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Assistant Professor, Clinical Pharmacy

Defersha, Amsalu Degu, PhD., MPSK

Dr. Amsalu Degu Defersha is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Pharmacy at the School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, United States International University–Africa (USIU-Africa), Nairobi, Kenya. He is a registered pharmacist in both Kenya and Ethiopia, with over ten years of experience spanning academic teaching, clinical practice, and health outcomes research. Dr. Defersha holds a PhD and Master of Pharmacy in Clinical Pharmacy from the University of Nairobi, an MSc in Pharmacology from Addis Ababa University, and a Bachelor of Pharmacy from Jimma University. He has previously served as a Lecturer at USIU-Africa and the University of Gondar, as well as a Lecturer of Pharmacology at Ambo University. His research focuses on treatment outcomes, drug-related problems, and health-related quality of life among cancer patients. He has authored more than 35 peer-reviewed publications in leading international journals and has led multiple competitive research projects funded by USIU-Africa. His scholarly contributions have been recognized through awards including the EU Intra-ACP AFIMEGQ Scholarship and a Certificate of Merit as Second Best PhD Student at the University of Nairobi. Dr. Defersha also contributes to the global academic community as an Academic Editor for the Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics and as an Editorial Board Member of Clinical Medicine Insights: Oncology. His professional affiliations include the Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya, Ethiopian Pharmaceutical Association, and the International Society of Oncology Pharmacy Practitioners. His areas of specialization are Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology, with teaching responsibilities covering major therapeutic systems and hospital-based pharmacy practice. For more information on his research, Dr. Defersha maintains active profiles on ResearchGate, Google Scholar, and PubMed.
Email Address

adefersha@usiu.ac.ke

Location

Nairobi, Kenya

EXTERNAL WEBSITES

AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION

  • Clinical Pharmacy & Pharmacology

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS

  • PhD in Clinical Pharmacy: University of Nairobi (September 2020-September 2024)
  • Master of Pharmacy in Clinical Pharmacy: University of Nairobi (September 2015- July 2017)
  • Master of Science in Pharmacology; Addis Ababa University (September 2012-September 2014)
  • Bachelor of Pharmacy; Jimma University (September 2006-June 2010)

SUBJECTS TAUGHT

  • PHM44847: Endocrine and reproductive disorders
  • PHM4488: Nervous and musculoskeletal disorders
  • PHM4484: Cardiovascular and renal disorders
  • PHM5490: Neoplastic disorders
  • PHM 3487: Clinical management of fungal, parasitic & protozoa diseases
  • PHM 5491: Ocular, ear and skin disorders
  • PHM 4481, PHM 4482 and PHM4483: Pharmacy Practice practical courses in the hospital

PUBLICATIONS

Journal Articles:

