Yenew Kebede Tebeja

Dr Yenew Kebede Tebeje is Head of Division of Laboratory Systems & Networks at Africa CDC. A medical microbiologist and public health expert he has 20 years of clinical, teaching, laboratory science, research, capacity building, and programme design and management experience.

At Africa CDC he leads programmes to strengthen public health laboratory systems and networks in Africa and he coordinates the establishment and strengthening of regional integrated surveillance and laboratory network. He also leads initiatives by Africa CDC and partners to advance the use of laboratory diagnostics for universal health coverage and implementation of health security in Africa.

Before joining Africa CDC, Dr Tebeje worked for more than 12 years as Technical Officer and later as Branch Chief for Laboratory at the US CDC in Ethiopia, where he provided strategic leadership for one of the most successful laboratory systems development programmes of the US CDC. Dr Tebeje worked as assistant lecturer, lecturer and later as assistant professor at Gondar College of Medical Science, University of Gondar.

He was recognized several times for his outstanding contributions, including the Mission Honor Award, Meritorious Honor Award and US CDC Center for Global Health Director’s Award. He has written lecture notes on microbiology, immunology and parasitology and authored and co-authored more than 30 articles in peer-reviewed journals. Dr Tebeje holds a Doctor of Medicine degree from Gondar College of Medical Sciences, a master’s degree in medical microbiology from Addis Ababa University, and a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Gondar.