Stephen Shaya, M.D. '96, received the 2015 Global Distinguished Health Care Leadership Award from the Center for Economic and Leadership Development, and a United States Congressional Commendation from the National Organization for Black Elected Legislative Women.

Dr. Shaya, the chief medical officer for Health Net Connect, received the accolades Dec. 12 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, during the CELD's South America-Africa-Middle East -Asia Women Summit 2015. At the summit, he provided the keynote address: "Exploring a New Health Care Paradigm for Women in Developing Nations."

"It is truly humbling to be recognized, but the real credit goes to each and every person at J&B (Medical Supply, the parent company of Health Net Connect)," Dr. Shaya said. "We are a mission-driven company trying every day to make the world a better place. By using technology and innovation, we truly believe that we can exponentially enhance humanitarian efforts globally."

The Center for Economic and Leadership Development is a human capacity, gender empowerment and development-based organization that sees itself as a catalyst and thought leader in developing the theory and practice of leadership, social, educational and economic empowerment in Africa and the developing countries of the Middle East and Asia.

Health Net Connect is a member of the J&B Medical Supply family of companies. Health Net Connect is a telehealth product and solution provider based in Wixom, Mich. Its mission is to overcome traditional healthcare delivery challenges through a virtual clinic approach by providing clients with a clinical grade all-in-one, user-friendly telemedicine and telehealth platform. The technology, Dr. Shaya said, can be used in the most remote and rural areas around the world to provide access to care.

The company has ongoing humanitarian projects in Iraq, India, Pakistan and Ghana