and impactful solutions.


Our Research

Our research explores topics such as access to veterinary and behavioral care, the impacts of the human–animal bond on individuals and communities, and ways to align social service and animal welfare systems to better support pet families.

When systems work together, pet families thrive and communities are stronger.