I like that term. It encompasses a systems perspective -both pathogen and host- rather than focusing on just a single component of a system. It is an ecosystems perspective with emphasis on pathogen-host-environment.
My academic career spanned plant, animal and human pathology (except for the last several years in physiology). A systems perspective is always inherent in the first two, less so in human pathology. It's as if Descartes binary philosophy (separation of mind and body) extended to separation of body and the environment in which bodies exist. As medical specialization demonstrates, even separation of organs from the rest of the body.
I have wondered if this might be a contributing factor in some of the failures of modern medicine. An example is the lack of translational research of human psychology and medicine.
The prime example is diabetes: lot of research in physiology and pharmacology, but little research and application of how/what to inform and impact people to change and adopt behaviors that prevent and reduce diabetes. This extends also to social systems: education, policy, connecting the production, supply and access of nutritious food.
We know how this works and how to achieve these goals with plants and animals. And we practice it, most of the time. The question is why can't we do it for ourselves, and other people?
This is what we really need to focus on. It's that part of the 'ecosystem' that is dysfunctional. Science should be the leader in this.
Why isn't it? Has that failed us, too?
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