OU to Recognize Honorary Degree Recipients at Fall Commencement

For outstanding achievements in their respective fields, Ewa Matuszewski and Jayprakash (Jay) Shah have been selected to receive honorary degrees from Oakland University. They will be recognized at Oakland’s fall 2022 commencement ceremonies.

Ewa Matuszewski was selected to receive a Doctor of Humanities, honoris causa. Matuszewski is the CEO and co-founder of Rochester, Michigan-based MedNetOne Health Solutions (MedNetOne), a healthcare management/physicians organization offering infrastructure, clinical, and technology services to nearly 1,000 private practice physicians and other independent care providers. Under her direction, MedNetOne has become a trusted leader in advancing the development and implementation of the Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) and other advanced primary care initiatives involving physicians, their practice teams and myriad community groups and nonprofits.

Throughout her many experiences in leading change, Matuszewski has promoted a vision of patient-centered healthcare and a culture of organizational excellence, collaboration and transformation. Earlier this year, MedNetOne was the first Michigan physician organization to enter into a joint venture with Nashville-based Honest Medical Group, a physician enablement company aimed at improving the health care experience and reducing costs for members with Medicare Advantage. Under Matuszewski’s direction, MedNetOne recently launched a mobile clinic for community-based care, especially in underserved communities, to offer essential primary care services including chronic illness care, physicals, blood pressure checks and vaccinations.

During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Matuszewski worked with her physician members, tracking and distributing PPE packages, and creating a back-to-work playbook and best practices training video that provided steps to safely re-open physician practices. Throughout the pandemic, she has partnered with her organization’s physician members, along with the Detroit Equity Coalition on COVID-19, to vaccinate thousands of individuals, notably those from underserved communities and in Michigan’s many diverse ethnic communities.
Matuszewski is a popular writer and nationally sought-after speaker on multi-disciplinary team-based care, care management strategies, population health, physician recruitment and other topics. With a keen interest in hands-on learning and teaching, Matuszewski is also the founding Principal of the Michigan-based, IACET-accredited Practice Transformation Institute (PTI), which designs, develops and delivers educational programs centered on the 21st century model of medicine to the health care community and medical practice teams.

Matuszewski is active in civic and professional groups, including the Primary Care Collaborative (PCC) the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) Stewardship Council, the BCBSM Organized Systems of Care Workgroup, the Polish American Congress and The Salvation Army Metro Detroit Advisory Board. Locally, Matuszewski served on the undergraduate population health curriculum development committee at Madonna University and currently serves on the Oakland University School of Health Sciences Board of Advocacy and Resource Development.

Lauded for her leadership skills and bold decision-making, Matuszewski has been named a Crain’s Detroit Business Healthcare Hero and a Notable Woman in Healthcare, also by Crain’s. She was also named a Champion of the New Economy by DBusiness Magazine.

Jayprakash (Jay) Shah was selected to receive a Doctor of Science, honoris causa. As a licensed professional engineer, Shah spent most of his career in civil engineering, eventually becoming Chairman and President of Spalding DeDecker Associates of Rochester Hills, where he helped the firm grow five-fold in stock value and established multiple regional offices.

He was Vice President of Somat Engineering of Detroit, where he successfully diversified its practice and helped it grow regionally and globally. For his work in the field of engineering, he has been recognized with several awards. Recently Shah was presented the American Council of Engineering Companies/Michigan Leadership Award for a lifetime of outstanding service and significant contribution to the engineering profession.

Shah graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering with Distinction from Walchand College of Engineering in India. He received a Master of Science in Engineering from Wayne State University, and a Master of Business Administration from University of Detroit. He is the recipient of the Wayne State University Distinguished Engineering Alumni Achievement Award and is an inductee into the Wayne State University College of Engineering Hall of Fame. He is a Fellow in both the American Council of Engineering Companies and the American Society of Civil Engineers.

Shah is President of Jay Shah Associates, a management consulting firm he founded to provide succession planning, strategic direction and merger and acquisition consulting to Architectural and Engineering companies. He has peer reviewed over 16 American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) member firms nationwide, providing them the tools to succeed.

In addition, Shah founded Leelayan, Inc., a medical device start-up with a mission to provide technology for healthy living. Its first product is a shoe that can be worn hands free and without having to bend, making it easier for people with physical challenges.

In 2010, Shah was appointed to the Oakland University Board of Trustees by Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm. He served as the Chairman of Facilities Committee and assisted in $250 Million building projects including the Engineering Center. The Board recognized his services and honored him by designating him as a Trustee Emeritus.

Shah has actively served the community throughout his career that includes numerous charities locally and globally. He is the recipient of national Community Service award from American Council of Engineering Companies and Leadership Award from National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

He has mentored students at University of Michigan Ross School of Business, as well as at Oakland University’s engineering and business schools. Shah continues to encourage his mentees and young people to take leadership roles in the public and private enterprise and in serving their communities.

Honorary degrees are awarded by OU’s Board of Trustees in recognition of distinguished accomplishment and service within the scope of the arts and letters, sciences, professions and public service as recognized and supported by the University. The awarding of honorary degrees reaffirms Oakland University’s scholarly, creative and humanitarian values, and ties the university to the community at large.