Dr Abel Tesfaye Legese is a distinguished General Surgeon and healthcare executive currently serving as the General Manager of Yanet General Hospital in Ethiopia. Under his visionary leadership, Yanet General became the first hospital in Ethiopia to achieve ISO 9001:2015 certification for Total Quality Management. He is also currently leading the World Health Organization’s Global Patient Safety Initiative at the hospital—positioning it as a model for excellence in patient-centred care.
Throughout his career, Dr Abel has been at the forefront of patient safety, quality improvement, and crisis response in Ethiopia. He played a pivotal role as the founding medical leader of Eka Kotebe General Hospital, where he led critical care delivery during the country’s COVID-19 pandemic and coordinated trauma care during national conflict. He has held influential leadership positions at Ambo University Medical College, Amanuel Mental Health Hospital, and Eka Kotebe General Hospital, consistently driving systemic reform and cross-sector collaboration.
Dr Abel earned both his Doctor of Medicine and Specialty Certificate in General Surgery from Hawassa University. His leadership expertise was further enhanced through the Ministry of Health’s Leadership Incubation Program and the International Hospital Federation’s Young Executive Leaders (YEL) Program. In 2023, he became the first Ethiopian to win the prestigious IHF Sultanate of Oman Excellence Award for Health Services during Crisis, awarded at the World Hospital Congress.
Beyond his clinical and executive roles, Dr Abel is a passionate advocate for interprofessional collaboration, mentorship, and sustainable health system transformation. He actively collaborates with national and international NGOs and has published peer-reviewed research on surgical care and public health issues in Ethiopia. As the current Africa Ambassador for the International Hospital Federation (IHF), he continues to influence healthcare leadership and patient safety across the continent.