Thursday October 24, 2024
Mohamed Omar, the newly appointed Chair of Hennepin Healthcare’s Board of Directors, becomes the first Somali-American to lead the state's largest public safety-net hospital. CREDIT / Washburn
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn (HOL) — Mohamed Omar has become the first Somali-American to chair the board of Hennepin Healthcare, a major milestone for Minnesota's largest public safety-net hospital.
Omar's appointment follows three years of service on the Hennepin Healthcare board, where he worked on finance, audit, and compliance committees. His leadership comes at a time of both challenge and opportunity for the healthcare system, which serves as the state's primary safety-net hospital, providing care to all, regardless of financial ability.
"I am deeply honoured to take on this role," Omar said. "As Chair, my goal is to strengthen the connection between our diverse community and the healthcare system, ensuring every patient receives the care they deserve, regardless of background or circumstance."
Omar is Hennepin Healthcare's second board chairman in less than a year. His rise to chair follows the resignation of Babette Apland, who stepped down in September after making controversial comments about Somali immigrants and the financial burdens they place on the healthcare system. Apland's remarks were condemned as racist by local officials, leading to her resignation. Omar, who had been serving as interim chair since Apland's departure, now takes the role permanently.
Omar's leadership is particularly noteworthy in Minnesota, home to the largest Somali-American population in the U.S. His appointment is a significant step toward greater representation in public institutions, a point emphasized by Hennepin County Commissioner Irene Fernando, the first person of colour to chair the county board. "Omar's leadership is a milestone not just for the Somali-American community, but for everyone who believes in equitable healthcare and representation," she said.
Omar's vision is rooted in equity, aiming to eliminate health disparities and ensure that the healthcare system reflects the diversity of its patients and staff. "We can only deliver truly equitable care if our leadership mirrors the community we serve," Omar explained. "That's where my focus will be—on building deeper connections between the healthcare system and the communities it serves."
HCMC in downtown Minneapolis receives a taxpayer subsidy from Hennepin County to help cover the cost of uncompensated care. (Richard Tsong-Taatarii/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Omar steps into the leadership role at a critical time. Hennepin Healthcare, which operates the nationally recognized Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC), has faced financial strains as it continues to provide care to uninsured and underinsured patients. The hospital relies on taxpayer subsidies from Hennepin County to cover uncompensated care costs, an issue that has sparked debates over the system's financial sustainability.
$10 million is allocated to uncompensated care at Hennepin Healthcare in the proposed 2025 county budget, increasing the hospital's total taxpayer subsidy to $38 million annually.
Hennepin Healthcare CEO Jennifer DeCubellis expressed her confidence in Omar's ability to lead the system through these challenges. "Mohamed Omar is a leader who embodies our mission of delivering exceptional care without exception," she said. "His dedication to equity and community engagement will help us continue to build a stronger, more inclusive healthcare system."
Omar's career spans both the public and private sectors. Before his role at Hennepin Healthcare, he served as Chief Administrative Officer at the Washburn Center for Children, a nonprofit focused on mental health. He has also held senior positions at the Greater Minnesota Housing Fund and the Metropolitan Council, where he worked on housing, finance, and community development initiatives.
Omar's academic background includes an MBA in finance and entrepreneurship and an MS in information systems from Johns Hopkins University, as well as a bachelor's degree in accounting from George Mason University.