Mirgissa Kaba is Professor of Public Health with a specialisation in Cultural Epidemiology. With a multidisciplinary background, his academic journey has spanned several disciplines. He studied sociology and anthropology at Addis Ababa University and obtained a PhD in Epidemiology from the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute and the University of Basel, Switzerland. Throughout his career, he has maintained a strong commitment to interdisciplinary teaching and research.

His professional experience includes positions at universities and within the United Nations system, where he further developed his commitment to interdisciplinary and multisectoral approaches to understanding and addressing public health challenges. He is recognised for bridging disciplinary boundaries and promoting collaboration across fields to tackle complex health issues. He strongly believes that, alongside interdisciplinary approaches, meaningful engagement with communities and the mobilisation of local knowledge and resources are essential for understanding and addressing public health problems.

His research reflects this perspective, focusing on communities as both the source of public health challenges and the key to their solutions. Much of his work explores how community knowledge, experiences, and resources can contribute to improving health outcomes. He has authored nearly 200 peer-reviewed publications, including original research articles, book chapters, and short communications.

Mirgissa has supervised and mentored numerous graduate students, early-career academics, and researchers in Ethiopia and internationally. His mentorship has focused on fostering interdisciplinary approaches and community-engaged research.

He serves as Principal Investigator (PI) or Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI) on several research projects in the fields of One Health, infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). In addition, he is an active member and leader of various professional associations, expert groups, and research networks.

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