Farewell Reflections
After More Than Forty Years of Service
Dear Colleagues, Alumni, Students, Friends, and College of Health Sciences Family,
I write this letter with gratitude, humility, and hope as I conclude more than four decades of service in patient care, medical education, leadership, and research at our beloved institution.
When I entered the School of Medicine as a young Ethiopian, I could not have imagined the remarkable journey that lay ahead. Medicine became more than my profession — it became my life's calling. Every patient I treated, every lecture, bedside seminar, and tutorial I took part in, every operation I performed, and every resident and fellow I mentored enriched my life far more than I could ever have anticipated.
It has been one of the greatest privileges of my life to watch young learners become compassionate physicians, skilled surgeons, respected teachers, accomplished researchers, and visionary leaders. This has been the most enduring reward of my career. I believe I have contributed, even in a small way, to the success of those who now serve patients and lead academic work across Ethiopia and around the world.
I consider my career richly blessed. Serving as a leader within my unit, department, and the Faculty of Medicine was both an honor and a profound responsibility. Together with dedicated colleagues and staff, we worked to strengthen tertiary health care, expand graduate training programs, foster research, and deliver a high standard of care to our patients. We also helped develop faculty for other medical schools in Ethiopia and beyond — the result of a shared vision, mutual respect, and unwavering commitment among the College's staff, even amid scarce resources.
To my teachers, I am grateful for believing in me and shaping me into a professional, a scholar, and a servant leader.
To my colleagues, thank you for your enduring friendship and shared commitment, including the memorable surgical outreach missions and society activities we undertook together. Your wisdom and partnership through moments of joy, challenge, and triumph have meant more than words can express.
To the nurses, technicians, administrative staff, and every member of our health care team, thank you for the dedication and kindness that made our work possible through the years.
To my students and trainees, you have been my greatest joy. I leave with immense pride, knowing that you now carry forward the noble tradition of our profession.
Above all, I offer my deepest gratitude to our patients and their families for placing your trust in me during moments of fear, uncertainty, and hope. Caring for you has been the greatest privilege of my professional life, and it has reminded me daily that medicine is not only a science but also an act of compassion and humanity.
Though I am stepping away from my formal responsibilities, my faith in the future of Ethiopian medicine has never been stronger. I see extraordinary promise in the next generation of physicians and surgeons. Continue to pursue excellence with integrity, lead with humility, embrace lifelong learning, and never lose sight of the human being behind every diagnosis.
Our College of Health Sciences and Department of Surgery have been more than a workplace to me — they have been my academic home and an extended family. It has been an honor to be part of this community, and I believe our brightest days are still ahead.
To my family, whose love, patience, and sacrifice sustained me through countless long days, sleepless nights, and emergency calls across the years — thank you, and God bless you.
May God bless each of you, bless AAU College of Health Sciences, bless our patients, and bless Ethiopia.
With profound gratitude and warm regards,
Dr. Dereje Gullelat
@HakimEthio