AN Overview of School of Medicine Academic and Service Directorate

The School of Medicine at Hawassa University was established in 2003 when the former Dilla College of Teacher Education and Health Sciences (DCTEHS) in Dilla moved to Hawassa with the existing infrastructure. The school has been producing competent physicians and other health professionals, particularly anesthesia, optometry and medical radiology technology professionals in the last 15 years. Currently, the school of medicine academic and service directorate consists of 13 departments and 5 units.

The school of medicine academic and service directorate governs both the academic activities and clinical service of Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital. On the academic side, the medicine directorate provides education and training in four undergraduate programs and 14 postgraduate programs. The undergraduate programs include Medicine, Anesthesia, Optometry and Medical Radiology Technology. In these undergraduate programs around 900 students are currently enrolled. 

Eleven of the postgraduate programs are medical specialty programs, 1 medical sub-specialty program and 2 are master of science degree programs. Currently, about 256 students are enrolled in postgraduate programs. We expect the number postgraduate programs as well as number post-graduate students will increase significantly in the future.

The medicine directorate has the largest number of academician with different academic ranks. There are about 261 academic staffs, from which 12 are associate professors and 143 are assistant professors. There are about 24 academicians with subspecialty training that fosters advance clinical service provision. The number of staffs with advanced degree and training has been increasing from time to time, which helped the school to elevate its academic and clinical service provision. 

About the Department

The department has started providing general surgery residency training program in 2014. Hawassa University Department of Surgery has been admitting  12 new residents every year and the total number of trainees from Year I to Year IV is 46.

The clinical services provided under the Department of Surgery have grown in number and variety. Currently, the following clinical services are available:

• General surgery
• Neurosurgery
• Plastic and Reconstructive surgery
• Paediatrics surgery
• Urology
• Cardio-thoracic surgery
• Hepato-Biliary (HPB) surgery
• Surgical Oncology
• Surgical Gastroenterology (GI)
• Vascular surgery
• Laparoscopic surgery and other Minimal Invasive Surgery (MIS)

Hawassa University College of Medicine and Health (HU-CMHS), Department of Surgery in collaboration with stakeholders also provide various short-term  trainings such as  Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS), Essential Surgical Skills (ESS), and  Laparoscopic Surgical Skills trainings. The department has implemented Prospective Perioperative Surgical Outcomes Registry using REDCap software since 2022.

About the Department

At Hawassa University College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Orthopedic and  Spine Surgery, we provide life and limb saving Orthopedic and Spine Surgical treatments.  As a university hospital, we also provide training for medical students and residents. In addition to this, we are leading problem solving national, regional and international clinical research projects.  In collaboration with national and international organizations, we aim to bring healing and hope for severely injured and disabled people. 

At Hawassa University College of Medicine and Health Science, Department of Orthopedic and  Spine Surgery, we are dedicated to improving the health and well-being of our patients. We believe in a holistic approach to healthcare, which means treating the whole person, not just the illness or symptoms. Our team of medical professionals is committed to providing compassionate care and personalized attention to each patient.

Established in 2010, our dermatovenereologylogy unit has been dedicated to teaching, clinical care, and research for more than a decade. Our teaching activities include providing both theoretical and practical course on common dermatologic conditions to undergraduate medical students and public health officer trainees, as well as supervising medical and pediatric residents during their dermatology rotations. 

We are also working toward launching our own dermatovenereology residency program in the near future. In terms of clinical services, we offer comprehensive outpatient and inpatient care for patients from the southern and southeastern regions of Ethiopia. Our outpatient clinic manages a wide spectrum of mucocutaneous, hair, nail, and sexually transmitted disorders. Currently, we are working to establish side laboratory at the outpatient clinic to improve our diagnostic capabilities. As an academic unit, research remains one of our core responsibilities. We currently have few ongoing research projects and aim to expand our disciplinary and collaborative research efforts to address the most significant dermatologic challenges facing our region and the country at large.

