Donna Fry, PhD, is the 2026 recipient of the Clement A. Alfred Humanitarian Award. She is a Professor of Physical Therapy at the University of Michigan-Flint, where she has served as faculty and administrator since 1987.
"I am incredibly humbled to receive the Dr. Clement A. Alfred Humanitarian Award," Dr. Fry shared. "God has blessed me with invitations over the years to serve with organizations committed to improving the Flint community."
As dean at UM-Flint, Dr. Fry added health care programs to expand Genesee County's healthcare workforce and created student opportunities in a variety of health professions.
A defining feature of her career is dedication to health equity. She contributed to the creation and operation of UM-Flint's former Urban Health and Wellness Center, focused on accessible health care, health promotion, and teaching. She also provided administrative support for the creation of HEART (Health Equity, Action, Research and Teaching), a student- and faculty-run pro-bono clinic in the College of Health Sciences.
Her generosity extends to board service with the Greater Flint Health Coalition, Genesee Health Plan, Ascension Genesys Health Foundation, and McFarlan Charitable Corporation.
"My commitment to service has always been to work with organizations that help people to achieve and live their best lives with dignity, whether it is through gaining more education, receiving much needed health care, or finding quality affordable housing," Dr. Fry said.
About the Award
Clement A. Alfred, DDS, began his dental practice on Corunna Road in Flint in 1936, and for the next 60 years was an advocate for professional excellence and community involvement. Throughout his career, Dr. Alfred held leadership positions within many professional and civic organizations. His legacy of caring continued until his passing in 2001.
The Dr. Clement A. Alfred Humanitarian Award was established by Dr. Alfred’s family on his 80th birthday on April 29, 1991. The award is presented each year to a Flint area health professional who demonstrates a commitment to professionalism, integrity, and humanitarian goals.
