2026 Calvin Schwabe Lectureship Speaker
One Health Pioneer William B. Karesh
The UC Davis Weill School of Veterinary Medicine was honored to welcome Dr. William B. Karesh as the 2026 speaker for the Calvin Schwabe Lectureship, an annual event recognizing leaders whose work embodies the interdisciplinary spirit of One Health.
Author of the iconic memoir Appointments at the Ends of the World and widely regarded as a pioneer of the modern One Health movement, Karesh is recognized for helping introduce the term “One Health” to a broader audience in a 2003 Washington Post interview, where he stated:
“Human or livestock or wildlife health can't be discussed in isolation anymore. There is just one health. And the solutions require everyone working together.”
The event opened with a short introduction from Karesh, followed by a moderated conversation with Dr. Marcela Uhart, the 2025 Calvin Schwabe Lectureship speaker and collaborator of Dr. Karesh for over three decades.
Throughout the discussion, Karesh emphasized the importance of collaboration across disciplines and perspectives, especially when tackling long-term global challenges. He encouraged attendees to engage not only with scientists, but also with economists, finance ministers, policymakers, and other decision-makers who can help advance One Health solutions.
He also spoke candidly about the realities of funding and communication in science, encouraging researchers to meet people where they are and explain their work in ways that are understandable, relevant, and worth supporting.
For students, Karesh emphasized the importance of pursuing what they are passionate about and becoming experts who can bring meaningful knowledge and perspective to collaborative problem-solving efforts. He acknowledged that collaboration is not always the fastest or easiest path forward. In some cases, it may mean sharing resources or funding opportunities that organizations might otherwise pursue independently. Yet he emphasized that collaborative One Health approaches often lead to the strongest long-term outcomes and the greatest collective impact.
The Calvin Schwabe Lectureship commemorates the legacy of Calvin Schwabe, whose work helped establish UC Davis as a leader in One Health thinking. Schwabe once wrote:
“The critical needs of man include the combating of diseases, ensuring enough food, adequate environmental quality, and a society in which humane values prevail.”
Karesh’s lecture reflected that same philosophy, highlighting how collaboration, communication, and shared purpose remain central to advancing One Health today.