The American Veterinary Epidemiology Society (AVES) has awarded Dr. Laura H. Kahn with the K.F. Meyer/James H. Steele Gold-Headed Cane Award for 2016. Since its inception in 1964, the annual award has recognized more than 75 distinguished scientists for their career accomplishments and contributions to veterinary epidemiology, public health and the One Health effort, which recognizes that the health of humans is connected to the health of animals and the environment.

Prior to joining Princeton University’s Program on Science and Global Security as a research scholar, Kahn was a managing physician for the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services and a medical officer for the Food and Drug Administration.

While Kahn began her career as a registered nurse, her expertise has since expanded to the fields of public health, biodefense and pandemics. She is co-founder of the One Health Initiative, which aims to improve the lives of all species — human and animal — through the integration of human medicine, veterinary medicine and environmental science.

As a regular columnist for the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, her most recent column examines the biological attacks the United States endures from non-native species every year, arriving in large numbers through the exotic pet trade. Her book, "One Health and the Politics of Antimicrobial Resistance," was published this summer by Johns Hopkins University Press.

The vision of AVES is to help improve the quality of life for all people and animals through the science-based One Health principles as fathered and embraced by Drs. Karl F. Meyer and James H. Steele.