Today we celebrate what would have been the 132nd birthday of Woodruff Health Sciences Center 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.
In 2003, WHSC launched the Woodruff Leadership Academy (WLA) in honor of Mr. Woodruff and in recognition of his superb leadership ability. WLA 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.
The 2022 WLA Fellows, although they are already incredibly accomplished, recognize that there is always more to learn and that we can all become stronger leaders than we are today. The Fellows who have come through this program since its inception prove that principle; they are some of our institution’s most gifted leaders. As we find ourselves at a unique moment in history, rife with challenges but also with great opportunity, we will need such strong, resourceful, determined leaders operating throughout our organization to achieve our tripartite mission.
Congratulations and best of luck to our 20th 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.
Please direct questions and comments to evphafeedback@emory.edu.
Jonathan S. Lewin, MD, FACR
Executive Vice President for Health Affairs, Emory University
Executive Director, Woodruff Health Sciences Center
CEO and Chairman of the Board, Emory Healthcare | 
