Jim Thompson Named Board of Directors Chairman
Longtime Shepherd supporter to bring legal, business knowledge to chairman role
On Aug. 18, Alana Shepherd, co-founder of Shepherd Center, announced the end of her tenure as Chairman of the Board of Directors. The board voted to install James “Jim” D. Thompson, former chair-elect and longtime supporter of Shepherd Center, as the new board chairman.
Alana Shepherd served as board chairman for five years, taking over the position after her son and hospital cofounder James Shepherd passed away in 2019. James led the board as chairman for nearly 45 years.
Alana Shepherd’s tenure as chairman marked an eventful period for Shepherd Center. She led the board as the hospital navigated the COVID-19 pandemic, launched its largest-ever capital campaign, Pursuing Possible: The Campaign for Shepherd Center, constructed two new buildings, and celebrated its 50th anniversary.
Thompson takes over the chairman position as Shepherd Center closes out its Pursuing Possible campaign and undergoes renovations to the main campus. He brings extensive business and legal knowledge to the chairman position — he started his career as a captain in the United States Air Force Judge Advocate General's Corps (JAG Corps) and went on to work as a trial attorney before serving as CEO of several finance and insurance subsidiaries.
His executive experience includes seven years of various national and international leadership roles at International Netherland Group (ING) one of the world’s largest integrated financial services organizations, as well as a 20-year career at International Telephone and Telegraph (ITT) one of the world’s largest telecom, manufacturing, financial and multiple service entities.
Also active in community and industry affairs, Thompson has served on the Board of the United Way of Greater St. Louis, Advisory Board of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and the Board of the Life Insurers Council, a leading industry trade association. He has served on Shepherd’s Board of Directors for 25 years.
Thompson is a native of Gulfport, Mississippi. He and his wife, Carol, have three children and nine grandchildren. They reside in Atlanta, Georgia.
With five decades of experience, Shepherd Center provides world-class clinical care, research, and family support for people experiencing the most complex conditions, including spinal cord and brain injuries, multi-trauma, traumatic amputations, stroke, multiple sclerosis, and pain. An elite center ranked by U.S. News as one of the nation’s top hospitals for rehabilitation, Shepherd Center is also recognized as both Spinal Cord Injury and Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems. Shepherd Center treats thousands of patients annually with unmatched expertise and unwavering compassion to help them begin again.