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About EOTMA

Our Story & Mission

Bringing together healthcare professionals to serve communities with excellence and compassion

Our Purpose

Our purpose is to provide comprehensive medical services to all individuals, regardless of religious belief, ethnic background, gender, or socioeconomic status, while honoring the inherent dignity of every human being created in God’s image.

We collaborate with volunteer medical professionals from diverse aid organizations and health education institutions to facilitate medical missions to Ethiopia from around the world. Through these efforts, we strive to improve access to medical, surgical, ophthalmic, dental, and other specialized healthcare services.

01

Access to Compassionate Care

Providing free and emergency medical care to underserved communities.

02

Emergency Medical Response

Provide emergency medical services during holiday celebrations, public gatherings, and times of urgent need or crisis.

03

Education & Training

Training and mentoring future healthcare professionals globally.

04

Global Outreach

Partnering with international institutions and healthcare professionals worldwide to deliver medical missions.

05

Professional Networking & Development

Connecting professionals to support one another, share knowledge, grow professionally, and strive for excellence.

EOTMA — For All, By All
Years
4 +

Mission

To inspire and provide compassionate healthcare services to those in need rooted in the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Christian faith.

Vision

To Save lives, raise health awareness and nourish hope through compassionate healthcare for ALL by upholding Christian values.

What Guides Us

Our Core Values

These principles shape every aspect of our work and guide our service to the community.

Compassion

Showing genuine care and empathy towards others in every situation.

Hope

Inspiring optimism and belief in a better future for everyone.

Voluntary service

Offering time and effort freely to help communities and people.

Neutrality

Maintaining unbiased stance while ensuring fairness and balanced treatment always.

Impartiality

Making decisions fairly without favor, prejudice, or personal influence.

Our Journey

A Legacy of Service

The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Medical Association (EOTMA) was established by a group of healthcare professionals who identified the need for an organization dedicated to advancing healthcare, professional collaboration, and community service.
Since its establishment, EOTMA has grown into a global organization with several thousand members, including healthcare professionals and community members. Its membership represents a wide range of professional settings, including academic medical centers, research institutions, community hospitals, and clinics worldwide.
EOTMA carries out its mission through educational programs, community health initiatives, medical outreach activities, and professional development opportunities. These efforts are designed to strengthen healthcare delivery, promote collaboration, and support communities in need.
EOTMA is a nonprofit organization legally registered in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States of America, in March 2021, and is recognized as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. The Association is also legally registered in Ethiopia, where it actively operates. EOTMA is governed by a Board of Directors and operates in accordance with its adopted bylaws.

Board of Directors & Leadership Team

Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Medical Association

Meet a dedicated team of professionals working together to guide, support, and strengthen our organization.

Dr. Yared Terefe

President

MD, Internal Medicine Specialist
Dr. Yared Terefe graduated from Jimma University, formerly known as Jimma Institute of Health Sciences (JIHS, ጅጤሳ). He practiced medicine in Ethiopia for five years both in government and private sectors until he moved to the USA.
He completed Internal Medicine residency at Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan. He is board certified in Internal Medicine and currently practices in the Hampton roads area, Virginia.
Dr. Terefe attends church at Mekane Hiwot Abune Gebre Menfes Kidus and Saint Arsema Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church located in Norfolk, Virginia. He volunteers at area churches and serves in different committees.

Belief in EOTMA's Mission

Dr. Terefe believes that being a healthcare provider is more than a job. The healthcare professionals sacred obligation is to alleviate suffering and foster the patient’s health. The real question isn’t whether faith has a place in medicine, but how it can be integrated into the clinical setting in a way that honors healthcare providers as well as their patients. Dr. Terefe believes that EOTMA will be a vehicle to allow healthcare professionals to grow in their spirituality and be able to provide compassionate care to humanity regardless of their age, gender, economic status, ethnicity and religion.

Dr. Girum K Feyissa

Vice President

MD, MPH, Geriatrician
 
Dr. Girum K Feyissa received his medical degree from Jimma University (JIHS). After graduation, he served at Woreda 4 Health Center, Ras Desta Hospital and Addis Ababa Regional Health Bureau.
He later obtained a Masters degree in Public Health from Maastricht University, the Netherlands. He moved to the USA and completed Internal Medicine Residency at the Brooklyn Hospital Center, NY followed by Geriatric Fellowship at UCLA, CA.
Dr. Girum Feyissa is currently a practicing Geriatrician, Hospice medical director in North Carolina. He also serves as Vice Chief of staff at the Health care system. He is a member of St Kidane Mihret Mahber in NC and attends service at DSK St Mariam, DC.

