Jerusalem Merkebu

Dr. Jerusalem Merkebu serves as an Assistant Professor at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) within the School of Medicine, affiliated with the Center for Health Professions Education. Her primary appointment is based at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, where she contributes to military and health professions education through research, teaching, and graduate mentorship.

She earned her PhD in Educational Psychology with a concentration in Human and Organizational Learning and Development from George Mason University, establishing a foundation for her work in cognitive and emotional aspects of professional decision-making.

Dr. Merkebu's research program investigates how metacognitive reflection and emotional regulation influence clinical reasoning, diagnostic accuracy, and vigilant decision-making in high-stakes healthcare environments. Her interdisciplinary approach integrates educational psychology, organizational development, and well-being frameworks to address challenges in medical training and practice, with implications for improving clinician performance and resilience.

As an educator, she teaches graduate-level courses including Fundamentals of Systems Theory and Advanced Learning Theories in the Health Professions Education (HPE) program, while advising graduate students on research and academic development within USU's military-focused academic ecosystem.