  1. Degu A, Engidawork E, Shibeshi W. Evaluation of the anti-diarrheal activity of the leaf extract of Croton macrostachyus Hocsht. ex Del. (Euphorbiaceae) in mice model. BMC Complementary and alternative medicine, 2016; 16:379
  2. Degu A, Njogu P, Weru I, Karimi P. Assessment of Drug Therapy Problems among Patients with Cervical Cancer at Kenyatta National Hospital, Kenya. Gynecologic Oncology Research and Practice, 2017; 4:15.
  3. Degu A, Kebede Drug-related problems and its associated factors among breast cancer patients at the University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Ethiopia: A hospital- based retrospective cross-sectional study. J Oncol Pharm Pract.2021;27(1):88-98.
  4. Degu A, Kefale B, Alemayehu, D, Tegegne, G.T. Evaluation of the Antidiarrheal Activity of Hydromethanol Crude Extracts of Ruta chalepensis and Vernonia amygdalina in Mice. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2020;2020:8318713.
  5. Mohammed AS, Adem F, Tadiwos Y, Woldekidan NA, Degu A . Level of Adherence to the Dietary Recommendation and Glycemic Control Among Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Eastern Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study. Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes. 2020;13:2605-2612.
  6. Kefale B, Degu A, Tegegne Medication‐related problems and adverse drug reactions in Ethiopia: A systematic review. Pharmacol Res Perspect. 2020;8 (5):e00641.
  7. Odeo S, Degu A. Factors affecting health-related quality of life among prostate cancer patients: A systematic review. J Oncol Pharm Pract. 2020; 26(8):1997-2010.
  8. Kefale B, Tegegne GT, Kefale Y, Molla M, Ewunetei A, Degu A. Magnitude and determinants of drug therapy problems among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with hypertension in Ethiopia. SAGE Open Medicine. 2020;8:1-8.
  9. Kefale B, Tegegne GT, Degu A, Molla M, Kefale Y. Surgical Site Infections and Prophylaxis Antibiotic Use in the Surgical Ward of Public Hospital in Western Ethiopia: A Hospital-Based Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study. Infect Drug Resist. 2020;13:3627-3635.
  10. Kefale B, Tegegne GT, Degu A, Tadege M, Tesfa D. Prevalence and Risk Factors of Thromboembolism among Patients With Coronavirus Disease-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Clin Appl Thromb Hemost. 2020;26:1076029620967083.
  11. Kefale B, Ewunetei A, Molla M, Tegegne GT, Degu A. Clinical pattern and predictors of stroke treatment outcome among hospitalised patients who had a stroke at Felege Hiwot comprehensive specialised hospital, northwest Ethiopia: a retrospective cross-sectional study. BMJ Open 2020;10:e040238.
  12. Degu A, Yussuf A. Treatment outcomes among human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 positive breast cancer patients: A systematic review. J Oncol Pharm Pract. 2021;27(6):1468-1476.
  13. Tegegne GT, Kefale B, Engidaw MT, Degu A, Tesfa D, Ewunetei A, Yazie TS and Molla M (2021) Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Healthcare Providers Toward Novel Coronavirus 19 During the First Months of the Pandemic: A Systematic Review. Front. Public Health 2021; 9:606666.
  14. Amare GG, Degu A, Njogu P, Kifle ZD. Evaluation of the Antimalarial Activity of the Leaf Latex of Aloe weloensis (Aloaceae) against Plasmodium Parasites. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2021;2021:6664711.
  15. Mohammed AS, Degu A, Woldekidan NA, Adem F, Edessa D. In-hospital mortality and its predictors among stroke patients in sub-Saharan Africa: A systemic review and meta-analysis. SAGE Open Med. 2021;9:20503121211036789.
  16. Woldekidan NA, Mohammed AS, Degu A, Tadiwos Y. Prevalence of metabolic syndrome and associated factors among psychiatric patients at University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia. PLoS One. 2021;16(8):e0256195
  17. Moraa F, Degu A. Survival Outcomes Among Pancreatic Cancer Patients at Kenyatta National Hospital. J Gastrointest Cancer. 2022;53(4):958-964.
  18. Tuwei G, Degu A. Survival Outcomes among Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2- (HER2-) Positive Breast Cancer Patients at Kenyatta National Hospital. Int J Breast Cancer. 2021;2021:3115727.
  19. Kibaara M, Degu A. Assessment of adverse events among cervical cancer patients at Kenyatta National Hospital. J Oncol Pharm Pract. 2023;29(2):326-332.
  20. Wambua MD, Degu A, Tegegne GT. Treatment outcomes and its associated factors among breast cancer patients at Kitui Referral Hospital. SAGE Open Medicine. 2021;10:1-9.