Vision for EOTMA

"He is passionate about improving population health through collaboration, engagement and enhanced digital technology. Dr. Feyissa believes EOTMA will be the gateway to connect and give back with loyalty and honesty."

Dr. Getahun Abate

Secretary

MD, PhD, Infectious Disease Specialist
Dr. Getahun Abate graduated from the Addis Ababa University, Faculty of Medicine. After serving at a rural hospital in Ethiopia for three years, he joined a graduate program in Medical Microbiology, first earning his MSc and then PhD.
He worked at the Addis Ababa University for 4 years as an Assistant Professor and 2 years at the Armauer Hansen Research Institute. He then moved to the United States and completed a post-doctoral research fellowship in immunology, specialization in Internal Medicine and sub-specialization in Infectious Diseases.
Dr. Abate currently works at Saint Louis University. He and his family attend church services at the Debre Nazareth St. Mary and St Gabriel Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church in St Louis.

Belief in EOTMA's Mission

"Dr. Abate believes EOTMA is the best way to break all the bureaucratic hurdles and offer the desired charitable medical help (information, health fairs, health services) both in Ethiopia and abroad with no discrimination based on religion, ethnicity, age, gender and income."

Dr. Merfake Semret

Treasurer

MD, MPH, Nephrologist
 
Dr. Merfake Semret received his medical degree from Addis Ababa University, Medical Faculty. After graduation, he practiced as a General Practitioner in Ethiopia for about 4 years.
He later obtained a Masters degree in Public health from Royal Tropical Institute, The Netherlands. Shortly, he moved to the US and completed internal medicine residency at Wayne State University, Detroit, and specialized in Nephrology at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
Currently, he is working as a nephrologist in the Hampton roads area, Virginia. Dr. Semret is a member and attends church at Mekane Hiwot Abune Gebre Menfes Kidus and Saint Arsema Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church located in Norfolk, VA.

On Christian Duty

"Giving is one of our duties as Christians. The medical profession creates lots of opportunities for giving to others. Dr. Semret believes Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Medical Association (EOTMA) is a well-suited vehicle for many Christians to fulfill their duty of giving."

Dn. Dr. Michael Amare

Board Member

DC, Chiropractic Physician
Dn. Dr. Amare completed his undergraduate studies at Milligan University in Johnson City TN and Medical college of Virginia in Richmond, VA. He earned his Doctor of Chiropractic degree at Sherman College of Chiropractic in Spartanburg, SC.
Dr. Amare has completed additional post-graduate training in sports injury, chiropractic pediatrics, Physiotherapy, nutrition, radiology (X-Ray) and spinal rehabilitation, and is licensed by the Virginia Board of Medicine, District of Columbia Chiropractic Association and certified by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners.
Dr. Amare is the founder and clinical director of Amare Chiropractic Wellness Center in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Dn. Dr. Amare is an active member and serving on several church committees at Mekane Hiwot Abune Gebre Menfes Kidus and Saint Arsema Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church in Norfolk, Virginia.

On Serving Through EOTMA

"EOTMA will provide its members an opportunity to serve and heal fellow human beings who are in desperate need of medical attention. EOTMA and its members can bring hope and health to underserved communities. We leave this world a little better one small step at a time knowing that we helped."

Dr. Yidersal Gebeyehu

Board Member

MD, Family Medicine Specialist
 
Dr. Yidersal Gebeyehu graduated from Jimma University, formerly known as JIHS (Jimma Institute of Health Sciences). He practiced medicine in Ethiopia for five years both in government and private sectors. He moved to Canada in 2002.
He graduated from University of Western, after completion of Residency in Family Medicine in 2006.
Dr. Gebeyehu is currently practicing Family Medicine in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. He teaches Family Medicine Residents. He attends church at Hamerenoah Kidanemehret Church in Kitchener, Ontario.

On Medicine & Faith

"Medical profession is a compassionate field. One of the missions of the church is to deliver a compassionate service. No group or body has tried to bring the health care professionals to the church to deliver this compassionate mission. Now with EOTMA, this can be achieved. It's a long overdue task."

Additional Board Members

Liqe-tebebt Dr. Zelalem Yirga

MD, MPH - Board Member

Dn. Dr. Gizachew Giya

Board Member

Dr. Getachew Zeleke

Cardiologist – Board Member

Dr. Ehete Mikael Bahiru

Cardiologist – Board Member

Fasil Dessie

FCCA, CPA, CIPFA - Board Member

Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Medical Association

EOTMA is a global nonprofit organization connecting professionals to advance healthcare, education, and community service.

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