History

Inspired by a promise he made to his grandmother to cure her of all that ailed an old woman, Yeneneh Betru emigrated from Addis Ababa to the United States in 1982 to become a physician. He graduated from the University of Michigan Medical School and conducted his residency at LAC-USC Medical Center, and later became Director of Medical Affairs for IPC-The Hospitalist Company. His pioneering work helped train hundreds of physicians around the country in a new practice of medicine referred to as Hospitalist Care.

In June 1998, when his grandmother became ill, Dr. Betru flew to Ethiopia to aide her doctors. Despite his best efforts, he was powerless to prevent her untimely

death due to the lack of medical supplies and equipment. “With poor facilities and absent equipment, the sick have little chance at survival”, he often said. With a sense of responsibility, Dr. Betru vowed to help enhance the condition of medical facilities in Ethiopia, and began the process of creating a kidney dialysis clinic in Addis Ababa. With a renewed sense of responsibility, Dr. Betru vowed to improve the condition of medical facilities in Ethiopia, and began investing his time and money to acquire half a dozen dialysis machines, solutions, and supplies. Tragically, the terrorist acts of September 11, 2001 took Dr. Betru’s life on American Airlines Flight 77, interrupting his hopes and dreams.