Wildlife Disease Association Bestows Dr. William Karesh with Top Honor
NEW YORK – August 12, 2019 – EcoHealth Alliance, a nonprofit working at the intersection of animal, environmental, and human health on a global scale, is proud to announce Executive Vice President for Health and Policy Dr. William Karesh is this year’s recipient of the Wildlife Disease Association’s Tom Thorne and Beth Williams Memorial Award.
The Tom Thorne and Beth Williams Memorial Award is presented each year to someone in acknowledgement of “exemplary contribution or achievement combining wildlife disease research with wildlife management policy implementation or elucidating particularly significant problems in wildlife health.”
“Dr. Karesh’s contributions to the field of One Health implementation hardly need introduction: he invented the term after all,” EcoHealth Alliance President Dr. Peter Daszak said. “Billy’s expertise and dedication serve a large role in what makes EcoHealth Alliance such a vital player in the global effort to prevent pandemics and protect wildlife species.”
In addition to coining the term “One Health” in 2003, Dr. Karesh has conducted wildlife disease investigations for health threats of conservation and human health concern in more than 50 countries throughout his career. He currently serves as Partner Liaison for USAID’s Emerging Pandemic Threats PREDICT program, president of the World Organisation for Animal Health’s Working Group on Wildlife, co-chair of the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Species Survival Commission Wildlife Health Specialist Group, and is a member of the International Health Regulations roster of experts for the World Health Organization. He also works closely with governments around the world to operationalize One Health approaches, increasing attention to the links between biodiversity, ecosystems, and health and developing strategies to reduce disease risks and impacts.
Since 1951, scientists with the Wildlife Disease Association have advocated for the health of wild animals, with particular focus on their vulnerability to disease.
About EcoHealth Alliance:
Building on 45 years of groundbreaking science, EcoHealth Alliance is the premier nonprofit organization committed to a One Health approach to track the migration of deadly viruses from animals into humans. EcoHealth Alliance research has led to major breakthroughs on the origins and spread of new and emerging diseases like Ebola, SARS, MERS, and Nipah virus. EcoHealth Alliance works globally in hotspot regions where the threat of outbreaks is highest. Through innovations in research, training, capacity building, and policy initiatives, we develop tools and interventions to prevent pandemics and promote conservation.
Press contact: Robert Kessler, (646) 868-4711 or kessler@ecohealthalliance.org.