Zelalem Temesgen, M.D.

Location

SUMMARY

Zelalem Temesgen, M.D., studies infectious disease epidemiology, treatment and prevention, primarily focusing on HIV and tuberculosis. His research interests include developing innovative approaches to patient care through precision medicine and digital health technologies. Dr. Temesgen investigates the molecular mechanisms of drug resistance in tuberculosis and the pharmacokinetics of antiretroviral therapies in HIV. His work aims to advance clinical practices and improve patient outcomes in resource-limited settings. Dr. Temesgen leads collaborative research efforts and clinical trials that impact the management of infectious diseases globally.

Focus areas

• General infectious diseases. Dr. Temesgen is a leading expert in treating infections at Mayo Clinic. He specializes in diagnosing and treating all types of infections that are caused by germs such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. These can range from common infections such as pneumonia to rare and dangerous diseases that are hard to diagnose. For over 30 years, he has helped patients fight infections that are puzzling or difficult to treat.

• HIV treatment and management guidelines and leadership. Dr. Temesgen focuses on managing HIV infection and exploring novel treatments and strategies to help people living with HIV stay healthy. His work in this area includes service as a member of the U.S. Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS. This council provides advice, information and recommendations to the secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services regarding programs, policies and research to promote effective treatment, prevention and cure of HIV.

  Additionally, Dr. Temesgen serves as the chair of the American Academy of HIV Medicine, the nation's leading independent organization of healthcare professionals dedicated to providing excellence in HIV care and prevention. He also has served on committees that create important guidelines for HIV care across the United States and around the world.

• Tuberculosis control. As the director of Mayo Clinic's Center for Tuberculosis, Dr. Temesgen leads one of only four Tuberculosis Centers of Excellence funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The center at Mayo Clinic has received special recognition from the World Health Organization and the CDC. In this role, Dr. Temesgen works to improve how tuberculosis is diagnosed and treated and helps train doctors to care for people with difficult-to-treat cases of the disease. This work is especially important because tuberculosis remains a major health problem worldwide.
• Digital health and precision medicine. Dr. Temesgen advocates for integrating digital health technologies and precision medicine into infectious disease management. Under his leadership, Mayo Clinic's Center for Tuberculosis became a World Health Organization collaborating center specifically focused on digital health and precision medicine for tuberculosis. Dr. Temesgen is a strong advocate for using precision tools to advance public health beyond individual patient care. He believes that precision medicine technologies can help health officials track disease patterns across entire populations, identify which communities are at highest risk and develop targeted prevention strategies. By using data from thousands of patients, these tools can guide public health policies and help allocate resources where they are needed most. Ultimately, this approach may protect whole communities more effectively than traditional one-size-fits-all approaches.

• Infectious disease education. Dr. Temesgen is dedicated to teaching the next generation of healthcare professionals. He has spent decades training medical students, residents and fellows in the field of infectious disease. He develops courses and lectures that help these future doctors learn how to recognize symptoms, choose the right tests and pick the best treatments for complex infections.

  He also has written and edited several widely used textbooks — including comprehensive guides on infectious diseases and HIV treatment — as well as a specialized board review book that helps doctors prepare for the infectious disease certification exams. For thousands of healthcare professionals and medical students, these books are trusted references for treating patients.

  Dr. Temesgen also serves as editor-in-chief of medical journals in which doctors and scientists share their research and discoveries about treating infections. In this role, he helps decide which new medical findings are published and shared with healthcare professionals worldwide.
• Global health education. Dr. Temesgen is committed to advancing global health education by creating and leading initiatives that provide comprehensive training to healthcare professionals in resource-limited settings. He has developed online courses and programs that allow healthcare teams in remote areas have access to expert guidance. His work has helped improve medical care in places where resources are limited. His educational programs focus on HIV, tuberculosis and other infectious diseases.
• Clinical trials and research networks. Throughout his career, Dr. Temesgen has been involved in testing new medicines and treatments. He has contributed to more than 40 clinical trials, including studies of new antibiotics, HIV medicines and COVID-19 treatments. His research has led to better understanding of how to treat infections and has helped bring new medicines to patients.

Significance to patient care

Dr. Temesgen's work in many different areas comes together to help patients at Mayo Clinic and around the world. As a top expert at treating tough infections, he helps provide better care to patients with hard-to-treat diseases. His research has brought new medicines to people without many treatment options. He also has trained thousands of doctors through his educational programs and textbooks, which means patients everywhere get better care. By combining patient care with research, education and global health projects, Dr. Temesgen aims to improve outcomes for patients at Mayo Clinic and many others who benefit from his work.

Professional highlights

• Associate editor, Journal of Clinical Tuberculosis and Other Mycobacterial Diseases, 2025-present.
• Editor-in-chief, IDCases, 2024-present.
• Member, Coordinating board, Stop TB USA, 2023-present.
• Mayo Clinic:
  • Principal investigator, Center for Tuberculosis, 2013-present.
  • Director, HIV Program, 2010-present.
  • Founder and director, Global HIV Education Initiative, 2008-present.
  • Global Impact Award, Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development, 2021.
  • Distinguished Educator Award, Minnesota and the Midwest, 2019.
  • Innovation in Education Award, Department of Internal Medicine, 2013.
  • Editor-in-chief, Infectious Diseases Board Review, 2009.
• American Academy of HIV Medicine:
  • Chair, 2014-present.
  • Editor-in-chief, Fundamentals of Global HIV Medicine, 2009.
• Member, Scientific Advisory Board, President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, 2011-present.
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services:
  • Member, Panel on Antiretroviral Guidelines for Adults and Adolescents, 2010-present.
  • Member, Advisory Council for the Elimination of Tuberculosis, 2018-2022.
• Member, Task Force on Digital Health for Tuberculosis, World Health Organization, 2017-2019.
• Member, The Lancet Commission on Tuberculosis, 2017-2018.
• Member, Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS, 2008-2009.