Dr. Emily Bardo has been part of the WiRED community since its earliest days, beginning as a middle school volunteer and remaining engaged as she pursued her bachelor’s degree and later her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. Now a member of WiRED’s board, she continues to contribute her expertise to our organization’s mission. Most recently, Dr. Bardo partnered with fellow veterinarian Dr. Lisa Eshman to develop an animal health module for WiRED’s One Health training series, which explores the interconnectedness of human, animal and environmental health. As climate change accelerates, One Health is becoming increasingly central to global health considerations.
In this essay, Dr. Bardo reflects on the power of collaboration and the shared responsibility of working across borders and disciplines to support healthier communities worldwide.
By Emily Bardo, D.V.M.
As WiRED International approaches its 30th anniversary, I’ve found myself reflecting on the long arc of my relationship with this remarkable organization — a journey that began in my childhood and has grown into a meaningful part of my adult life.
My introduction to WiRED started in middle school, folding flyers and licking stamps for donation mailers. I met Dr. Gary Selnow, WiRED’s founder, during a local trail cleanup day at my home in McNee Ranch State Park, just outside San Francisco. He brought distant parts of the world into my living room with stories and photographs from his work in Kenya, Bosnia, and Iraq. Through Gary, these places leapt off the map and came to life, sparking an early awareness of global issues and a desire to be of service beyond my own community.
That early exposure planted the seed for a lasting interest in public health and volunteerism. While studying veterinary medicine at The Ohio State University, I was introduced to the One Health Initiative — the idea that human, animal, and environmental health are deeply interwoven. This concept continues to shape my work today. As a practicing veterinarian, I see firsthand how zoonotic disease, biosecurity, and preventive care are not isolated issues but fundamental pieces of the global health puzzle. In an increasingly interconnected world these are all things that we should care more about. One silver lining of the post-COVID era is that more people are starting to recognize the critical link between human and animal health.
When I was invited to return to WiRED as a board member, it felt like a full-circle moment. I’m honored to support the organization’s educational initiatives that provide accessible, accurate health information to underserved communities. Now, instead of stuffing mailers, I contribute to the development of training modules focused on animal health and welfare, for use in regions where people and animals live interpedently in close proximity.
But what’s made this work truly meaningful is not just the cause — it’s the people.
WiRED’s strength has always been in its volunteers. These dedicated individuals come from all walks of life – different professions, countries, and backgrounds. Whether working on health education modules, conducting field outreach, or building partnerships, WiRED’s volunteers are united by a shared belief in service, health and equity. WiRED’s programs have reached countless communities around the world. This global reach is only possible because of consistent, quiet collaboration — compassionate people putting their shoulders to the cart, year after year, to make a difference.
Volunteering with WiRED isn’t just about giving back. It’s about believing that informed, and empowered communities can shape their own futures, and create a healthier, more just, and more hopeful world. In the current climate these principles are under attack. Organizations like WiRED need our support now more than ever to continue to carry out vital work around the globe. I urge you to do what you can to remind those around you that kindness, empathy and justice deeply matter. Volunteering and supporting organizations like WiRED International is a great way to stand up and promote decency and human rights here and around the world.
