Preparing Professionals for Global Challenges: One Health in Brazilian Graduate Education

Global challenges such as emerging zoonoses, antimicrobial resistance, and pandemics require an integrated approach between human, animal, and environmental health. Incorporating the One Health approach into Brazilian graduate programs is strategic to prepare professionals for these challenges. This study aimed to map the presence of the One Health concept in Brazilian master’s and doctoral programs. Systematic documentary analysis of academic and professional master’s and doctoral programs registered in the Plataforma Sucupira up to May 2025, complemented by information from official program websites. Eligibility criteria included mention of “Saúde Única”, “Saúde Integrada”, or “One Health” in program titles, mandatory or elective courses, research lines, or program descriptions. Direct approaches were explicit mentions of integration between human, animal, and environmental health. Indirect approaches included courses or research lines focused on zoonotic ecology, vectors, environmental health, and related areas. Data were analyzed by geographic region, evaluation area, institution type, degree level, and presence of related courses. A total of 125 programs with direct (n=71) or indirect (n=54) One Health approaches were identified. Of these, 68 belonged to the Veterinary Medicine evaluation area and only 17 to Medicine. Most programs were offered by public universities (n=98) and at the master’s level (n=80). Sixty-three programs had courses directly related to One Health, while only six used the term in the program name. Regional distribution showed greater concentration in the Southeast (n=55) and South (n=35), with lower presence in the Central-West (n=11) and North (n= 5). Despite advances, the One Health approach in Brazilian graduate programs remains limited and uneven across regions and knowledge areas. Underrepresentation of the North and Central-West ‒ territories endemic for infectious diseases and home to biomes such as the Amazon and Pantanal ‒ reveals weaknesses in local professional training. Strengthening One Health in curricula is essential to prepare professionals to address emerging infectious challenges.