UC Davis One Health Institute Leaders Honored with Emil M. Mrak International Impact Award

We’re so proud to celebrate Dr. Woutrina Smith and Dr. Brian Bird, two extraordinary leaders of the UC Davis One Health Institute, as recipients of the 2026 Emil M. Mrak International Impact Award!

 

Dr. Woutrina Smith, Executive Director of the One Health Institute and Associate Dean for Global Programs, has led multidisciplinary collaborations across Africa, Asia, and the Americas, including directing a $60 million USAID initiative that trained more than 60,000 professionals across 17 countries in One Health strategies to strengthen global health security.

 

Dr. Brian Bird, Associate Director of the One Health Institute and Director of the One Health Institute Laboratory, has deployed to major outbreak responses across Africa, including helping lead the CDC’s field laboratory during the largest Ebola epidemic in history. Today, his team is advancing a vaccine candidate for Rift Valley fever toward human clinical trials while strengthening disease detection and surveillance globally.

 

As faculty at the UC Davis Weill School of Veterinary Medicine and longtime champions of the One Health approach, their careers reflect a deep commitment to strengthening health systems worldwide through scientific discovery, education, and global partnerships. Please join us in congratulating them on this well-deserved recognition!