SAN DIEGO — The American Medical Association (AMA) honored William O. Huckabay, Jr., former executive director of the Shreveport Medical Society, with the Medical Executive Lifetime Achievement Award for his nearly 30 years of leadership in medicine. The award honors a medical association executive who has contributed substantially to the goals and ideals of the medical profession.

“During his years of service to the Shreveport Medical Society and the Louisiana State Medical Society, William O. Huckabay, Jr., has been a tenacious advocate for patient safety and physicians’ rights,” said AMA President Patrice A. Harris, M.D., M.A. “Across his career – including 24 years in the U.S. Navy and 29 years at the helm of the Shreveport Medical Society – Mr. Huckabay has been a leader and a tireless advocate. His contributions to the state and medicine – particularly the Shreveport Medical Society Physician Revitalization Program, which is combatting the symptoms of physician burnout – will continue to have a positive impact for years to come.”

The Physician Revitalization Program is a wellness program for physicians to receive confidential counseling, coaching and resilience training to counteract the symptoms of physician burnout. Huckabay was adamant that we must break the culture of silence, and work to restore joy, happiness, and life balance to the profession.

His ability to tackle issues posing barriers to the patient-physician relationship led to key legislation being passed and shifted the policies adopted by various state medical societies. 

Huckabay is the only non-physician to have gained Honorary Membership in the Shreveport Medical Society.  He retired in 2018 from his role as Executive Director after 29 years of service.

The AMA presented the award to Huckabay during the 2019 AMA Interim Meeting.