He was the first credentialed Somali surgeon, became the first Somali to take charge of a hospital post-colonialism becoming the head of Hospital Martini and Digfer, and became the ideological leader of the 1969 coup.
He became the Minister of Higher Learning, Information, Secretary-General of the SRC, but in 1982 fell out with Siad Barre upon telling him to resign. He was jailed and moved back to Italy upon release where he lived with his Italian wife until his death.
He was Darod/Marehan/Celi.

On the eve of his death, BBC Somali lists his achievements on their profile of him;
Dr Mohamed Haji Ingiriis writes of him for HiiraanOnlineWaxa magaalada Torino ee dalka Talyaaniga ku geeriyoodey, Allaha u nariistee, Dr Mohamed Adan Sheikh, oo hore mas'uuliyado kala geddisan ka soo qabtay dawladdii hore ee Jamhuuriyaddii Dimoqoraadiga ee Somalia
Taariikh-nololeedkii marxuumka
Wuxuu ku dhashay dhulka howdka looyaqaan agagaarka Galaadi korkeeda sannadkii 1936.
waxaa asaga oo 5 jirah lakeenay magalada Mogadishu halakaas oo dugsi ka bilaabay.
Macallin buu noqday ayada oo dalka Talyaaniga waxabarasho oo u aaday horrantii 1950dii.
wuxuu jaamicadda Rome ka bartay Dhaqtarnimo asaga oo dalka ku soo noqday 1963, noqdayna dhaqtarkii ugu horreyey oo Soomaali ah oo dadka qala (First Somali Surgeon) asaga oo ka shaqeyeynjiray Isbitaal Martini & Digfer
1970 wuxuu noqday wasiirkii caafimaadka
1973 wuxuu noqday wasiirkii Tacliinta sar, waxanu qayb weyn ku lahaa asaasigii kulliyadaha jaamicada, gaar ahanna jaamicaddii daawooyinka iyo dhakhtarnnimada
Aakhirkii 1974 ayaa la xiray oo kacaankii milateriga la isafgarnwaayey sagaal billood ayuna xirna
1975 wuuxuu noqday guddomihii hogaaka idologiyadda ee Xisbigii Hantiwaddaga
1980 wuxuu noqday wasiikii Warfaafinta
http://www.bbc.com/somali/mobile/war/20 ... eikh.shtml
From Aydiid's book about Siad Barre on the night of the coupDr. Mohamed Aden Sheikh
A shepherd, medical doctor, communist, émigré and former Somali minister, Dr Mohamed Aden Sheikh Aw-Mohamud deserves a loving eulogy that touches hearts, but not the one for Tony Judt. Born in Somali territory in Ethiopia, he was one of the leading Somali intellectuals of his peers.
...
Prior to associating himself with Dictator Mohamed Siad Barre, Dr Mohamed Aden was one of the most revered cardiologists in Somalia. As a young graduate who specialised cardiac surgery in Italy, he began his career at Digfer Hospital. Barre found him to be a very intelligent and exploited him in planning a coup against the civilian government.
..
Soon after Barre’s rise to power, Dr Mohamed Aden was not only appointed as Health Secretary, but also the speechwriter and ‘thinker of the regime.’ For many years, he acted as a Gramscian and was the Malcolm X of Siadist dogma and its conjunction with philosophical assumption of Scientific Socialism as an ideology within dynasty (Mohamed Siad was both Elijah Mohammed and great demagogue in this case).
https://www.hiiraan.com/op4/2010/oct/16 ... unist.aspx
"Working with him were Lieutenant Colonel Ali Malan Hasii and two other officers of Siad Barre's own Marehan tribe.
Besides this, he chose three intellectuals of his tribe, who were secretly working for him in evolving the political system and the future policy. They were spreading his ideas. The chief among them was a well-known named Mohammed Aden who had received his education in Italy and obtained a Doctorate of Pediatrics (Medicine)."
http://www.civicwebs.com/cwvlib/africa/ ... ter_13.htm
On his death, the city council of Torino, Italy where he lived commemorated the life of this intellectual giant. His former Italian wife speaks at 7 and then after her the Mayor.