Spirit of Charity Award
2026 Spirit of Charity Award Recipient
Dr. Elma Ireland LeDoux
The Foundation at University Medical Center New Orleans annually pays tribute to exceptional physicians and healthcare leaders who have truly changed lives through their invaluable contributions to medicine and the healing power of compassion cultivated during their career at our community's renowned Charity Hospital New Orleans.
The Spirit Of Charity Foundation, with a 30-year record of assistance to underserved patients, families and employees at New Orleans' public hospital(s) is pleased to announce that Dr. Elma Ireland LeDoux has been selected as the 2026 winner of its annual "Spirit Of Charity" Award. The award is presented every year to exceptional physicians who have changed lives through their invaluable contributions to medicine and the healing power of compassion cultivated during their career at the beloved Charity Hospital, New Orleans and its successor institutions following Hurricane Katrina.
Dr. LeDoux currently serves as the Associate Dean, Admissions and Student Affairs at the Tulane University School of Medicine. She remains on the faculty for its Program in Medical Ethics and Human Values. Although her duties prevent her from further clinical hospital roles, she still volunteers every weekend as the Attending Physician at New Orleans' Ozanam Inn, where she supervises medical students and interns also serving the homeless clients there. It's one more reason why Medical School Dean L. Lee Hamm applauds her selection:
"Dr. LeDoux is an excellent choice for the Spirit of Charity Award. She exemplifies the dedication to patients that is the "spirit", and does an amazing job in inspiring and guiding students to do the same."
Dr. LeDoux will be presented with the 2026 "Spirit Of Charity" award at the Foundation's annual Gala being held on Friday evening, October 9, 2026. Location and other details will be announced later.
Thanks to our 2025 Gala Sponsors!
For more information, contact Marcel McGee at marcel.mcgee@lcmchealth.org.
Past recipients
2015: Joseph J Biundo, Jr., MD, LSU, Rheumatology and PM&R
2014: Karen DeSalvo, MD, Tulane, Internal Medicine
2013: Jack Andonie, MD, LSU, Obstetrics and Gynecology
2012: William Gill, MD, Tulane, Pediatric Neonatologist
2011: Charles "Bo" Sanders, MD, LSU, Internal Medicine
2010: Newton E. Hyslop, Jr., MD, Tulane, Infectious Disease
2009: David "Luke" Glancy, MD, LSU, Cardiology
2008: Norman E. McSwain, Jr., MD, Tulane, Trauma Surgery
2005: Frank Incaprera, MD, LSU, Internal Medicine
2004: Hyman Cyril Tolmas, MD, Tulane, Pediatrics
2003: Isidore Cohn, Jr., MD, LSU, Surgery
2002: Albert L. Hyman, MD, Tulane, Cardiology
2001: Jack Perry Strong, MD, LSU, Pathology
2000: Abe Mickal, MD, LSU, Obstetrics and Gynecology
1999: Gerald Berenson, MD, Tulane, Cardiology
1998: Michael DeBakey, MD, Tulane, Cardiothoracic Surgery