Amina Sheik Mohamed (she/her) is the Director and founder of our Refugee and Immigrant Health Unit (RIH). She is a passionate leader dedicated to dismantling barriers to health equity for refugee and immigrant communities. Amina works tirelessly to uplift their voices, perspectives, and needs. Through her transformational leadership, she founded RIH and co-developed the San Diego Refugee Communities Coalition (SDRCC). These collectives, now being replicated across the state, embody a foundational vision initiated by Sheik Mohamed: ensuring that those affected by health inequities play a leading role in addressing their own needs. This ethos underpins her success in advancing community-driven solutions and empowering ethnic community-based organizations.
Her work spans peer-based workforce initiatives, community advocacy, and systemic policy change, all aimed at improving health outcomes and fostering a sense of belonging. Sheik Mohamed currently co-leads a statewide program managing nearly $13 million in federal funds from the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) through the California Department of Social Services (CDSS).
She has received numerous accolades, including the 2024 James Irvine Foundation Leadership Award, the 2024 Prebys Foundation’s inaugural Leaders in Belonging award, and the 2022 San Diego Women of Distinction award.
Amina holds a Master of Public Health from Walden University and a Bachelor of Science in Health Science from San Diego State University. She also serves on the San Diego Foundation Board of Directors, working to further the foundation’s mission of building an equitable, resilient, and vibrant region for all.
Amina joined the Center for Community Health in 2010.