Today we celebrate what would have been the 134th birthday of Woodruff Health Sciences Center (WHSC) benefactor and visionary philanthropist Robert W. Woodruff, former president and chairman of the Coca-Cola Company. For nearly 50 years, Mr. Woodruff’s commitment to transforming health and healing was evident in his ongoing generosity in support of building a premier education, research, and patient care center here at Emory. Throughout his long life, he gave nearly $350 million to charity, including $230 million to Emory, much of which enabled the establishment and growth of WHSC. His foundations have provided another $3+ billion in current dollars to Emory and the WHSC.
In honor of Mr. Woodruff’s legacy of leadership, service, and lifelong learning, I am proud to introduce the Woodruff Leadership Academy (WLA) 2024 Fellows.
In 2003, WHSC launched WLA in honor of Mr. Woodruff and in recognition of his superb leadership ability. The program develops leadership competencies needed in an academic health center, as well as the interpersonal, communications, and presentation skills necessary to meet the challenges of the rapidly changing landscape in research, education, and health care. The screening process for this prestigious program is extremely selective, and the WLA Fellows are chosen from a large pool of stellar candidates each year. All WLA graduates improve their leadership skills, learn more about the challenges and rewards of leadership, and learn much more about themselves. Many have gone on to serve as university presidents, deans of schools, department chairs, division leaders, and senior administrators.
Mr. Woodruff was fond of saying, “There is no way that any organization or individual, at any stage of its life, can sit back, rest on its laurels, and be content to collect the rewards already won. You grow or you deteriorate.” The WLA 2024 Fellows strongly embody his commitment to personal and professional growth. Although they are already incredibly accomplished, they recognize that there is always more to learn and that we can all become stronger leaders than we are today.
Congratulations and best of luck to our 22nd WLA class as they help the Woodruff Health Sciences Center and Emory University advance Mr. Woodruff’s vision of improving quality of life for all the people we serve, providing value to our patients and the community, increasing Atlanta’s job opportunities and economic growth, and ensuring continued health and prosperity for the city, the region, and beyond.
Ravi
Ravi I. Thadhani, MD, MPH
Executive Vice President for Health Affairs, Emory University
Executive Director, Woodruff Health Sciences Center
Vice Chair, Emory Healthcare Board of Directors
Please direct questions and comments to evphafeedback@emory.edu. | 
