OHSS Human Animal Bond Working Group

Expanded: The human-animal bond (HAB) is one aspect of human-animal interaction. Recognition is growing of the importance of the HAB to human and non-human animal (hereafter ‘animals’) health and wellbeing. The HAB is variously defined, and can exist along a continuum reflecting differences in how cultures see human, animals, environments, and their interactions.

Our OHSS Working Group on the Human-Animal Bond is dedicated to advancing understanding and recognition of the diverse and dynamic interactions between humans, animals, and the environment (natural, social, and built environment). In our increasingly globalized, changing, and complex world, this focus brings with it both opportunities and challenges (e.g., social,

psychological, cultural, economic). Acknowledging the sentience of animals, our work will focus on the mutual benefits of supportive relationships between animals and humans.  We see the opportunity to use the context of the One Health paradigm in combination with social science theory, method, and intersectional thinking to make important and imperative contributions to better understand the human-animal bond and its implications.

We are committed to collaboratively addressing complex health and well-being issues through a transdisciplinary lens, highlighting the bio-psycho-social and spiritual benefits that human-animal interactions, relationships, and bonds can bring to people (i.e., zooeyia) and the animals they care for, with specific attention initially to interactions with companion animals. Attention is centred on the reciprocal interaction between humans and animals, with the health, wellbeing and welfare of both accounted for. Our focus is broad and encompasses companion animals, working animals, livestock, wild animals, peridomestic animals, farm animals, and animals in captivity (e.g., zoos, laboratories).

We account for a broad spectrum of perspectives and worldviews, including Western science, Indigenous knowledge, and lived and living experiences, as well as geographical, cultural, and more-than-human perspectives and worldviews. We endeavor ‘to see beyond what we currently know’.

Colleen Dell, PhD 

Chair, OHSS-HAB
(Located in Canada)

Professor and Research Chair in Sociology & School of Public Health at the University of Saskatchewan. She is also a Senior Research Associate with the Canadian Centre on Substance Use & Addiction. Colleen’s research program is grounded in an empowering, community-based, and patient-oriented participatory approach with both humans and animals.

Victor Assi, PhD

(Located in Nigeria)

A Medical Sociologist whose work explores the relationship between social factors and health outcomes, focusing on healthcare disparities and access to medical services, and One Health and Zoonoses. He has contributed to understanding how social determinants such as culture, economics, and policy impact health behaviour and well-being, particularly in marginalized populations.

Marta Aleksandra Balinska, PhD
(Located in France)

A public health practitioner with a combination of academic and field experience. She has worked in public health agencies in France and internationally. Marta is currently Vice Chair of the World Health Organization Ethics Review Committee and starting in January, 2025 became the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Public Health Research (Sage). She is particularly interested in tailoring One Health policies to local contexts, including healthcare settings.

Lisa Carver, PhD

(Located in Canada)

An Associate Professor at Queen’s University and a multidisciplinary health researcher with a PhD (Sociology) and MA (Psychology). Situated within a One Health perspective, Dr. Carver's research and writing is focused on the well-being of humans, non-human animals and the environment.

Perri Doutre
(Located in USA)

Has a wide range of interests, experiences, and expertise. This includes marketing, safety and security, criminology, anthropology, command and control, preparedness, risk assessment and management, homeopathy, interspecies communication, reiki, and food and agriculture.

Cesar M. Gavidia, DVM

(Located in Peru)

Veterinarian and Professor at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos (Peru), Graduate Office Director, and member of the Veterinary Epidemiology Laboratory. He has been working in the public health and zoonotic parasites areas since 1992 and has published more than 50 peer-reviewed papers. Most of his research activities have involved field epidemiology, sampling animals for prevalence and incidence studies, developing trials to evaluate treatment drugs, standardization of diagnostic tests, and evaluation of vaccines in animals. His projects have been developed in rural communities in the Peruvian Highlands, jungle and north coast, where many zoonotic parasites are highly prevalent.

Oluwaseun Iyasere, PhD
(Located in Nigeria and Germany)

Is an accomplished researcher and educator with over 18 years of expertise in animal behavior and welfare. Proven ability to engage diverse audiences through science communication, social media storytelling, and digital content creation. Adept at using social platforms to raise awareness about animal welfare and behavior. A strong advocate for evidence-based practices, education, and outreach.

