Email: Ahmed@somalihealthboard.org

Dr. Ahmed Ali, Pharm.D., is a pharmacist and co-founder of the Somali Health Board (SHB), where he serves as Executive Director. He also holds a clinical instructor position in the Department of Global Health at the University of Washington.

University of Washington Global Health

Under Dr. Ali’s leadership, SHB has effectively addressed health disparities within the Somali and East African communities in King County, Washington. During the COVID-19 pandemic, SHB collaborated with public health leaders to establish mobile testing sites in Somali neighborhoods, testing 2,500 individuals over a single weekend—a model for community-based public health interventions. Additionally, SHB administered over 16,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses throughout King County.
School of Public Health

In recognition of his dedication to community health, Dr. Ali and the SHB team received the 2016 Molina Healthcare Community Champions Award. Under his leadership, SHB was honored with the King County Executive’s Award for Community Resilience, acknowledging their comprehensive approach to healthcare, disaster preparedness, and emergency response.

Dr. Ali’s commitment to community development is exemplified by his involvement in the Somali Community Cultural Innovation Hub project. This initiative, supported by a $4 million Community Project Funding request submitted by Representative Adam Smith, aims to create a multigenerational health hub, senior housing community, cultural anchor, early learning and childcare space, and community center for Somalis facing gentrification and displacement in Seattle’s Rainier Valley. The initiative includes acquiring community-owned properties that house the SHB offices and other partner organizations, marking the first and only Somali community-owned properties in Seattle. Congressman Adam Smith

Through his multifaceted roles, Dr. Ahmed Ali continues to champion equitable healthcare access and community empowerment for the Somali and broader East African communities in Seattle and beyond.

shidane@somalihealthboard.org

Before the Somali Health Board, Mohamed Shidane had the privilege of working in other parts of the community both as a mentor-seeking-youth and as a solution-seeking-advocate for social issues affecting the youth. It was through his work volunteering for different community-based organizations that he was able to discover his organizing skills and the potential for opportunities in uniting the community under solution-oriented projects and work. Furthermore, ten years of experience in working as a State and nationally certified translator, patient advocate, and as a cultural broker, has afforded Mohamed to venture into community work more deeply. Shidane also is an adamant believer of the influences that can only be derived from unity and collaborations within peers and affirms that with everybody working together, our resolutions are more than enough to improve the health and living situations of our Somali communities here and abroad. “Even though it might undeniably look and feel that outside powers and influences beyond our reach, are responsible for our shortcomings as a community both here and back home; the only efforts we should count on and believe in, are our day-to-day exertions. We all should be the ultimate agents of the positive changes that we aspire for our lives as individuals, parents, and as a community.”

Fun Fact: Mohamed is a local Somali poet and social justice advocate whose work is appreciated and enjoyed beyond our borders.

Favorite quote:
“Happiness does not really depend on objective conditions of either wealth, health or even community. Rather, it depends on the correlation between objective conditions and subjective expectations.”
― Yuval Noah Harari

Jamila Ahmed has a Bachelor of Business Administration (Marketing and Management)
at the University of Arusha, Tanzania. She joined Somali Health Board in 2019 bringing
an extensive experience in customer care and administration. Currently she helps our
operations department and is passionate about enriching the immigrant community.

My name is Fatma Abdinasir, a new home visitor with SHB.   I am very excited to be part of Somali Health Board.  I have served in various community organizations, as Resource Navigator, a Home Visitor. My passion stems from early age volunteering in the community as an Interpreter.  Through this role I learned the importance of advocating and supporting our community members in various capacity.

One phrase that I put to heart is that” if you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life”.  Continuing to serve the most marginalized community members is an honor and privilege.  It is not the occasionally thank you get but rather the lifelong impact you make for families.

My name is Maryan Mohamed and I am the Program Coordinator for the Intergenerational Program at Somali Health board. I have a B.A in Healthcare Leadership from the University of Washington. I have previous experience in Administration, Customer service, and as an Ophthalmic Technician. As a first generation Somali American, I am passionate about helping my community and learning more about our overall strengths and weaknesses to provide better resources.  

Maymuna Haji our Emergency Medical Services trainer and Othello clinic outreach coordinator. Maymuna is one of the most familier face in the community in community enagagements, trainings, lsitening sessions. 

Nasra Mohamed has gained her B.A. in Environmental Studies from the School of Interdisciplinary Arts and Science, from the University of Washington Bothell. She strives to amplify the needs of marginalized communities, through advocacy in search for equitable health services. She continues to do so through mentor driven research, with the goal of accurately representing the experiences and needs of underrepresented communities. 

Prior to joining, Somali health board, Nasra was an undergraduate research assistant at the University of Washington, working alongside the Somali health board on multiple research projects. Now as an event and policy coordinator, she intends to use the skills she has gained to better serve the community. 

Sareda grew up in Boston, Massachusetts and has moved to Seattle, WA in August of 2022. She graduated from University of Massachusetts Boston, where she majored in Psychology. She has always aspired to help the Somali community through the mental health field and wants to challenge the stigma against needing mental health support. She firmly believes that nourishing our mental well-being is just as important as taking care of our physical well-being.

My name is Zahra Mohamed, I am a home visitor for the Somali centering motherhood program (SCMP). Passionate about educating our communities how to navigate the health care system and ensure that our societies needs are addressed in an equable manner. I’ve an associate degree in computer science, currently pursing cyber security at central Washington university.  I love engaging in conversations about social justice, mental health, and Technology.

Hana Mohamed has a bachelor’s degrees in both sociology and global studies, a Master of Social Work, and a Masters in Public Health from the University of Washington. In addition to her formal education, Hana has over 10 years of experience serving and elevating refugee and immigrant youth and families.

Mohamed Ali is a public health professional with the emphasis of International communities’ health. He is a visionary, champion working constantly understanding intricate cultural, political issues and find solutions. Mohamed is a co-founder Somali Health Board, and Hope Academy in Washington State to bridge educational and health achievement gaps.
Currently Mohamed manages a childhood lead poisoning program at Hazardous Waste Management, Public Health Seattle & King County.

Nicole Tiano is one of the newest members of the SHB Executive Board. She is a creative and energetic operational and financial leader with over 20 years management experience in high-impact development organizations.  She is analytical, highly organized and a strategic problem-solver with strong field experience managing health/development projects in a wide range of countries and contexts. Throughout her career Nicole has worked in service of access and equity in health and economic opportunity.  She is deeply grateful to be a part of the SHB Board and community.  She is currently a Senior Finance Manager at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and holds a BA in International Studies and Spanish from University of Richmond and a MBA from Boston University.

Consuelo joined the Somali Health Board in February, 2021. She has over 10 years of experience in supporting public/global health development programs at the International, Local, and State levels. Currently, she works as a Research Project Manager at Kaiser Permanente Health Research Institute. Prior to this, she worked as a Development Manager for TEPHINET, developing and expanding field epidemiology training programs globally, particularly in Latin America, East Africa, and the Middle East.

Consuelo’s commitment to global health started as a child, having witnessed much inequality in her native country of Colombia. Later, her studies in philosophy illuminated her moral imperative of helping those in needs. Throughout her adult life, Consuelo has strived to work in public health initiatives in low and medium income countries, foment understanding around refugee issues, advance women’s rights, and promote the transformative power of seeing oneself in the shoes of those less fortunate!

Bio coming soon.

Bio coming soon.