View Event Pictures: https://flickr.com/photos/148343737@N08/albums/72177720321949073
The Greater Shreveport Chamber honors Dr. Wanda Henderson Thomas as the 2024 ATHENA International Leadership Award Recipient at our 34th Annual Leadership Award Luncheon, presented by Ochsner LSU Health held on November 14th, 2024.
“We are so pleased to recognize Dr. Thomas as the 2024 ATHENA recipient,” said Dr. Timothy Magner, President of the Greater Shreveport Chamber. ‘Dr. Thomas exemplifies the best in our community in her many roles as a physician, an administrator, a mentor to many young women and a parent and volunteer.”
Dr. Wanda Henderson Thomas is a full professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Program Director, and Associate Dean for Admissions at LSU Health Shreveport, where she has served for 24 years.
She is an active member of Shreveport Alumnae Chapter Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Red River Chapter Jack and Jill of America, Inc, and Shreveport Chapter of Links, Inc. as well board member and treasurer for the Community Foundation of North Louisiana, all of which afford her opportunities to influence positively, women, children, and members of our greater community. When she’s not working, Dr. Thomas enjoys spending time with her husband, Dr. Eric Thomas, children, Kennedy, Brady, Gabrielle, and sweet dog, Demi. She attends Zion Missionary Baptist Church.
“I am so proud of the accomplishment of these women and to have given leadership to this year’s event,” said Verni Howard, BDC ATHENA Chair.
For more than 30 years, the Greater Shreveport Chamber has awarded the ATHENA International Leadership Award to an individual to honor their attainment of the highest level of professional excellence by showing creativity and initiative in their business or profession; to showcase their devotion, time and energy to improve the quality of life for others in the community in a meaningful way; and to demonstrate how they have opened doors for other women to achieve their full potential. In total, over 450 people from Shreveport-Bossier have been ATHENA honorees.
Since the program’s inception in 1982, more than 8,000 exemplary leaders in over 500 communities have received the prestigious ATHENA Leadership Award in the United States, Bermuda, Canada, China, Greece, India, Russia, United Arab Emirates and United Kingdom. By honoring exceptional leaders, the ATHENA Leadership Award Program seeks to inspire others to achieve excellence in their professional and personal lives.