Abu-Hena Mostofa Kamal, MA

(Located in Canada and Bangladesh)

PhD candidate in the Department of Sociology at the University of Saskatchewan. His research focuses on social change, exploring transformations in social institutions, their impacts on various social groups, and their interactions with broader structures that contribute to inequality. Kamal's research interests include human-animal interactions, patient-oriented research, climate change, and public health.

Cheryl McCrindle, PhD       

(Located in South Africa)

A certified animal behaviorist. As a veterinarian employed in Public Health, her research interest is one health, food safety and security, and zoonoses at the community level internationally. Currently, she is contracted to UNISA and University Pretoria, both in South Africa, and collaborates with the University of Perugia in Italy. She is one of the pioneers of research into the human -animal bond in South Africa with household pets, and equines, livestock and wildlife.

Elizabeth Mumford, PhD          

(Located in UK, Switzerland and USA)

A veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in zoonotic disease epidemiology, international public health, and One Health policy and practice in the USA, Europe, and the UK. She is currently leading One Health methodological research at the University of Surrey School of Veterinary Medicine, in Guildford, England.

Hernan Malaga, PhD

(Located in Peru, Venezuela, Columbia and Paraguay)

Is the past PAHO/WHO (Pan American Health Organization/ World Health Organization) Representative in Venezuela, Colombia and Paraguay. Retired Professor of Public Health at Ricardo Palma University. Dr Honoris Causa.

Thi Thu Hoai Nguyen, PhD

(Located in Vietnam)

A Professor, faculty member, and leader of the Medical Microbiology Research Group at the School of Biotechnology, as well as the Vice Director of the Research Center for Infectious Diseases at the International University, Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City. Her research interests include proteomic analysis of bacterial pathogens, the development of rapid and accurate diagnostic tests for bacterial pathogens and their antimicrobial resistance genes, and exploring alternative therapies beyond antibiotics. She is deeply committed to the One Health approach, which highlights the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health in epidemiology and outbreak control.

Ugochukwu Ogbodo, DVM

(Located in Saudi Arabia and Nigeria)

Is a companion animal and wildlife veterinarian with a deep interest in animal welfare and behaviour. Ugochukwu is always looking to acquire skills to improve the animal-human relationship.

Verónica Ormea, DVM, MSc

(Located in Peru)

Is a veterinarian, with a MSc in Animal Health Management (Wageningen University and Research, the Netherlands) and MSc in Animal Tropical Health, One Health (Institute Tropical Health ITG, Belgium). Verónica has been involved in capacity building, educational and research projects both national and international (South America, Europe and Africa) and in working groups of many languages.

Faustina Asiedua Otuel, BA

(Located in Ghana)

A sociologist with a BA in Sociology, specializes in exploring the profound connections between humans and animals and their effects on mental health. As a consultant and receptionist at Mishvet Veterinary Services in Chantan, Ghana, she supports pet owners in coping with the complexities of chronic pet illnesses, fostering understanding and resilience in these unique relationships.

Katherine Paphitis, PhD

(Located in Canada)

Technical subject matter specialist and epidemiologist, specializing in enteric and zoonotic diseases, infection control, public health surveillance and outbreak management.  Katherine’s research focuses on One Health, enteric and zoonotic disease transmission and outbreaks, with a particular focus on Salmonella, including potentially overlooked pathways for disease transmission.

Wendy Rib, PhD, 

OHSS Co-Chair 

(Located in USA)

Is a veterinarian, anthropologist, and educator who teaches and develops courses in One Health for advanced veterinary nurses.

Michael Christian Schulze, MD, MPH

(Located in Germany)

Kathrin Heitz Tokpa, PhD

(Located in Ivory Coast and Switzerland)

Holds a PhD in social anthropology from Basel University in Switzerland. Since 2016, she has been the coordinator of the pan-African research consortium Afrique One at the Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques in Ivory Coast. Katherin’s research interests are medical anthropology and transdisciplinary research in the field of One Health with a particular focus on its operationalization and on human-dog aspects.