Dr. Tsion Firew

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☎ +250 788 123 200

📍 Dr. Tsion Firew is a distinguished leader in emergency medicine and global health, currently serving as Chair of Emergency Medicine at Africa Health Sciences University in Rwanda, Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine at New York University, and Senior Advisor on Emergency Medical Services to the Ministry of Health of Rwanda. Her career spans academic leadership, national health-system reform, outbreak response, and global policy, with a consistent focus on advancing equitable, high-quality emergency care. Dr. Firew previously served for six years as a senior advisor to Ethiopia’s Minister of Health on Emergency Care and Strategic Partnerships, where she played a pivotal role in shaping national emergency-care policy and strengthening cross-sector collaborations. Prior to her current appointments, she was an Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine and clinical faculty member at Columbia University in New York. Her expertise has been particularly evident during public-health emergencies. During the Marburg virus disease outbreak in Rwanda, Dr. Firew played a key role in the emergency response, clinical coordination, and implementation research, including work on novel therapeutics. She has authored and co-authored multiple publications arising from outbreak response efforts, reinforcing her leadership at the intersection of emergency medicine and infectious-disease preparedness. Dr. Firew is a recognized global advocate for emergency care. She co-authored a landmark World Health Assembly resolution on Emergency Care, working closely with the Ethiopian Ministry of Health and international partners to secure broad support and successfully guide its adoption. Her advocacy centers on strengthening emergency systems as a foundation for Universal Health Coverage, advancing health equity, and promoting women’s leadership in medicine. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Firew emerged as a trusted public voice, serving as a guest expert and regular contributor to major media outlets including CNN, BBC, VOA, and NPR, where she provided evidence-based insights on emergency care and public-health response. In addition to her academic and policy work, Dr. Firew serves on the MedPage Today Editorial Board and the WHO Technical Advisory Group on Integrated Clinical Care. Her influence also extends to digital and public scholarship, having been recognized as one of Medscape’s “10 Women in Medicine You Need to Follow” and named by Medium as one of “50 Experts to Trust in a Pandemic.” Through her leadership, scholarship, and advocacy, Dr. Firew continues to shape the future of emergency medicine globally while championing equitable, resilient health systems.