Worku Abebe

Associate Professor

Worku Abebe

Associate Professor

Academic Appointment(s)

Dental College of Georgia
Department of Oral Biology and Diagnostic Sciences

The Graduate School

Dental College of Georgia
Department of Oral Biology

Bio

• PhD- Pharmacology
• Associate Professor- Oral Biology & Diagnostic Sciences
• Undergraduate and graduate teaching
• Research includes cardiovascular biology, diabetes, herbal medicines/supplements, drug abuse, pharmacoepidemology
•Peer reviewer, editorial board member

  • (706) 721-3197
  • (706) 721-6252
  • CL 2130

Education

  • Ph.D., Pharmaceutical Sciences University of British Columbia, 1990

  • MS, Pharmacology University of Bradford, 1981

  • BS, Pharmacy Haile Selassie I University, 1974

Awards & Honors

  • Travel Award EPMA, 2011

  • Travel Award to attend FASEB DCG, 2009

  • Travel Award to attend FASEB DCG, 2002

  • Travel Award to attend FASEB DCG, 2001

  • Travel Award to attend ADA Meeting DCG, 2000

Courses Taught Most Recent Academic Year

  • BMNN 5202

    Applied Neuropharmacology
  • BMBS 5201

    Bioclinical Seminar I
  • BMBS 5403

    Bioclinical Seminar III
  • BMEN 5201

    Endocrine System
  • BMDM 5601

    Frontiers in Den/Med Sci I
  • OBMP 8004

    Topics in Oral Biology 4
  • OBPR 8004

    Topics in Oral Biology IV
  • BMBS 5504

    Bioclinical Seminar IV
  • BMFN 5102

    Biomedical Foundations II
  • BMDM 5702

    Frontiers in Dent/Med Sci II
  • BMGH 5301

    Gastrointestinal & Hepatobilia
  • BMHD 5101

    Host Def, Path & Mgt Infect
  • OBMP 9100

    Journal Club in Oral Biology
  • BMNN 5101

    Nervous SyS & Neuroscience I
  • BMRS 5301

    Respiratory System
  • OBMP 8003

    Topics in Oral Biology 3
  • OBPR 8003

    Topics in Oral Biology III

Teaching Interests

Teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in selected areas of biomedical sciences (primarily related to pharmacology, physiology and biochemistry), with particular emphasis on dental applications

Scholarship

Selected Recent Publications

  • Use of khat and associated substances during COVID-19 pandemic: potential adverse consequences, 2022
    Journal Article, Academic Journal
  • Substance use prevalence among undergraduate health sciences students in Ethiopia: a preliminary report , 2020
    Journal Article, Professional Journal
  • Review of herbal medications with the potential to cause bleeding: dental implications, and risk prediction and prevention avenues, 2019
    Journal Article, Academic Journal
  • Khat and synthetic cathinones: Emerging drugs of abuse with dental implications., 2018
    Journal Article, Academic Journal
  • khat: a substance of growing abuse with adverse drug interaction risks, 2018
    Journal Article, Academic Journal

Research Interests

Laboratory-based research:
Investigation of (1) cardiovascular effects of
diabetes mellitus, (2) vascular effects of dental resin
materials, and (2) vascular and pulmonary effects of taurine and/or adenosine

Survey-based research:
Assessment of (1) herbal medicine/supplement utilization,
and (2) drug/substance abuse.

Department Service

  • Graduate Admission Committee 2000 - Present

    Role: Committee Member
  • Faculty Search/recruitment Committee 1999 - Present

    Role: Committee Member
  • Fuculty promotion departmental committee 2019 - 2020

    Role: Committee Chair
  • Faculty promotion departmental committee 2018 - 2020

    Role: Committee Chair

College Service

  • Faculty Development Committee 1999 - 2010

    Role: Committee Member
  • Research Advisory Committee 1998 - 2009

    Role: Committee Member
  • Student Affairs Committee 1999 - 2008

    Role: Committee Member

University Service

  • Vasular Biology Center 1998 - Present

    Role: Other
  • Graduate Research Day activity 2014

    Role: Other
  • Graduate Council 2010 - 2011

    Role: Committee Member
  • LAS Director Search Committee 2001 - 2002

    Role: Committee Member

Professional Service

  • Review Editor of Frontiers in Pharmacology 2022 - Present

    Role: Reviewer, Journal Article
  • Research Grant Council of Hong Kong 2012 - Present

    Role: Other
  • 2000 - Present

    Role: Other
  • Ethiopian Public Health association 1999 - Present

    Role: Member
  • Georgia Chapter of AADR 1999 - Present

    Role: Member

Public Service

  • African American Community Association in Nebraska 2020 - 2020

    Role: Guest Speaker
  • Lake Side High Student Project Competition 2015 - 2018

    Role: Other
  • Alemtsehay Breast Cancer Foundation 2014 - 2015

    Role: Guest Speaker
  • High School U-TM Program 2014

    Role: Guest Speaker