The photo: Farah with his daughter, and his colleague Katherine shown in the back
Last Saturday, June 13, dozens of Somali community members, friends, families, and colleagues celebrated with Farah Bille Mohamed who achieved his long-time dream of becoming a doctor on global public health. Among those who attended the celebration at Farah’s house in Auburn, Washington was Katherine who prepared this Op-ed and shared it on her Facebook page soon after the party was over. She gave us permission to republish. She starts her Op-ed with the Somali word (Hambalyo) which means Congratulations.
By Katherine Louise
Hambalyo and many congratulations to Dr. Farah Bille Mohamed, who earned a doctorate in Global Health Leadership and Practice today. Farah and I met as MPH students at UW’s Global Health department. There we discussed the problems in global health, where Farah’s experience as a refugee and aid worker helped others understand the complexities and the industry of global health, setting him apart from other students. Farah also completed an MSW (‼️), and worked FT, during our MPH. At graduation, he won our department’s exceptional student award. It was because of his hard work, and how he applied his extensive experience, but his analysis was spot on as well, and he always offered to share with us fellow students and bring us up to speed!
In 2020, he brought me into his newly formed global health consultancy, Bille Consulting, LLC. We managed translation and transcreation for universities and agencies in Seattle, and helped ensure local research projects unfolded ethically across immigrant communities. Consultants on the side, we both worked full time jobs, he at King County Public Heath and I at the state. When he said he needed to scale back the consulting work to pursue his PhD, I was thrilled for him.
Not only was Farah was perfectly poised for this program, already being a global health leader, he has also now proven he had what all rigorous programs need: drive, vision AND discipline. Farah, we will always celebrate your extensive experience and how far you’ve come, but at this juncture we celebrate your ability to translate academic scholarship into real world impact and connect with communities on a deeper level – which we deeply need.
Farah, congratulations on completing one of the world’s most rigorous PhD programs at a top school. It has no doubt refined your skills and expanded your network. Since you already had the heart, and the drive, your programs will be better and your impact deeper. Now more than ever, you are ready for the world stage. Please make your way there swiftly!!
