The University of Florida College of Public Health and Health Professions’ PHHP Days is an annual celebration of research from the undergraduate to postdoctoral level, featuring oral and poster presentations from more than 200 students. Within the two-day event, the Pillar Talks series serves as a platform for faculty to share their research, insights, discoveries and innovations across the college’s mission areas of education, research, service and clinical work. These brief, TED Talk-style talks are an opportunity for every member of the college to come together, learn from each other and showcase the remarkable scholarship advancing public health and health science.
Ahead of PHHP Days 2026, taking place April 15 and 16, speakers will share sneak peeks of their talks and what they hope listeners will learn.
Michael von Fricken, Ph.D., is an associate professor in the Department of Environmental and Global Health and director of UF’s One Health Center of Excellence.
What is your primary focus in PHHP and why does it interest you?
My primary focus is on the intersection of emerging infectious diseases, spillover risk and global health security. I am fascinated by how changing landscapes and climate shifts redefine the boundaries between humans and animals, particularly regarding vector-borne diseases. Understanding these complex spatial dynamics allows us to move from reactive medicine to proactive global health security.
What is the theme of your pillar talk?
The theme is the essential integration of human, animal and environmental health. I’ll be discussing how the One Health Center of Excellence serves as a collaborative hub to address the growing global demands for food safety and pandemic preparedness.
Why do you want to share this topic?
One Health is often discussed as a high-level concept, but it is actually a practical, urgent framework for solving our most “wicked” public health problems. I want to showcase how UF is leading the way in operationalizing this approach to protect both local communities and global populations.
What do you hope the audience takes away from your talk?
I hope the audience recognizes that health is not a siloed human experience, but a shared biological and environmental one. Specifically, I want students and colleagues to see that a career in One Health offers a diverse, high-impact path for anyone interested in the future of health security.
Is there anything else you’d like to share about your work or your upcoming pillar talk?
I’m particularly excited to highlight the interdisciplinary nature of the One Health Center of Excellence. We aren’t just looking at data; we are building a “team of teams” across the University of Florida to ensure that our research in the lab translates into safety at the farm, the forest and the clinic.