Awoke Misganaw Temesgen

Clinical Assistant Professor

Awoke Misganaw Temesgen, Ph.D., is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington. In this role, he leads a sub-national burden of disease collaborative initiative between IHME and the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI). Dr. Awoke is PI with Prof. Mohsen Naghavi for a collaborative research project between IHME and EPHI funded by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, $12 M, 2019 – 2023, that supports the subnational burden of disease analysis and build capacity for the National Data Management Center (NDMC) for health. Dr. Awoke is an advisor for the National Data Management Center (NDMC) and its Burden of Disease Unit located at EPHI which focuses on continuously gathering data available at research institutes, academics, and agencies in Ethiopia; store, manage, share, analyze and synthesize available data; and timely disseminate and facilitate the use of evidence including the burden of disease estimates for public health impact by Ministry of Health and its Partners.

Dr. Awoke's interests include the burden of disease analysis, causes of death, building data system and analytic capacity in resource-poor settings, networking, and collaboration, and translating evidence to health policy. Dr. Awoke is incredibly passionate about teaching and mentoring students and research fellows.

Dr. Awoke studied at the School of Public Health in Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia, earning his Master’s degree (MPH) and Ph.D. in Public Health. He has completed Post-Graduate Fellowship at IHME, University of Washington. He is currently stationed at Ethiopia Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Dr. Awoke has also been a lecturer and researcher at Addis Ababa University and has served in clinical and leadership positions as public health officer in the Ethiopian health care system. 

IHME was established at the University of Washington in Seattle in 2007. Its mission is to deliver to the world timely, relevant, and scientifically valid evidence to improve health policy and practice.