Mr Gizachew Taddesse Akalu obtained his MSc in Clinical Laboratory Sciences (Medical Microbiology) at Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia in 2014 and his BSc in Medical Laboratory Technology at the same university in 2009. He obtained a Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology at Jimma University in Ethiopia in 1996.
Mr Akalu has been President (November 2011 - September 2012) and CEO of the Ethiopian Medical Laboratory Association (October 2012 - May 2018). Currently, he is a Lecturer and Research Coordinator at St. Paul Hospital Millennium Medical College. Mr Akalu is a PhD Fellow (anticipated to complete in 2022) in the Department of Microbial, Cellular, and Molecular Biology, Addis Ababa University.
He is a Certified Medical Laboratory Technologist and Clinical Laboratory Sciences Specialist (Medical Microbiology). Mr Akalu's tenure in laboratory medicine spans almost 18 years, reflecting strong, innovative leadership skills coupled with hands-on experiences in the clinical laboratory. He is Trained among others in Project Management, Clinical Trials of in-vitro diagnostics and medical devices, and quality Laboratory Management systems to ISO/IEC 17025 and ISO/IEC 15189 standards. He has spearheaded significant milestones and growth achieved by EMLA under his Leadership from 2012 to 2018. As a Member of the National Laboratory Advisory Working Group, he has provided Technical Advice on how to standardize essential, vital and emerging test menu, operating procedures, and laboratory equipment platforms. Mr Akalu has Directed numerous Training and Workshops for professionals in laboratory medicine.
Being an academic enthusiast has contributed immensely to knowledge dissipation in Teaching, Organized more than 25 CPD courses, and 50 in-service training sessions. Mr Akalu successfully Organized 6 Annual Conferences for EMLA from 2013 - 2018. He has Authored and Co-Authored 5 Publications and made 10 Conference Presentations.
He was the Initiator and Editorial Manager of the Ethiopian Journal of Laboratory Medicine. His Research interest includes the molecular epidemiology of infectious diseases, diagnostic biomarkers, and vaccines. Since 2013 he has been PI and Co-PI in grants worth more than ETB 30 million.
