UC faculty and trainees recently returned from the “Inter-institutional Strengthening in Research and Professional Training with a Focus on One Health” symposium held in Lima, Peru, in January. Hosted by the School of Medicine at the National University of San Marcos, the goal of the symposium was to transform international research and professional training. The team discussed several topics at the gathering, including pandemic preparedness, digital epidemiology and mental health, foundational science, and opportunities for training in global health.

MSTP Student Pablo Alarcon, PhD, attended the symposium, and shared insights into the global health training opportunities available, along with CCHMC resident Leslie Cabrera-Toribio, MD. Pablo, who is in his final year of the MSTP, has been a strong advocate of the opportunities available at UC throughout his time in the program. He obtained his PhD in Immunology at UC, where he studied the role of obesity on the immune response to influenza, and is expected to receive his MD in the spring of 2026.

The group also visited several medical institutions and clinical research sites in Peru, where they connected with local teams to better understand the region’s health landscape. The symposium showed the value of collaboration across disciplines, highlighting how a One Health approach can pave the way for scientific progress.