The BRF Board of Directors honored former board member Dr. W. Juan Watkins after its meeting on July 17, 2019. A founding member of the board of the Biomedical Research Foundation of Northwest Louisiana, now BRF, and a Shreveport otolaryngologist, Dr. Watkins served a total of 25 years on the board since BRF was founded in 1986.

During Dr. Watkins’ tenure, he contributed to board decisions that led to BRF leveraging Caddo Parish tax millage dollars with over $3 billion in state and federal grants and revenue from BRF business units for a return on investment of over 59:1; taking ownership of University Health Hospitals, which saved over 3,200 jobs; and significantly expanding its economic development initiatives by creating six business units: InterTech Science Park, the Center for Molecular Imaging and Therapy, the Entrepreneurial Accelerator Program, Envision Research, the Digital Media Institute at InterTech, and EdVentures STEM education programs.

“It has been a pleasure to serve on this board. We have done many good things together for Shreveport and Northwest Louisiana,” said Dr. Watkins. “The BRF is something that we need to continue to support because it means so much to our community.”

At a reception held in his honor, and surrounded by his family, Dr. Watkins was presented a resolution passed by the BRF Board of Directors thanking him for his service. BRF is grateful to Dr. Watkins and all its volunteer board members who are working hard to build our region’s future.