The Board of Directors
Our organization was founded by Dr. Stephen DeVore, a doctor and engineer from Iowa wanting to bring medicine to this remote country. It continues today through the work of our volunteers, partners in Mali, and our Board of Directors.
President and Treasurer: Dave Merschman
Dave has been involved with MFM since 2002, serving as treasurer from 2004 to 2008 and president since 2008. Dave achieved a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from Simpson College in 1979 and manages a local business. During his many trips to Mali, his main areas of involvement have been clean water and microfinance.
Vice-President: Jill E. DeVore, MS, MPH
Jill DeVore, MS, MPH has worked with Medicine for Mali (MFM) since 2000 when it was created by her late husband, Dr. Stephen DeVore, after their daughter’s (Elise DeVore Berlan, MD, MPH) trip to Mali, Africa in 2000. Jill worked as a teacher for over 20 years in Reading Recovery and Special Education. She received her Masters degree in Public Health in 2007 from Des Moines University in Iowa. Her work for MFM has centered on children and women. She has headed the Public Health and the Education programs for MFM with over 20 trips to Mali.
Board Secretary: Jay DeVore, MBA, Architect, LEED AP
Jay DeVore is a successful entrepreneur in the fields of real estate development. DeVore drives real estate development projects in Ohio and Iowa.
He has completed 2 trips to Mali and has been involved closely with the organization since 2000 and has been on the Board of Directors since 2016.
Elise DeVore Berlan, MD, MPH
Dr. Berlan was a founding member of Medicine For Mali in 2000. Dr. Berlan is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at The Ohio State University College of Medicine and Attending Physician in the Division of Adolescent Medicine at Nationwide Children's Hospital.
She has completed four trips to Mali and has been on the Board of Directors since 2009. She provides expertise in public health programming and medicine.
Laura Delaney, MPAS, PA-C.
A physician assistant and graduate from Des Moines University in 1999 Delaney received her Masters of Physician Assistant Studies from the University of Nebraska Medical School in 2005. She was a neonatal life flight and NICU nurse for many years. Currently she works at Des Moines University teaching in the physician assistant program, and pediatric clinic. She has been on four Medicine for Mali medical service trips and is one of our medical team coordinators. Laura teaches the students, the Malian nurses and works with the Malian doctors. Besides Mali, she has traveled with medical students to South Africa, Honduras, St. Lucia and the Dominican Republic medical service trips.
Legal Counsel: Mike Cunningham, Attorney
Mike has served on the board since 2009