Internal Medicine Department Head Message

"Welcome to the Department of Internal Medicine at Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital (HU-CSH). Our department is dedicated to providing high-quality clinical care, innovative research, and comprehensive education for undergraduate and postgraduate medical students. We strive to advance medical knowledge, improve patient outcomes, and train the next generation of skilled and compassionate physicians. We invite you to explore our programs, services, and research initiatives, and join us in our mission to enhance health care delivery in our community and beyond."

Overview of the Department of Internal Medicine

The College of Medicine and Health Sciences(CMHS)  at Hawassa University  was established in 1997 as the Faculty of Health under Dilla College and later relocated to Hawassa in 2002, expanding into a major campus offering undergraduate, graduate, specialty, and PhD programs in medicine and health sciences. Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital (HU-CSH), the teaching hospital of the college, is one of Ethiopia’s leading tertiary clinical and training centers. Established in 2006, HU-CSH is a 400-bedded institution providing high-quality outpatient and inpatient care to an estimated 20 million people in the Sidama Region, Southern Region, and neighbouring areas of Oromia regional State. The hospital delivers comprehensive services supported by modern technology and highly qualified professionals while serving as a major training site for medical students, residents, and other health science programs. Through strong integration of clinical service, teaching, and research, HU-CSH plays a vital role in improving healthcare quality and advancing medical knowledge in southern Ethiopia and beyond.

Internal Medicine Department

The Department of Internal Medicine is a major academic and clinical unit that plays a leading role in undergraduate and postgraduate medical education and research. It serves as a central hub for clinical care at Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital and provides 60 inpatient beds along with broad outpatient, emergency, and inpatient services. The department manages acute and chronic medical conditions across key sub-specialties including cardiology, pulmonology, gastroenterology, nephrology, neurology, endocrinology, and clinical hematology. It also works closely with other clinical departments to ensure coordinated and holistic patient management.

In teaching, the department delivers lectures, seminars, bedside teaching, small-group sessions, and clinical clerkships for undergraduate students. Postgraduate residents receive structured training through supervised rotations, seminars, journal clubs, and regular assessments guided by specialists and subspecialists. Research is an integral part of the department, with faculty, residents, and students engaged in studies that address local and national health priorities, contributing to improved patient care and evidence-based practice in the region.

The Department of Ophthalmology and Optometry at Hawassa University is a premier tertiary eye care center serving a population of over 20 million in Southern Ethiopia and neighboring regions. Established in 2005, we integrate comprehensive clinical services with academic excellence.

Our department is staffed by a dedicated team of seven general ophthalmologists (two on su-bspecialty training), two part-time sub-specialists, and twenty optometrists. We are committed to training the next generation of eye care professionals through our postgraduate ophthalmology residency and undergraduate optometry programs. The institution’s optometry training program, established in 2008, has graduated 244 optometrists to-date. Furthermore, the ophthalmology residency training, launched in 2015, has produced 24 ophthalmologists. Both programs continue to operate. We are currently running 7 active projects and have published more than 70 scientific papers.

We collaborate with leading international organizations in ophthalmology, including Orbis International, Light for the World, and the Cure Blindness Project (formerly the Himalayan Cataract Project). Through these partnerships, we conduct specialized surgical campaigns for cataract and pediatric patients and provide hands-on training for local medical teams.

The Department of Pathology at  Hawass University College of Medicine and Health sciences,  began its services in 2005, led by a single pathologist, Dr. Fekade Yerakly, who has continued to teach and provide pathology services to-date. In 2015, the department launched its pathology residency program, and since then, 25   pathologists have successfully graduated. At present, there are 11 residents in training.

The department is now staffed by 7 senior pathologists along with 7 histo and laboratory technicians, ensuring both high-quality diagnostic services and strong academic mentorship.

The department of Pathology provides histopathology, cytopathology, and breast panel immunohistochemistry services. The breast immunohistochemistry service has been made possible through a donation from the City of Hope Cancer Center, supporting breast cancer immunohistochemistry testing since 2022.

The department has published over 50 peer reviewed articles and case reports on reputable international journals.