Abebe Bekele, MD, PhD, FCS (ECSA), FACS, MAMSE

Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic and Research, Dean, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Global Health Equity

Secretary General, College of Surgeons of East, Central and Southern Africa

Secretary General, Consortium of Medical Schools in Africa (COMS-A)

Professor Abebe Bekele is the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academics and Research, and founding Dean of the School of Medicine and Health Sciences at the University of Global Health Equity (UGHE) in Rwanda. He is a Professor of Surgery specializing in General and Thoracic Surgery at UGHE and holds professorial appointments at both Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia and the University of Rwanda and at Duke University.

He previously served as Chief Executive Officer of Tikur Anbessa (Black Lion) Teaching Hospital and Dean of the School of Medicine at Addis Ababa University. Professor Bekele is a fellow in Medical Education from the Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research (FAIMER), Philadelphia, and in Simulation-Based Education from the University of Washington, Seattle.

With extensive experience in surgical education, research, and academic leadership, he has served as a guest lecturer, international speaker, and external examiner across Africa, Europe, and North America. He currently serves on the Governing Council of the College of Surgeons of East, Central and Southern Africa (COSECSA), where he chairs the Examinations and Credentials Committee, and is the Editor-in-Chief of the East and Central Africa Journal of Surgery.

Professor Bekele has published over 120 scientific papers and book chapters and has received multiple regional and international awards and recognitions. He also serves on the editorial boards of the JAMA Health Forum and the Ethiopian Medical Journal, and as a member of the Advisory Council to the Ethiopian Ministry of Science and Higher Education.

Actively engaged in global health, he has been a senior advisor to the Federal Ministry of Health, Ethiopia, contributing to the Saving Lives Through Safe Surgery (SaLTS) initiative. He is also a member of the Transitional Technical Advisory Council, working toward strengthening health systems and medical education in the region.

Professor Bekele is a recognized leader in Global Safe Surgery and Anesthesia Initiatives, and has participated in numerous international panels on medical education and global surgery. His research and advocacy focus on equitable access to surgical care, gender equity in global surgery, trauma care, surgical oncology, medical education, and quality improvement in healthcare delivery.