A Relentless Pursuit of Learning: How Dr. Heather Fowler Uses Knowledge to Strengthen One Health Practices

Dr. Heather Fowler

I had the opportunity to meet with Dr. Heather Fowler. I was amazed at her academic accomplishments. Not only does she earn a Veterinary Medical Degree (VMD), she  earned a Masters in Public Health, and Bachelors in Animal Bioscience, and last but not least, a PhD in Worker Safety. She describes herself as a public health veterinarian. She currently works at the National Pork Board taking on a public health role. She looks at the work environment of the farmers as well as the living conditions of the pigs, and makes sure that the relationship between the two species is mutually beneficial. We discussed One Health, something I have come to learn a lot about this semester. Dr. Fowler told me that she defines One Health as

“the connections between human health, animal health, and environmental health, and the need to look at them holistically…to make sure that the interactions are mutually beneficial. Otherwise, if it impedes the health and well-being of the people or the animals, it's not a good welfare or health situation for either party.”

I thought this was very insightful. I know in the context of human-animal relationships this sort of relationship would be different from what we have covered in this blog. In any meat industry, the animals eventually will be converted into the products we consume. Dr. Fowler’s career sets out to make sure that the animals live a good and fulfilling life, but also looks after the farmers. We talked about the similarity of zoo keepers and how they can suffer disenfranchised grief from the loss of animals they work with. With farmers it is no different. I found what she had to say very inspiring. 

Q. What inspired you to move from Veterinary Science to Public Health?

Dr. Fowler told me that she always knew that she wanted to be a veterinarian ever since she was a child. But as she grew older, she became drawn to public health, and epidemiology. She then decided to pursue a career in research. Dr. Fowler explained that epidemiology is the study of outbreaks of disease. 

“There are three main features: the host, the pathogen or the condition, and the environment. Then there is the task of trying to figure out how those three are connected.”

 She knew even though she was exploring this new field, she wanted to stay involved with animals, and now she gets to do that with the National Pork Board. 

Q. You shared that you're a public health veterinarian. Can you highlight your professional experiences and the importance of One Health in your career?

Dr. Fowler proudly called herself and the National Pork Board One Health Champions. She applies the One Health approach to all areas of her work from presentations on the human-animal bond to teaching food and worker safety at Penn Vet. She also connects this framework to the “We Care” ethical principles in the swine industry, which emphasize caring for people, pigs, and planet which is  a direct reflection of One Health. “Ever since I started at the Pork Board, producers would talk about doing what’s right for people, pigs, and planet… and I was like, hey, that’s One Health.”

Q. How was your academic journey?

Dr. Fowler described her academic path as anything but linear. She earned degrees in Animal Bioscience, Veterinary Medicine, and Public Health before pursuing her PhD. Each step opened new doors and helped her discover more about herself and her passions. She emphasized adaptability and the importance of embracing uncertainty, learning to go with the flow and try new things, even when the next step isn’t clear.

“Some people have a straight-line career… For me, it was, ‘Well, let me try this, and if that didn’t work out, let me go over here.’”

When she said that, it really resonated with me. I also bounced between several degrees before finding my way to social work, and I think a lot of new social workers and students struggle with the idea that they have to choose one path and stick to it forever. Dr. Fowler is such a great example of how fluid and evolving both your education and your career can be.

Q. When you worked at the National Pork Board, did you have a connection with pigs before, or did that happen after you started working with them?

Dr. Fowler with a baby pig!

“I joked that I hadn’t touched a pig since vet school… They were like, ‘That’s fine. We hired you for your public health expertise. We can bring you up to speed on the rest. We’ll get you out on the farm.’” 

She explained that at the time, her hands-on experience with pigs was rusty, but the National Pork Board wasn’t looking for a swine expert, they wanted someone who understood public health, systems thinking, and the human side of animal agriculture. Instead of expecting her to arrive fully trained, they invested in her learning and helped her develop practical experience on the farm.

What started as an unexpected shift soon became a passion. Today, Dr. Fowler loves working with pigs and the farmers who care for them. She shared that building relationships with producers, seeing their commitment to animal welfare, and witnessing firsthand how hard they work has reshaped the way she views agriculture, community, and the connection between human and animal wellbeing.

Q. Where do you see opportunities for innovation or change in systems that integrate animal care, human health, and environmental responsibilities?

Dr. Fowler stressed that continuous improvement is key. She believes science should guide the evolution of animal care and public health practices as knowledge changes, so should policies and systems. Collaboration and research are vital for building a sustainable and health-conscious future for both people and animals. “As long as you remain science-based and as the science changes, you change and adapt as well.”

Lasting Impressions

Dr. Heather Fowler is the kind of professional every social worker should aspire to be. She’s endlessly curious, always hungry for knowledge, and constantly seeking new evidence-based practices to integrate into her work. She thrives on challenges that have deep, complicated roots, the kind that would make most of us run the other way. I can’t even find my keys in the morning, so the idea of tracking the source of an epidemic blows my mind.

She’s also proof that one degree doesn’t have to define your entire career. That’s something so many students and even I struggle with. She shows that your path can shift, evolve, and expand in ways that still align with your purpose. Hearing her talk about the human–animal bond within the food industry was surprisingly eye-opening, and it reminded me just how interconnected people, animals, and systems really are.