About the Department of Medical Parasitology

The School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences is one of the academic schools within the college and was officially established in 2011. It comprises six departments, including the Department of Medical Parasitology. At its inception, the department started with four instructors. Currently, it has 22 staff members, ranging from lecturers to professors.

The department’s primary roles include teaching Parasitology and Entomology courses to students in various health and medical science programs, providing community services, and conducting research in collaboration with both national and international institutions on critical health issues. Recognizing the national need for skilled and competitive medical parasitologists, educators, and researchers in both regional and national research institutions, the department launched its MSc program in Medical Parasitology in 2012. At the time, the department had five instructors. Since then, it has graduated 66 students across 12 MSc cohorts. Furthermore, due to the growing national demand for expert professionals and researchers in the field, the department introduced Ethiopia’s pioneering PhD program in Medical Parasitology in 2020. The program currently enrolls four candidates.

Currently, the department has participated in various research collaborations addressing infectious diseases in the community, such as malaria, schistosomiasis, and leishmaniasis, partnering with both domestic and international institutions. Faculty members have been actively involved in designing and implementing significant research projects and have participated in more than ten funded studies. Furthermore, for several years, the department has provided malaria diagnostic capacity-building training for laboratory professionals working in health facilities throughout the Amhara region. To strengthen national and international partnerships, the department has also established a Malaria and Leishmania Research Center, which is equipped with essential research equipment and chemicals. Faculty engaged in research activities have benefited from both domestic and international training opportunities.