- Dr. Kesetebirhan Admassu
- CEO, Big Win Philanthropy and Former Minister of Health of Ethiopia
- Prof. Mengesha Admasu
- Former President of the University of Gondar
- Prof. Laureate Mitiku Haile
- Founding President of Mekelle University
- Prof. Afework Kassu
- Director General of Armauer Hansen Research Institute (AHRI)
- H.E. Prof. Biruk Lambisso
- Member of Parliament (FDRE), Chair & Surgeon of National Orthopaedic Centre at Black lion Hospital, Senate Member of Addis Ababa University & Board member of University of Gondar.
- H.E. Mrs. Teyiba Hassen Kayo
- Director General of Refugees and Returnees Service and Former Deputy President of Oromia Regional State and Social Affairs Advisor to the Prime Minister
- H.E Dr. Fisseha Yitagesu
- State Minister of Trade and Regional Integration and Former CEO of Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation
- Prof. Yared Wondimkun
- Founding President of UoG and Internist in the USA
• Academic Vice Dean, Gondar College of Medical Sciences (1998–2001)
• Dean, Gondar College of Medical Sciences (2001–2003)
• Transitional President, Gondar University College (2002–2004)
• Founding President, University of Gondar (2004–2007)
• Led national curriculum reform as Chair of Medical Education Reform Task Force
• Introduced new degree programs (Anesthesia, Optometry, etc)
• Conducted landmark study on vitamin A in pregnant women, influencing WHO guidelines.
• Established the Gondar Ophthalmic Hospital, addressing critical regional eye care needs.
• Spearheaded UoG’s transition from college to full university status
• Developed Maraki campus into a premier academic hub
• Established the University Community School (for staff children),
• Secured a guest house in Addis Ababa for staff, promoting institutional self-reliance.
- Dr. Ermias Diro
- Associate Professor of Internal Medicine at the University of Washington, Seattle, United States
- MD, Gondar College of Medical Sciences, Gondar, Ethiopia (1993–1999)
- Specialty Certificate in Internal Medicine, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia (2005 – 2008)
- PhD in Medical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium (2010–2015)
- Gold Medal Award for excellence in research activities of public health importance, Ministry of Science and Technology, Ethiopia (2016)
- Gold Medal Award for excellence in research activities of public health importance, University of Gondar, Ethiopia (2016)
- He has significantly contributed to understanding the genetic diversity and drug resistance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex strains
- His research influenced the WHO to revise its guidelines for the treatment of people co-infected with visceral leishmaniasis and HIV.
- Dr. Fekede Agwar
- A Pioneer in Ethiopian Cardiac Surgery
• Doctor of Medicine (MD) – University of Gondar, Ethiopia
• Specialty Certificate in General Surgery – Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia
• Fellowship in Adult & Pediatric Cardiac Surgery – Narayana Institute of Cardiac Sciences, Bangalore, India
• Recognized as one of Ethiopia’s foremost cardiac surgeons, Dr. Agwar has been instrumental in establishing and expanding open-heart surgery capabilities in the country.
• Led the first Ethiopian team to successfully perform a Bentall procedure, a complex aortic root surgery, without foreign assistance.
• Performed groundbreaking procedures, including beating-heart coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), valve repairs, and other life-saving interventions.
• Has conducted over 300 open-heart surgeries, spanning both pediatric and adult cases.
• Achieved several historic medical milestones, including Ethiopia’s first beating-heart bypass surgery and the first locally led Bentall procedure.
• Authored “Memoir of the Heart Surgeon” (English version), documenting the challenges and triumphs of establishing open-heart surgery in Ethiopia.
• Honored with the “Rising Star Award” by People to People (P2P) for his exceptional contributions to cardiac care.
• A vocal proponent for improving cardiac care access in Ethiopia, emphasizing the need for greater resources, training, and infrastructure to save more lives.
- Dr. Kassu Ketema Gurmu
- health policy expert and medical professional
• Ph.D. in Health Policy (Political Studies Track) from McMaster University, Canada (2020), with a dissertation on participatory health policymaking in Ethiopia.
• MPH from the University of Gondar (2011), graduating with distinction.
• MD from Gondar College of Medical Sciences (1997), with honors.
Professional Experience:
• Over two decades of leadership roles in health policy, including Director of Disease Prevention and Control at Ethiopia’s Federal Ministry of Health (2017).
• Extensive consultancy work for WHO, World Bank, UNICEF, and other organizations, focusing on health systems, HIV response, and emergency preparedness.
• Academic contributions include teaching health policy, examining theses, and developing training materials for healthcare professionals.
• Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship recipient (2015–2018) for doctoral research.
• Led critical projects such as Ethiopia’s COVID-19 emergency response and gender assessments of HIV programs.
• Authored peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and clinical guidelines on health policy, HIV care, and primary healthcare.
Committees and Advocacy:
• Active member of national health advisory councils, including the Health Equity Research Advisory Council and Primary Health Care Technical Working Group.
• Advocate for evidence-based policymaking, serving on the Africa Evidence Network and Health Systems Global.
Contribution:
• Volunteer pediatrician and board member for health-focused NGOs supporting vulnerable populations.
• Establish the UoG Memorial Scholarship in the name of late professors at the University of Gondar. Currently, Dr. Kassu is supporting 35 well-performing but economically disadvantaged students.
• Dr. Kassu played a key role in creating Ethiopia’s first Who’s Who Portal, which recognizes individuals with outstanding contributions to the University of Gondar in various fields.