Tuesday Brews with HCRI and CPHHS: "Human Animal Bond and Health" with Whitney Romine
Human Animal Bond and Health with Whitney Romine
Pour a cup and join the Healthy Communities Research Institute and the College of Public Health and Health Sciences for a conversation with Whitney Romine.
Whitney Romine, MPH, C-AAIS, KPA-CTP, is Manager of Animal-Assisted Services at Mayo Clinic and an Instructor in Healthcare Administration at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science. With more than 15 years of experience, she specializes in healthcare-based animal-assisted services, program development, volunteer engagement, and therapy animal welfare. Whitney holds a Master of Public Health and is passionate about advancing One Health, human-animal interaction science, and innovative approaches that enhance patient experience and workforce well-being. She also serves on the Board of Directors of the Association of Animal-Assisted Intervention Professionals (AAAIP), supporting the advancement of evidence-informed practices across the field.
This presentation will explore the growing evidence surrounding human-animal interaction and examine its potential influence on health through pathways such as social connectedness, emotional well-being, and access to supportive resources. Drawing on experiences from Mayo Clinic's Animal-Assisted Services program, participants will gain insight into how animal-assisted services can be viewed through a public health and social determinants of health lens while considering opportunities for research, education, and practice that leverage the human-animal bond to improve individual and community health outcomes.
Please, register by Friday, October 23.
By the end of this presentation, participants will be able to:
- Describe animal-assisted services and the role of human-animal interaction in supporting health, well-being, and quality of life within healthcare.
- Explore emerging evidence regarding the influence of human-animal relationships in social determinants of health and their potential implications for individual and community well-being.
- Discuss opportunities for research, practice, and policy that leverage the human-animal bond to improve health outcomes and strengthen communities.
