Strategic advisor on global health security, one health and environmental risk
Helping government contractors, engineering firms, and global organizations address health risks driven by environmental change, infectious disease, and complex human–animal–environment systems.
JONATHAN H. EPSTEIN, DVM, MPH, PHD
Veterinarian, epidemiologist and strategic advisor on global health security and one health
Founder, One health science llc
I advise organizations on how to integrate environmental, animal, and human health systems—including wildlife and ecological dynamics—to identify, assess, and mitigate emerging health risks.
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Global Health Security Advisory
Focus:
pandemic prevention
zoonotic risk
alignment with U.S. and international priorities
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One Health System & Program Development
Focus:
building programs and initiatives
integrating across sectors
supporting institutions and firms
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Environmental Health & Exposure Risk
- environmental risk assessment
- ecological disruption
-environmental contamination and susceptibility to disease
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Infectious Disease Risk Integration
RESEARCH FOCUS
SPILLOVER PREVENTION
Extensive experience studying the environmental, behavioral, and ecological drivers of zoonotic disease emergence, developing strategies to reduce the risk of viral spillover from wildlife to humans.
disease ecology
Decades of leading international field studies to identify viral reservoirs, track disease transmission, and implement surveillance systems in collaboration with global health organizations.
HOST-VIRUS IMMUNOLOGY
In-depth research on how viruses interact with wildlife hosts, including immune responses and viral evolution, to inform vaccine development and public health interventions.
PUBLICATIONS
Dr. Jonathan Epstein's research has significantly advanced the understanding of zoonotic disease emergence, particularly the role of wildlife reservoirs in virus spillover to humans. His work has been published in leading scientific journals including Science, Nature, Cell, and PNAS and has shaped global health policy and zoonotic disease surveillance systems.
Science Communication
Dr. Epstein is a trusted voice for accurate, evidence-based information about public health and science. He has extensive media and public speaking experience, and from 2017-2022 was the chief scientific advisor for the Smithsonian exhibit Outbreak: Epidemics in a Connected World at the National Museum of Natural History. He is currently a co-host of Thermometer HQ with Dr. Jay Varma, a YouTube show designed to make public health and outbreak news engaging and accessible. Together, they provide insights from more than 40 years of professional experience working around the world to combat infectious diseases.
Check out the latest episodes of Thermometer HQ
October 9, 2025
This week on Inside Outbreaks, Dr. Jay Varma and Dr. Jon Epstein break down what matters most across infectious disease surveillance and public health. We tackle media hype versus reality on the COVID “Stratus” (XFG) and “Nimbus” variants, why conjunctivitis at Joint Base San Antonio–Lackland was unusual (Neisseria meningitidis), Fiji’s rapidly growing HIV outbreak linked to injection drug use, a fatal cluster of Borna disease virus cases in Bavaria, and the alarming rise in congenital syphilis in the United States. You’ll learn how to interpret variant chatter, what drives outbreaks in close-contact settings, and why stronger prevention, testing, and contact tracing are essential. For professionals and informed viewers tracking infectious disease, outbreak trends, and global health, this episode offers clear takeaways grounded in evidence and field experience.
October 1, 2025
This week on Inside Outbreaks, Dr. Jay Varma and Dr. Jon Epstein take you inside the stories behind five dangerous disease outbreaks making headlines in the U.S. and around the world. From viruses spreading in unexpected places to the rise of drug-resistant “superbugs,” we’ll break down what’s happening, why it matters, and what it could mean for your health.
Contact
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