Assistant Professor of Epidemiology selected among first cohort of UTMB's Teaching Excellence And Mentorship Program fellows
Dr. Caitlin Cotter, assistant professor in the Department of Epidemiology at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) School of Public and Population Health (SPPH), has been awarded a $10,000 educational pilot grant through UTMB's Teaching Excellence And Mentorship (TEAM) Program to develop a One Health curriculum.
The grant will support Dr. Cotter's work in creating a course that prepares students to approach a range of problems using systems thinking on multidisciplinary teams, providing them with critical skills for addressing complex public health challenges at the intersection of human, animal, and environmental health.
"One Health is really about preventing disease," said Dr. Cotter, a veterinarian-epidemiologist who joined UTMB in June 2024. "It's about thinking about the upstream factors for health and disease, environmental exposures, and using animals as early warning systems because they can be exposed to the same stressors or viruses or environmental contaminants and have similar diseases as humans."
Dr. Cotter was one of 17 early-career faculty members selected for the inaugural TEAM Program cohort, which provides mentorship and professional development opportunities for assistant professors and instructors across UTMB's five schools.
Veterinarian-Epidemiologist Brings CDC Field Experience to Classroom
As both a veterinarian (DVM) and epidemiologist with a PhD from UTHealth Houston, Dr. Cotter brings a distinctive perspective to public health education. Her experience includes serving as an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, where she led a dengue outbreak investigation in American Samoa, and working as Communicable Disease Director for the Texas Department of State Health Services.
"My role within this educational pilot project is to use my professional experience and expertise to develop and enhance the One Health educational curriculum at UTMB," Dr. Cotter explained.
The course will help students develop key competencies including:
- Working in multidisciplinary teams to address emerging public health challenges
- Understanding how social, economic, environmental, and cultural determinants influence the emergence of novel pathogens
- Applying systems thinking to complex agro-ecosystem problems
- Developing leadership and management skills for outbreak response
Addressing Gulf Coast Challenges
The One Health approach is particularly relevant to Galveston Island's unique public health landscape. Dr. Cotter notes that the island's convergence of migratory bird habitats, dense urban populations, and close animal-human interactions presents critical interfaces for potential spillover of emerging infectious diseases like highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1).
"Hurricane response and disaster preparedness are incredibly important on Galveston Island due to the increased frequency of severe weather events, and the health of the coastal environment impacts us all," Dr. Cotter said.
Supporting Educational Excellence
The TEAM Program, developed by Dr. Holly West under the Office of Faculty Affairs, represents UTMB's commitment to supporting early-career educators. The program includes a three-day Teaching Basics Boot Camp, one-on-one mentorship opportunities, and competitive grant funding for educational projects.
Dr. West, who serves as director of the program and UTMB's Academy of Master Teachers, emphasized the significance of educational funding opportunities, noting that $10,000 represents substantial support in the education field.
Dr. Cotter praised the TEAM Program's professional development opportunities, describing the boot camp as "delightful" – high praise for what she acknowledged was unexpected from a training program. She particularly credited mentors Dr. Cara Pennel and Dr. West for their valuable insights and support.
UT System Leadership Role Envisioned for One Health
Looking ahead, Dr. Cotter hopes to build upon this pilot's foundation. She hopes to expand the course to include broad aspects and practical applications of the One Health framework, potentially partnering in the future with institutions in Latin America to extend the program's reach.
"I envision the UT System becoming a leader in the provision of One Health educational content throughout Texas," Dr. Cotter said.
For students interested in One Health, Dr. Cotter suggests getting involved with UTMB faculty already working at the intersection of human/animal/environmental health. She also envisions opportunities for student interest groups and journal clubs as the field continues to grow at UTMB.
The One Health course represents a timely addition to SPPH's curriculum as the school continues to expand its educational offerings and prepare the next generation of public health professionals to tackle complex, interconnected health challenges in the Gulf Coast region and beyond.
About the TEAM Program: The Teaching Excellence And Mentorship Program supports early-career faculty across UTMB's five schools through professional development, mentorship, and grant funding opportunities. For more information about the program, contact the Office of Faculty Affairs.