Mirgissa Kaba, BA, MA, PhD, is an enthusiastic academic who combined the fields of social and public health sciences. During his over 30 years of professional career, he demonstrated his comprehensive competencies in teaching, research, program management and leadership. After his initial training in Sociology, he joined the former Jimma Institute of Health Sciences, now Jimma University, as a graduate assistant in 1988. He served the university at different level in teaching, research, different program coordinators and finally established and headed the External Relation office of the newly established Jimma University.
He joined UNICEF in 2001 where he set up, managed and led UNICFE’s HIV and AIDS program. During his stay with UNICEF, he greatly contributed to the government’s HIV and AIDS strategy and programs particularly as it relates to adolescents and youth development. He resigned from UNICF in 2009 to complete his PhD work at the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute of the University of Basel where he defended his PhD work the end of 2011.
Mirgissa has published over 60 scientific work in reputable journals. Particular, emphasis of his scientific works are on specific health problems and places. As such Mirgissa’s research revolves around maternal and adolescent-youth health; HIV/AIDS, skin diseases, cervical cancer on the one hand and urban and pastoral health on the other.
Currently Mirgissa is an Associate Professor of Public Health at the School of Public Health with his proactive focus in the areas of Social and Behavioral Health. Mirgissa has received various awards and recognitions not only from his academic work but also his community services. He is PI and CO-PI of various research projects and is an Editor In Chief of the Ethiopian Journal of Health Development, a pioneer peer reviewed scientific journal in Ethiopia.