Lydia Amissah-Harris ‘22 MPH has dedicated her career to improving maternal health in the Quad Cities, and her impact has not gone unnoticed. She was recently recognized as one of the Quad Cities Regional Business Journal’s Forty Under 40, an award that honors young leaders making a difference in their communities.
Amissah-Harris earned her Master of Public Health degree from St. Ambrose University, where she deepened her focus on maternal health and community wellness. Her time at St. Ambrose played a pivotal role in shaping her approach to public health, equipping her with the knowledge and leadership skills she now applies in her work. As the family health coordinator for the Healthy Pregnancy Program at the Scott County Health Department, she leads the Healthy Pregnancy Coalition, ensuring expectant and new parents have access to essential resources, education, and insurance.
“We are incredibly proud of Lydia and her dedication to advancing maternal health and supporting her community,” said Melissa Sharer, PhD, director of the MPH program at St. Ambrose University. “Her recognition as one of the QCBJ Forty Under 40 is a testament to her hard work, passion, and commitment to making a positive impact in the lives of others, and in particular to promote healthy mothers, children, and their families.”
Amissah-Harris is more than a health professional – she is a passionate advocate and birth worker, striving to create a supportive and informed community for new parents. As a certified lactation specialist, she assists families in reaching their breastfeeding goals, and as a doula and member of the Iowa Black Doula Collective, she provides emotional and physical support during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.
Beyond her professional work, Amissah-Harris is deeply involved in the community. She is the founder of Akoma Birth Experience, a business inspired by her Ghanaian heritage that promotes love, unity, and endurance in maternal care. Additionally, she leads The Bloom Project, a nonprofit that provides free postpartum care packages to new mothers. Her commitment to advocacy and community health was further strengthened through her experiences at St. Ambrose, where she connected with like-minded mentors and peers dedicated to making a difference.
She also serves as the Health Chair for the local NAACP, advocating for better health outcomes in the Black community, and is a board member for Love Girls Magazine, an organization empowering young women through storytelling.
Amissah-Harris’ work is driven by a simple yet powerful mission: to uplift, support, and create safe spaces for women during one of the most transformative times in their lives. Her recognition as one of the QCBJ’s Forty Under 40 is a testament to the lasting impact she is making in maternal health and community wellness.
