Shreveport, LA – The Greater Shreveport Chamber has announced Dr. Wanda Henderson Thomas as the 2024 recipient of the ATHENA International Leadership Award. The prestigious honor was presented at the 34th Annual Leadership Award Luncheon, sponsored by Ochsner LSU Health, on November 14, 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, administrator, mentor, and volunteer.”
Dr. Thomas is a full professor in the Department of Pediatrics at LSU Health Shreveport, where she also serves as Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Program Director and Associate Dean for Admissions. Over her 24-year career, she has been instrumental in shaping the future of healthcare in the region, mentoring countless young women and contributing to the professional development of students and colleagues.
In addition to her professional achievements, Dr. Thomas is deeply engaged in the community. She is an active member of organizations such as the Shreveport Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Red River Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc., and Shreveport Chapter of Links, Inc. She also serves as a board member and treasurer for the Community Foundation of North Louisiana.
“I am so proud of the accomplishments of these women and to have given leadership to this year’s event,” said Verni Howard, BDC ATHENA Chair.
The ATHENA International Leadership Award celebrates individuals who have attained the highest level of professional excellence, demonstrated a strong commitment to improving the quality of life in their community, and actively opened doors for other women to achieve their potential.
Since the program’s inception in 1982, more than 8,000 leaders in over 500 communities worldwide have received the ATHENA Leadership Award, including honorees from the United States, Bermuda, Canada, China, Greece, India, Russia, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom. Locally, the Greater Shreveport Chamber has recognized over 450 leaders who embody these values.
Dr. Thomas joins a distinguished group of individuals whose leadership and contributions continue to inspire and elevate the Shreveport-Bossier community.
For more information about the ATHENA Leadership Award and the Greater Shreveport Chamber, visit GreaterShreveportChamber.org.