Cedarville Trains Students To Recognize and Respond to Human Trafficking
On Tuesday, Oct. 28, at 10 a.m., Mandy Reed, founder of Dear Dinah — a nonprofit that provides refuge and community for victims of human trafficking in Dayton, Ohio — will lead a two-hour training session for Cedarville University students in the Health Sciences Center.
In a survey of 173 U.S. human trafficking survivors, 68% had seen a healthcare provider while being trafficked. Yet too often, human trafficking is treated as a distant issue. The reality is that this crisis affects not only the nation but also local communities.
On Tuesday, Oct. 28, at 10 a.m., Mandy Reed, founder of — a nonprofit that provides refuge and community for victims of human trafficking in Dayton, Ohio — will lead a two-hour training session for students in the DeVries Theatre, located in the Stevens Student Center.
By partnering with pharmacy, physician assistant, athletic training, allied health, pre-med, social work, nursing and psychology programs, Reed aims to equip future healthcare providers with the skills needed to care for human trafficking survivors.
Reed will be joined by Dr. Rachel Massey, a 2025 PharmD alumna and pharmacy resident at Kettering Health in Kettering, Ohio, and Katie Sheppard, a human trafficking survivor and Dear Dinah board member.
“The healthcare setting is one of the few places where professionals can be up close with a potential trafficking victim,” said Reed. “Because they can look, touch and ask questions unique to their role, healthcare workers have an incredible opportunity to intervene. Recognizing the signs of human trafficking in these moments can save lives.”
The organization’s name, Dear Dinah, comes from Genesis 34, which tells the story of Dinah, Jacob’s only daughter, who was sexually assaulted by the son of a Hivite prince. Moved by her story, Reed founded the nonprofit to advocate for modern-day Dinahs and to offer a safe place where survivors can heal and rediscover their voices.
For more than five years, Dear Dinah has supported human trafficking survivors. For the past three years, it has empowered Cedarville students through specialized training.
“Reed continually reminds our healthcare students that they have a unique opportunity to encounter individuals who may be trafficked and to show them genuine care and compassion,” said Angela Wilson, director of community engagement at Cedarville University’s School of Pharmacy.
During the session, speakers will explain how human trafficking may present in a healthcare setting, what questions providers should ask, ways to offer immediate support and connect victims with long-term resources. Above all, students will learn how to serve with compassion, reflecting Christ’s example in caring for those affected.
“My prayer is that every student leaves this training empowered to see that the Lord is positioning them to save lives,” said Reed. “I hope our organization’s mission gives future healthcare professionals the confidence and courage to stand up for the oppressed and fight for those others may overlook.”
As human trafficking continues to grow as a national crisis, Cedarville University’s healthcare programs are committed to preparing professionals who not only recognize the signs but also provide critical support for victims.
Cedarville University, an evangelical Christian institution in southwest Ohio, offers undergraduate and graduate residential and online programs across arts, sciences and professional fields. With 7,265 students, it ranks among Ohio's largest private universities and is recognized by The Wall Street Journal as being among the nation’s top three evangelical universities. Cedarville is also known for its vibrant Christian community, challenging academics and high graduation and retention rates. Learn more at cedarville.edu.