somalihealthoard@gmail.com

Ahmed Ali, Pharm.D is one of the Somali Health Board founders and current executive director, an entrepreneur, community-health advocate and change-maker with passion and experience in the health disparities advocacy. He’s also a clinical instructor at UW’s department of Global Health.

Dr. Ali is an active member within the Somali community, with emphasis on immigrant and refugee health and also serves at various advocacy, policy and systems change tables, including the Fred Hutch Community Advocacy Board and the City of Seattle’s Sweetened Beverages Tax Advisory Board and believes healthcare is a universal right for all. He’s also a recipient of the 2016 Molina Healthcare’s Community Champions Award recipient.

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

Rahma has been with SHB since 2016 and is very passionate about the community work. She strongly in being part of the solution and is a strong advocate of community resiliency and self-reliance for finding sustainable solutions to our needs as a community.

I have Master of Cybersecurity & Leadership (MCL) from the University of Washington, Tacoma.

As Somali Health Board’s Youth Soccer Director, I over see a culturally responsive learning experience for Somali youth ages 5-18.  Our amazing Youth Soccer coaching team support more than 100 youth in our program.

The program utilizes soccer and culturally reflective adult mentors to engage youth in individual and community building with a focus on physical, mental, and community health.

Participants also benefit from 100+ hours of athletic instruction, camaraderie, mentorship, and community service.

Profession: Public Health-Global Health: Health Education and Promotion, BA from the University of
WA.

As a public Health -Global Health with a focus on Health Education and Promotion my priority is to
increase health equity within the healthcare and maternal health have become an interest after traveling
to Ethiopia for a comparative maternal healthcare program and got to learn about the root causes of
maternal mortality and morbidity. This has prepared me to tackle maternal issues from all aspects whether it is global or domestic. I’ve worked with low-income, immigrant, and communities of color in the nonprofit on issues of education and health and continue to further my work with my community through
SHB.

Muna Mahamud has a double bachelors from college of health in Nuclear Medicine and Health Education and promotion from the University of Utah. She is attending the University of Washington for her Master in Health law and desires to enrich and put awareness in her community to stay healthy and live in an equal environment.
She is working with Somali Health Board as the Behavioral Health Case Manager.

Before she moved to Washington state she was working with youth and refugee families as case manager and mentor to guide them to the right resources and make sure all the knots of help they need have been untied. She has this quote that says “What if that was me.” . She has the compassion that strives her to put people in need before her and teach them with the amount of knowledge she has and also gain from them what she is lacking.

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 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.

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 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.  

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.

My name is Zeinab Ahmed, a new home visitor for seniors and operation assistance. I have been working with seniors for over 10 years and my passion working with them is growing. I am very profound to be part of Somali Health Board. I have a bachelor’s degree in Public Health. I have volunteered and worked in other organizations and that’s what I realize we make a life by what we give.

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!