Highlighting Dr. Elizabeth Studley (Cohort 2017) and Dr. Naomi DeShore (Cohort 2024)

Central Michigan University (CMU) Doctor of Health Administration (DHA) alumni demonstrated how healthcare leadership, professional expertise, and a commitment to service extended beyond geographical boundaries to make a meaningful difference in underserved communities.

Dr. Elizabeth Studley and Dr. Naomi DeShore supported Kenya Relief, a nonprofit humanitarian organization dedicated to improving access to healthcare, education, and essential services in Migori County, Kenya.

Through Kenya Relief's Brase Clinic and Vision Center, volunteer surgical teams provided specialized medical and surgical services to underserved populations. These teams brought together healthcare professionals who contributed their clinical expertise, time, and resources to help address significant gaps in access to surgical care.

Dr. Studley and Dr. DeShore exemplified the CMU DHA program's emphasis on healthcare leadership, collaboration, and service. Their involvement with Kenya Relief's surgical teams reflected a shared commitment to improving healthcare delivery, supporting local healthcare professionals, and expanding access to essential surgical services.

Dr. Studley has served as a Kenya Relief team leader since 2009, leading 33 mission trips, and serves on its Board of Directors; this experience further reflects a longstanding commitment to global health, humanitarian service, and sustainable healthcare partnerships.

Connecting Healthcare Leadership With Global Service

Their contributions demonstrated that effective healthcare leadership extended beyond traditional administrative and clinical settings. Supporting international surgical teams required interdisciplinary collaboration, resource coordination, operational planning, cultural awareness, and a commitment to working alongside local healthcare professionals.

Their involvement also highlighted the importance of connecting academic knowledge and leadership experience with meaningful humanitarian service and global health initiatives.

Leadership Through Service

Dr. Studley's and Dr. DeShore's efforts reflected the values of the CMU DHA alumni community and demonstrated how graduates applied their education, expertise, and leadership skills to address healthcare challenges beyond the United States.

Through their contributions, these CMU DHA alumni show the lasting impact healthcare leaders can have when they extend their knowledge and skills beyond the classroom and into communities where access to specialized healthcare services remains limited.

Learn more about Kenya Relief: https://kenyarelief.org