NEWS
OKLAHOMA CITY – Mulugeta Gebregziabher, Ph.D., a nationally and internationally recognized public health leader, researcher and educator, has been named a professor and the endowed chair of the Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology at the University of Oklahoma Hudson College of Public Health.
“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Gebregziabher to the Hudson College of Public Health,” said Dale Bratzler, D.O. MPH, dean of the Hudson College of Public Health. “His expertise in biostatistics, epidemiology, data science and public health leadership will further strengthen our department and advance our mission to improve health through research, education and service.”
Gebregziabher has built a distinguished career at the intersection of data science, clinical research and population health. He brings more than two decades of experience advancing innovative research methods, strengthening public health systems and mentoring the next generation of public health researchers.
His research spans advanced statistical methods, causal inference, longitudinal data analysis, electronic health record data, chronic disease prevention and global health. His work has supported research addressing complex health challenges, including Type 2 diabetes, liver disease, kidney disease, cancer, infectious diseases and health disparities, while advancing the use of data to improve health outcomes. He is the author of more than 300 peer-reviewed publications and scholarly works.
Prior to joining OU, Gebregziabher served in several leadership roles at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), including Vice Chair for Academic Programs and Vice Chair for Global Health within the Department of Public Health Sciences. He served as director and principal investigator of the Region IV Public Health Training Center and as chief investigator and methods core lead at the Health Equity and Rural Outreach Innovation Center at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center. He is also a health research scientist with the Veteran’s Administration Health Services and Research Development.
He is a fellow of the American Statistical Association, an elected member of the International Statistical Institute and has received numerous honors, including the 2026 MUSC MLK Humanitarian Award, the 2025 American Public Health Association (APHA) International Health Section Gordon-Wyon Award for Community-Oriented Public Health, the 2022 APHA Victor Sidel-Barry Levy Peace Award, and the MUSC Lift As You Climb Mentorship Award.
He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia and his Ph.D. in biostatistics from the University of Southern California.
Beyond his career in biostatistics, epidemiology and public health research, Gebregziabher brings a unique perspective that blends science, creativity and humanitarian action. He uses music, poetry and digital storytelling to communicate complex public health issues, promote evidence-based dialogue and reach diverse global audiences. Through his PublicHealthMessage platform and contributions featured through organizations such as the American Statistical Association and American Public Health Association, he has built a strong presence connecting science with society.
He is also devoted to humanitarian efforts, including founding the Gezana Building Better Tomorrow Foundation to support women and children impacted by conflict and limited access to healthcare. Most recently, he helped mobilize an international network of medical professionals and partners to support the care of conjoined twins from Ethiopia.
About the University of Oklahoma
Founded in 1890, the University of Oklahoma is a public research university with campuses in Norman, Oklahoma City and Tulsa. As the state’s flagship university, OU serves the educational, cultural, economic and healthcare needs of the state, region and nation. In Oklahoma City, the OU Health Campus is one of the nation’s few academic health centers with seven health profession colleges located on the same campus. The OU Health Campus serves approximately 4,000 students in more than 70 undergraduate and graduate degree programs spanning Oklahoma City and Tulsa and is the leading research institution in Oklahoma. For more information about the OU Health Campus, visit www.ouhsc.edu.
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