Women To Watch Awards 2026 honors Kimika Green

Kimika Green is a compassionate and purpose-driven healthcare leader whose work is rooted in equity, inclusion, and lifelong support for individuals and families across every stage of development. Originally from Jamaica, she brings a global perspective shaped by culture, resilience, and a deep commitment to community. Her career spans both the bedside and administrative sides of healthcare - beginning on the frontlines in inpatient and hospital settings, where she learned firsthand what compassionate, high quality care looks like on the administrative side. Those early experiences grounded her in the realities of patient needs, family dynamics, and the importance of dignity in care.

Her leadership journey truly accelerated when she transitioned into the world of community health, where she discovered her passion for equity, access, and building systems that support individuals and families beyond the walls of a hospital. During this time, she served at HealthWorks for Northern Virginia, a Federally Qualified Health Center formerly led by Retired CEO Carol Jameson and now guided by current CEO, Dr. Tonya Adkins, an exceptional leader and trusted friend whose vision, compassion, and commitment to community continue to inspire Kimika. It was within community health -and specifically through her work at HealthWorks - that her executive leadership experience took shape, allowing her to lead teams, strengthen programs, and expand services for communities that have historically faced barriers to care.

After years of executive leadership in community health, she relocated to Washington State, where she now serves as the Director of the Alyssa Burnett Adult Life Center, located in the city of Bothell, through Seattle Children’s. In this role, she leads innovative programs that provide lifelong learning, social connection, and skills development for adults with autism and intellectual and developmental disabilities - ensuring that individuals continue to receive meaningful support long after they age out of the school system.

In addition to her work at the Alyssa Burnett Center, Kimika also led the Regional Behavioral Health Clinics at Seattle Children’s, where she played a key role in a recent Behavioral Health Clinic Expansion in Federal Way, which will significantly increase access for families in the surrounding communities. This work reflects her ongoing commitment to strengthening behavioral health systems and ensuring that families receive timely, compassionate, and culturally responsive care.

In her personal time, Kimika extends her commitment to community by volunteering as the Vice Chair of the Board of Directors at the Children’s Therapy Center, a remarkable nonprofit offering early supports services, family navigation services, and Play & Learn programming for children. She considers it an honor to support an organization that identifies developmental needs early and provides families with the tools, resources, and guidance they need well before children reach the “cliff” of adulthood. Her connection to this work is strengthened by the organization’s CEO, Nichelle Brown, who is also a partner of Black Leaders Worldwide - further reinforcing Kimika’s belief in the power of shared values, representation, and collective advancement.

A passionate advocate for leadership development, Kimika is deeply committed to empowering emerging leaders in healthcare. She believes in nurturing creativity, energy, advocacy, and resilience in the next generation, helping them build the skills needed to strengthen healthcare systems and serve communities with compassion. Throughout her career, she has mentored countless interns, students, and early career professional, each one leaving a lasting impression. She hopes to continue pouring into others just as generously as mentors have poured into her.

Within her organization, Kimika also serves as a mentor liaison and proud ally for the Indigenous Circle Connection Group, supporting Indigenous colleagues and uplifting their voices, perspectives, and leadership. She is also a member of the Black and African Heritage Network at her organization.

She deeply appreciates the mentorship, guidance, and support she has received throughout her career, but her foundation was built long before her professional journey began. Kimika was raised by loving parents whose sacrifices, values, and healthcare experiences were a profound part of her inspiration to enter the field. Though they passed away when she was still a child, their influence has remained a guiding force throughout her life. She continues this work in their loving memory. Alongside them, her siblings, her aunts, uncles, and the wider village that helped raise her - poured into her with unconditional love. She credits her parents, her family, her Jamaican roots, and her faith for molding her into the woman she is today. Their legacy fuels her desire to pour into others with the same generosity, helping emerging leaders grow not only in skill but in character, compassion, and purpose.

At the heart of her leadership is a deep personal motivation: the desire to fulfill her purpose by using her skills and abilities to help others grow - not only into stronger leaders, but into better providers and more grounded human beings. She carries immense gratitude for the mentorship, guidance, and support she has received throughout her career, and she remains committed to uplifting others, building community, and creating pathways for individuals who have historically faced barriers to belonging.

If you’re ever in the Seattle area, reach out to Kimika to tour the Alyssa Burnett Center and see the amazing work happening there every day.