When you consider people making public policy, chances are veterinarians don’t come to mind first. But involving veterinarians makes perfect sense.

Certain governmental agencies and departments, such as the Department of Defense, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Health and Human Services, often need to coordinate their responses, especially when it comes to emerging infectious diseases and crisis management.

Increasingly, emerging diseases involve One Health — that is, the intersection of human health, animal health and the environment. Arguably, no one is more familiar with that concept than a veterinarian who is trained to work across species.

It just makes sense. The more scientific professionals who bring their expertise to the table, the better off we’ll all be.