Message from the Public Health Academic and Service Directorate/School director

 Name of School Dean: Markos Desalegn

Academic Status: MPH/RH

Position: Assistant professor

Field of Specialization: Master of Public Health in reproductive health

Contact address:

• phone number +251927619190 / +251902044837
• email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

It is with a profound sense of responsibility and hope that the Public Health Academic and Service Directorate extends this message to our students, colleagues, partners, and the communities we proudly serve. Our Directorate—often recognized as the School of Public Health- stands at a defining moment in its journey, strengthened by our shared belief that knowledge, compassion, and service can truly transform lives.

Every program under our care is built on a simple but powerful conviction: health is a foundation for human dignity and national progress. Our undergraduate programs in Public Health Officer and Family Health continue to shape dedicated professionals who serve communities with humility, skill, and purpose. In recognition of the changing world around us, we are also preparing to introduce a Bachelor of Health Informatics. This forward-thinking initiative will equip students to harness digital tools and data innovation for better health outcomes across Ethiopia.

Our postgraduate programs reflect the same spirit of growth and commitment. Through the MPH tracks in Epidemiology, Reproductive Health, and General Public Health, we are preparing leaders who bring scientific rigor and genuine empathy into their work. Our PhD in Public Health has evolved into a strong academic home for emerging scholars, and we are now laying the groundwork to develop specialized doctoral pathways in Epidemiology, Reproductive Health, and Health Policy and Systems. These new tracks will allow our scholars to delve deeper into the issues that matter most to our communities.

As we move forward, we recognize the importance of grounding our work in real-world experience. Strengthening the Leka Demographic Surveillance Site is a key part of this effort. With enhanced research capacity and stronger community partnerships, the site will become a place where students, researchers, and community members come together to generate knowledge that truly serves the public.

We are also preparing for a major step toward closer integration with the Wollega University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital. This partnership will allow us to bring academic learning and health service delivery closer than ever, creating a vibrant, unified space where ideas, practice, and compassion come together to make lasting change.

The future of public health at Wollega University is bright, not because of buildings or programs alone, but because of the people who believe in our mission. To every student striving to learn, every instructor committed to excellence, every researcher asking difficult questions, and every community member who welcomes us with trust—we offer our deepest gratitude.

With unity, purpose, and unwavering dedication, we will continue to build a healthier tomorrow for our region, our country, and the generations that follow.