  21. Shajahan Ahamed M, Degu A. Health-related quality of life among cervical cancer patients at Kenyatta National Hospital. J Oncol Pharm Pract. 2023;29(2):393-400.
  22. Degu A, Terefe EM, Some ES, Tegegne GT. Treatment Outcomes and Its Associated Factors Among Adult Patients with Selected Solid Malignancies at Kenyatta National Hospital: A Hospital-Based Prospective Cohort Study. Cancer Manag Res. 2022;14:1525-1540.
  23. Isaaka J, Degu A, Kimani LM. Assessment of cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity and its associated factors among cervical cancer patients in the leading tertiary hospital in Kenya. J Oncol Pharm Pract. 2022;28(7):1603-1608.
  24. Degu A, Karimi PN, Opanga SA, Nyamu DG. Survival outcomes among colorectal cancer patients at Kenyatta National Hospital: A retrospective cohort study. Cancer Rep (Hoboken). 2023;6(3):e1743.
  25. Degu A, Karimi PN, Opanga SA, Nyamu DG. Predictors of survival outcomes among patients with gastric cancer in a leading tertiary, teaching and referral hospital in Kenya. Cancer Med. 2023;12(4):4147-4160.
  26. Degu A, Karimi PN, Opanga SA, Nyamu DG. Determinants of survival outcomes among esophageal cancer patients at a national referral hospital in Kenya. Chronic Diseases and Translational Medicine. 2022;9(1):20-28
  27. Said NS, Degu Assessment of survival outcomes among lung cancer patients at the National and Referral Hospital in Kenya. Cancer Med. 2023;12(8):9194-9201.
  28. Getachew R, Tadesse TA, Shashu BA, Degu A, Alemkere G. Anticoagulation Management in Patients Receiving Warfarin at Private Cardiac Centers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. J Blood Med. 2023;14:107-117.
  29. Degu A, Karimi PN, Opanga SA, Nyamu DG. Drug-related problems among esophageal, gastric and colorectal cancer patients at the National and Referral Hospital in Kenya. J Oncol Pharm Pract. 2024;30(3):493-506.
  30. Yirba TY, Gebremariam GT, Tadesse TA, Degu A, Mekonnen D, Alemkere G. Reliability and Validity of the Amharic Version of the Hill-Bone Adherence to High Blood Pressure Therapy Scale Among Ethiopian Hypertensive Patients. Patient preference and adherence. 2023:3207-17.
  31. Degu A, Karimi PN, Opanga SA, Nyamu DG. Health-related quality of life among patients with esophageal, gastric, and colorectal cancer at Kenyatta National Hospital. Cancer Rep (Hoboken). 2024;7(3):e2038.
  32. Magut FJ, Degu A. Magut FJ, Degu A. Drug therapy problems among paediatric acute lymphoblastic leukaemia patients at Kenyatta National Hospital. J Oncol Pharm Pract. 2025;31(5):730-735.
  33. Assenga EA, Degu A, Omolo CA. Assessment of chemotherapy-related adverse drug reactions among multiple myeloma patients at Kenyatta national hospital. J Oncol Pharm Pract. 2025 Oct;31(7):1051-1060.
  34. Toor DK, Degu A, Karimi PN. Assessment of Treatment Outcomes and Associated Factors Among Pediatric Patients With Burkitt Lymphoma at Kenyatta National Hospital. Cancer Rep (Hoboken). 2025;8(1):e70112.
  35. Morefu MG, Degu A. An assessment of the prevalence of drug therapy problems and its associated factors among ovarian cancer patients at Kenyatta National Hospital. J Oncol Pharm Pract. 2025 Apr 16:10781552251331479. doi: 10.1177/10781552251331479.
  36. Macharia HG, Degu A. Comparative study of the efficacy of tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors among breast cancer patients at Kenyatta National Hospital. J Egypt Natl Canc Inst. 2025;37(1):53.
  37. Heho M, Degu A, Omolo CA. Assessment of adverse drug reactions among acute myeloid leukaemia patients at Kenyatta National Hospital. J Oncol Pharm Pract. 2025 Jul 16:10781552251352453. doi: 10.1177/10781552251352453
  38. Fetene A, Degu A, Kassaw C, Fekadu Oljira C, Gubae K, Shimels T, Alemkere G. Evaluating the implementation of guideline-directed medical therapy in the treatment of chronic heart failure at public hospitals in Ethiopia. Ther Adv Cardiovasc Dis. 2026;20:17539447251411121.

RESEARCH PROJECTS & GRANTS

  • United States International University-Africa 2018 research grant winner (Ksh 889,000): Treatment outcomes and its associated factors among adult patients with selected solid malignancies at Kenyatta National Hospital: a hospital-based prospective cohort study
  • United States International University-Africa 2022 research grant winner (Ksh 1,000,000): Evaluation of drug-related problems, health-related problems, and treatment outcomes among patients with gastrointestinal cancers at Kenyatta National Hospital

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP

  • Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya
  • Ethiopian Pharmaceutical Association
  • International Society of Oncology Pharmacy Practitioners