Behailu Merdekios (Associate Professor) successfully defended his PhD Thesis Dissertation on May 20, 2025. He was pursuing his doctoral studies at the University of Antwerp in Belgium, a university known for its extensive offerings for international students. Thanks to the scholarship opportunity of AMU-IUC project, he joined the University of Antwerp in Belgium and pursued his doctoral studies for a few past years. His thesis focuses on a project titled "Cutaneous Leishmaniasis: The Epidemiology, Diagnostics, and the Psychosocial Impacts in the South Ethiopian Rift Valley." Click here to see more photos.
Having been supervised by Prof. Dr. Jean Pierre Van Geertruyden (PhD, Global Health Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium), Prof. Dr. Hilde Bastiaens (PhD, Department of Primary and Interdisciplinary Care, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium), and Prof. Dr. Johan Van Griensven (PhD, Clinical Sciences Department, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium) were the Doctoral Jury members from the University of Antwerp; Emeritus Prof. Dr. Paul Van Royen (PhD, from the department of Primary and Interdisciplinary Care, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium) and Prof. Dr. Steven Abrams (PhD, from the Global Health Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium) chaired the jury. Furthermore, the Data Science Institute, Interuniversity Institute for Biostatistics and Statistical Bioinformatics, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium, also served as a member and academic secretary of the commission. In addition, Professor Lisa Dokimitis, a Professor of Medical Anthropology and Social Sciences, the Director of Warwick Applied Health and an NIHR Senior Investigator, UK, and Dr. Ermias Diro, a scientist specializing in Leishmaniasis and a lecturer at the University of Washington, USA, evaluated his PhD thesis as External Jury members.
The university staff, friends and well-wishers graced his defense program held at Drie Eiken Campus of the University of Antwerp in person and virtually from Belgium and the Netherlands, AMU, Ethiopia, and other destinations. Finally, he has officially been awarded the degree of Doctor of Medical Sciences.
Briefing on his experience in Antwerp, he said, perseverance, resilience, and the courage to embrace challenges paved his way to success. His stay at the University of Antwerp in Belgium was so transformative, with a fusion of intellectual rigor, cultural vibrancy, and with an unwavering spirit of discovery. He presented his research outputs around Europe (Portugal and Spain) at the international scientific conferences which cherished him the networks from the universities, he noted. According to Dr. Behailu, at University of Antwerp, diversity thrives, perspectives merge, and knowledge expands beyond borders.
Extending his inspiration to AMU fellow Ethiopians and beyond, he forwards, a heartfelt invitation to dare to dream, explore new horizons, and immerse themselves in an academic community that welcomes and nurtures brilliance from every corner of the world; so, he calls upon all of his fellow friends in AMU and anywhere to walk boldly into the future, get inspired by knowledge, driven by curiosity, and united by the pursuit of excellence.
That was really an amazing success he well deserves to owe which he carried out along with AMU Research & Community Engagement leadership shouldering. Congratulations once again to you, Dr. Behailu Merdekios, now on full-fledged Doctor of Medical Sciences, to be entitled on his successful PhD defense!! It is a pleasure and privilege for AMU to share the inspiration and energy of his hard work, dedication, and scholarly achievement which are truly commendable and appreciate his significant academic milestone and wishes him the best of luck in his future endeavors!
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