38th Annual ATHENA International Award Luncheon

Special to 318 Forum

The Greater Shreveport Chamber honored Dr. Wanda Henderson Thomas as the 2024 ATHENA International Leadership Award Recipient at its 34th Annual Leadership Award Luncheon, presented by Ochsner LSU Health in November.

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 as a 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 the 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.

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. By honoring exceptional leaders, the ATHENA Leadership Award Program seeks to inspire others to achieve excellence in their professional and personal lives.