About Huma I. Shah, DrPH

Dr. Huma Shah has over 25 years of experience in healthcare administration spanning strategy, leadership development, health policy, public health, marketing, and community and business development. She has worked in healthcare and higher education settings both in the United States and abroad. Dr. Shah is passionate about leadership and innovation in healthcare delivery, emphasizing strategic thinking and values-based leadership principles.

In 2019, Dr. Shah served as the Strategy Advisor to the CEO of a for-profit hospital in Abu Dhabi, where she successfully led an ambitious three-year strategic plan focused on growth and innovation. To remain at the forefront of the field, she continues to engage in professional service as a technical consultant for HC2 Strategies, facilitating CalAIM Indian Health Roundtables and PATH CITED Collaboratives, advancing equity-driven system transformation across California.

Dr. Shah has been a faculty member at the Loma Linda University School of Public Health since 2012 and previously held administrative positions at Loma Linda University Health’s Marketing Department and the Loma Linda University Behavioral Medicine Center (LLUBMC), where she last served as Director of Research. During her tenure at LLUBMC, she worked to reduce the stigma of mental illness and addiction through research, marketing, and community-based initiatives and contributed to strategic hospital and university-wide initiatives.

Since 2018, Dr. Shah has served as Program Director for the Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) program and is a member of the Center for Strategy and Innovation, where she continues to champion the School’s organizational strategy. She is also a Faculty Scholar at the Institute for Health Policy and Leadership, where in 2024–2025 she authored policy blogs and presented on transportation barriers in rural communities and the role of Enhanced Care Management in continuity of care.

Her academic leadership includes advancing the program to achieve CAHME Candidacy and leading faculty efforts toward full accreditation scheduled for February 2026. As Co-Chair of the Assessment Committee for the Center for Interprofessional Education, she supports assessment and learning initiatives and recently conducted key informant interviews for the 2025 Community Health Needs Assessment for Loma Linda University Health.

Dr. Shah’s professional service extends nationally and regionally through the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE). She has served as President-Elect and President (2024–2025) of the ACHE Southern California Chapter, the fourth-largest in the nation. In these roles, she led strategic initiatives aligned with ACHE national benchmarks, coordinated a 2½-day annual conference, and instructed the Board of Governors Exam Review Course. She was also appointed to the ACHE National Career Development Committee (2025–2027) and received the Senior Healthcare Executive Regents Award in 2022 for her outstanding contributions to healthcare management excellence.

Beyond ACHE, Dr. Shah serves on the Board for  Partners for Better Health Board, supporting workforce development and mentorship initiatives that strengthen the pipeline of future health policy and management leaders. In 2025, she was on the adivory council of the 1st Randall Lewis Policy Challenge adressing the LA fires.

Dr. Shah teaches courses in Organizational Behavior, Human Resources Management, Healthcare Delivery, Strategic Planning, Health Policy Communications, and Marketing. A former recipient of the Dysinger Excellence in Teaching Award, she values the art of teaching and mentoring students to help them discover and fulfill their purpose. Her research interests include organizational strategy and culture, health policy, leadership, clinical outcomes, and community health. She also serves as a faculty advisor for healthcare business case competitions and previously coached the team that won first place in the 2021 Health Care Executives Western Region College Bowl.

Dr. Shah earned her Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) and Master of Public Health (MPH) degrees and achieved the Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE) credential in 2021, signifying her ongoing commitment to professional excellence, leadership, and lifelong learning.