Hennepin Healthcare System (HHS) has named Mohamed Omar Chair of its Board of Directors. With this appointment, Omar makes history by becoming the first Somali American hospital board chair in the state of Minnesota—and in the country.
In the announcement, HHS Chief Executive Officer Jennifer DeCubellis said the appointment is in recognition for the years of leadership Omar already dedicated to the Board on the finance, investment, audit, and compliance committees.
“We are privileged to have a partner like Omar leading our board as we strive to carry out our mission more effectively each day,” she said. “A stronger, more inclusive leadership team is the best way for us to become a stronger, more inclusive healthcare system. We are incredibly grateful that our Hennepin Healthcare Board, team, and patients will benefit from his leadership experience and his deep commitment to the health of our community.”
Omar said he is honored to take on this new role for the healthcare system in a state home to the country’s largest Somali American population.
“Three years ago, I chose to serve on the Hennepin Healthcare Board because I share this organization’s commitment to deliver high-quality, equitable care to all our patients,” he said. “We can do this by building a board and leadership team that reflects the diversity of our patients and our community. My commitment is to deepen our community engagement, build more authentic connections between patients and team members, and build a confident future together.”
Dr. Nneka Sederstrom, Hennepin Healthcare’s Chief Health Equity Officer, said Omar is a natural fit with this role.
“Mohamed Omar is a champion for health equity. He shares our commitment to eliminating health disparities so that every person in our community receives the highest quality of care, regardless of background or circumstance. We are grateful for his commitment to engage our community more deeply in the conversation of how we deliver healthcare.”
Omar is the chief administrative officer for the Washburn Center for Children. Before his position with Washburn, he served as chief financial officer at the Greater Minnesota Housing Fund, where he directed all financial matters for the organization, as well as for the Minnesota Equity Fund and NOAH Impact Fund. Earlier in his career, Omar was the controller and chief accountant with the Metropolitan Council.
Omar spent nearly a decade in management consulting firms Guidehouse and MorganFranklin, where he consistently earned increasing responsibilities. He began his career as a PricewaterhouseCoopers auditor and had successful tenures at Goldman Sachs in London and Marriott International.
Omar received his Bachelor’s degree in accounting from George Mason University, his MBA in finance and entrepreneurship, and his MS in information systems from Johns Hopkins University. He also completed the Humphrey Policy Fellows leadership program at the University of Minnesota.
Hennepin Healthcare is an integrated system that includes HCMC, a nationally recognized Level I Adult Trauma Center and Level I Pediatric Trauma Center and acute care hospital, and a clinic system with primary care clinics located in Minneapolis and across Hennepin County. Hennepin Healthcare System Inc., a subsidiary corporation of Hennepin County, operates the system.
“Hennepin Healthcare System’s mission, workforce, patients, and community are essential for the health and well-being for all Minnesotans. The Hennepin County Board is committed to be a good steward for the state’s last public safety-net hospital, and the County is working diligently to ensure the health system’s long-term success and viability,” said Hennepin County Board Chair Irene Fernando. “As the first Hennepin County Board Chair of color, I know how impactful it is for our communities to see themselves represented in public leadership. I congratulate and am excited to collaborate with the new HHS Board Chair, Mohamed Omar, as we continue our work to meet the HHS promise of ‘exceptional care without exception.’”