Since Uswa Jafary was young, she had always dreamed of a world where environmental and animal welfare thrived as one.
Little did she know, she would be chasing those same aspirations today, but in a different way than she imagined.
The 27-year-old student grew up in the Kashmir region in northern Pakistan before immigrating to Canada with her family in 2007. For Jafary, her love for the world around her was instilled in her since she was young.
One of her lifelong mentors and greatest inspirations has been her father, Syed Naeem Jafari, she said. With a Ph.D. in molecular biology from China and his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree, his lifelong expertise and dedication to animal health profoundly shaped her own aspirations.
“His remarkable journey in the field of veterinary sciences and molecular biology has fueled my love for animals and my desire to work at the intersection of animal health, environmental sustainability and public health,” Uswa Jafary said. “To me, he exemplifies the values of knowledge, discipline and excellence, serving as a role model and a source of constant inspiration in my personal and professional life.”
Since graduating with her bachelor’s degree in biological sciences from the University of Calgary in 2020, Jafary has worked for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) as a meat hygiene inspector, microbiology analyst and now, a change coordinator.
At the CFIA, she gained valuable experience in avian influenza emergency response. Still, she craved the opportunity to learn more about the animals and environment around her.
Torn between pursuing veterinary medicine and searching for another career path, Jafary stumbled upon the University of Florida College of Public Health and Health Professions’ Department of Environmental and Global Health.
After learning more about the Master of Health Science with a concentration in One Health degree, a switch flipped.
“Discovering this field felt like a perfect fit, especially since it offered a pathway through a master’s program that was more direct and faster than vet school, enabling me to build a meaningful career in public health,” Jafary said.
Moreover, earning her degree online meant she could balance her role at the CFIA with her student life.
“A master’s in One Health is not widely offered at many universities in the United States,” she said. “And, I appreciate being able to work full-time while also having the opportunity to further enhance my career by studying on my own time.”
To Jafary, another plus of the program was the mentorship opportunities it offered. In particular, she expresses gratitude for EGH assistant professor Dr. Benjamin Anderson, who guided her through course selection, providing professional advice and more.
“He has supported me every step of the way,” Jafary said. “His assistance in securing opportunities for me to gain hands-on research experience has been truly life changing!”
Jafary also extends her thanks to EGH academic programs specialist Victoria Houghton for her unwavering support and attentiveness while finding the best course paths for Jafary to pursue.
Most recently, Jafary pursued an ambitious research project through an internship in Kenya. During this “dream experience” Jafary conducted research on local vaccination and disease surveillance in livestock to better understand how these factors impact livelihoods in Sub-Saharan Africa.
“Overall, my experience in Kenya was eye-opening,” she said. “I was exposed to rural communities with limited access to education and knowledge about diseases, which was life changing to see.”
Through quantitative and qualitative studies, Jafary gained an understanding of what aspects of disease prevention local communities and health care workers were struggling with and how her team could lend a helping hand.
“We not only played a role in educating these communities but also contributed to research that aims to improve their quality of life through science and innovation,” she said.
While the first two weeks in Kenya were spent conducting field research, the remainder was based at the International Livestock Research Institute (IRLI) campus in Nairobi.
At IRLI, Jafary shadowed supervisors and their projects surrounding diseases prevention and food security and began developing a written review paper summarizing field research she gathered.
“My decision to pursue this internship stemmed from my deep desire to apply my education on an international scale and make a meaningful difference in the world, whether big or small,” she said. “And this internship provided the perfect opportunity to turn that desire into action.”
Now, Jafary is applying the invaluable lessons she learned toward her capstone project ahead of her graduation from the EGH program in December.
Jafary’s capstone project examines how vaccinating livestock can help communities in Sub-Saharan Africa, especially in Kenya, during tough times like food shortages and economic hardship.
Since many people rely on animals for food and income, keeping livestock healthy is essential, Jafary said.
The study, done with the International Livestock Research Institute, explores how protecting animals from diseases that can spread to humans can also protect people and improve food security. It highlights how working on animal health is closely connected to human health and community well-being.
As her time with the EGH department approaches a close, Jafary said “learning about One Health concepts and exploring global disease dynamics broadened my understanding and deepened my commitment to making a difference in this field.”
With her newfound One Health expertise and experience in food safety, Jafary hopes to work internationally to support environmental and global health initiatives worldwide.