Stephen Shaya

The life journey of Stephen Shaya, M.D., has been one of service instilled by his Iraqi Christian parents and his grandmother. He graduated from Birmingham Brother Rice High School Summa Cum Laude and was awarded a Merit Scholarship to attend Wayne State University. During his time at WSU, Dr. Shaya won many leadership awards, including the Outstanding Student Leader in 1991, and became a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Research Grant Awardee. He was selected to serve on the Wayne State University Board of Governors from 1991 to 1993 and then attended Wayne State University Medical School, where he graduated in 1996. Shaya subsequently trained in Family Practice at North Oakland Medical Center, followed by a fellowship at Wayne State University for Occupational and Environmental Health.

Since 2004, Shaya has been the Executive Servant Leader at J & B Medical, a global healthcare solutions company. J & B is a privately held global healthcare consortium based in Wixom, Michigan. Shaya worked closely with his father and family to start eighteen different business enterprises, which now have customers all over the globe including 48 states in the U.S. This innovative company has brought many new ideas and solutions forward to the delivery care and continues to strive to improve patient access and quality. Shaya’s role oversees all strategy, innovation, and growth of this family of companies. By leading the planning and development of their new enterprises, many describe him as an “intrapreneur,” someone who behaves as an entrepreneur within a large organization. 

Shaya’s efforts have received many recognitions including the 2015 Global Distinguished Health Care Award from the Center of Economic and Leadership Development, and a United States Congressional Commendation. In addition, Shaya received the Global Medical Innovation and Leadership Award August 19, 2016, presented at the United Nations along with a commendation from the New York State Senate. In 2017, Shaya was named the American Diabetes “Father of the Year.” On April 28, 2018, Shaya spoke at the Vatican on how leveraging technology could help extend care globally. In May 2021, he will be receiving the Vatican Pontifical Hero Award ,which is given to people who show tremendous courage in the face of adversity and inspire others to make positive change. Each hero has battled and overcome their own challenges, providing hope to patients, families, and individuals around the world.

Shaya currently sits on many boards including as the Chairman of the American Diabetes Association in Michigan, Citizens Rx,  Endeavor Detroit, Henry Ford Hospital (West Bloomfield), and Velatura. In addition, Shaya has been active in the family office world and sits on the Kensington SV Global Limited Partner Advisory Committee. He is also an advisor for the Alpha Square Group based out of Toronto, Hong Kong, and New York City. Most recently, his family office Akkad Holdings is providing the catalytic capital to a new initiative advancing global health innovations in collaboration with the Cura Foundation and the Vatican. Shaya is also serving as the Chairperson of the JDRF Roadtrip Event, which is raising money for accelerating research towards a cure of type one diabetes. At every turn, he has tried to demonstrate his grandmother’s favorite phrase which was from Mother Teresa. “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.”