James Holt, VMD, visiting associate professor of infectious diseases and microbiology at Pitt Public Health, has been named the 2026 recipient of the American Veterinary One Health Society Honorary Diplomate Award.
In addition to his academic role, Holt works as a large-animal veterinarian and is Director of Operations for the Pennsylvania One Health Consortium.
The award recognizes distinguished service and career contributions that advance the health of animals, people, plants and the environment through the principles of One Health.
“When I found out I received the award, it surprised me at first,” Holt said. “I didn’t expect it.”
Holt said the recognition also creates opportunities to build new partnerships and connect with colleagues across disciplines. He will accept the award in July in Anaheim, Calif., during the American Veterinary Medical Association annual meeting.
“Receiving the award creates an opportunity to connect not only with people in One Health, but with veterinarians across many specialties,” he said. “That’s what excites me the most.”
Holt first became involved in statewide One Health efforts through the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s One Health Task Force, which launched in 2016. He later chaired the task force as it expanded and ultimately evolved into the Pennsylvania One Health Consortium in 2024.
“Jim’s recognition is exceptionally well deserved,” said Maureen Lichtveld, dean of Pitt Public Health and Executive Director of the Pennsylvania One Health Consortium. “His work reflects the very best of One Health and the kind of cross-sector collaboration that is deeply embedded in the mission of Pitt Public Health.”
In July 2024, the University of Pittsburgh assumed the formal coordinating role for the consortium, partnering with Pennsylvania State University, Temple University, Delaware Valley University and the University of Pennsylvania to address challenges at the intersection of animal, human and environmental health.
“One Health is a strategic priority for our department, and Jim has been a driving force in helping move that vision forward,” said Suresh Kuchipudi, chair of the Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology and Scientific Director of the Pennsylvania One Health Consortium. “This recognition speaks to his outstanding leadership and to the meaningful impact he continues to make through the Pennsylvania One Health Consortium.”
“We work in the space where those three areas overlap,” said Holt. “Diseases don’t respect those boundaries. We work to address issues collaboratively rather than having one organization tackle them alone.”
Holt hopes the recognition will also help raise awareness of the second annual meeting of the Pennsylvania One Health Consortium, which Pitt will host June 21–23.
“One Health crosses so many disciplines—medicine, environmental health, public health veterinary medicine—that many different audiences could benefit from attending,” he said.
Learn more and register for the second annual meeting of the Pennsylvania One Health Consortium.
-Ava Dzurenda