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History
August 2013: Informal discussions started among a group of Oromo health professionals in North America. After coordinating via email, the group held its first formal conference call on 8/22/2013. Cursory health assessments were made and the working group began to network and accelerate our efforts in alleviating the health care disparities in Oromia.
Summer 2014: A small group of Oromo health professionals and volunteers began providing first aid at the annual OSFNA soccer tournament. This endeavor broadened our network and inspired future healthcare students through community service.
November 2016: At the Oromo Leadership Convention in Atlanta, a sizeable number of Oromo health professionals met at a sideline meeting to discuss formally organizing on a global scale with the hopes of networking and giving back to our community. Various subcommittees were formed tasked with crafting bylaw and preparing the first convention.
May 2017: A successful inaugural conference was held in Chicago for two days. International Oromo Health Professional Association (IOHPA) was established as a non-profit, impartial, non-political organization whose mission is exclusively humanitarian and to address healthcare needs of Oromo people and others in Oromia and beyond. The bylaws were discussed and Board of Directors and Executive committee were formed.
September 2017: IOHPA partnered with Global Medical Libraries (GML) and USEmbassy in Ethiopia to deliver books to Arsi University Medical School.
November 2017: IOHPA is incorporated in the state of Minnesota.
December 2017: Partnered with HIRPHA International and East African Medical Relief Foundation to deliver medical supplies and services to internally displaced Oromo people Dire Dawa and Hammerresa camp in Eastern Oromia
February 2018: IOHPA registered as a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of Internal Revenue code.
November: 2018: In collaboration with University of Minnesota Global Health Institute, IOHPA facilitated for a professor from University of Haramaya in Oromia, Ethiopia to participate in a symposium on Trauma, Addiction and Mental Health with focus on East Africa organized in Kampala Uganda.