History

Since 1924, Willis-Knighton has served the needs of this community with an eye toward the future. The hospital was founded as Tri-State Sanitarium by Dr. T.E. Williams and Dr. L.H. Pirkle to address needs in the fast-growing neighborhoods of west Shreveport. It was sold four years later to Dr. James C. Willis and Dr. Joseph E. Knighton. In 1950, a year after it transitioned to a not-for-profit healthcare organization, it was named in honor of Doctors Willis and Knighton. The vision of early founders grew as Shreveport grew, helping to establish Willis-Knighton as a leader in the field of healthcare locally, regionally and nationally.

The years have brought changes in technology and treatment along with tremendous growth. From one small hospital, Willis-Knighton has grown to encompass multiple facilities, spanning the entire continuum of care for residents in northwest Louisiana and the Ark-La-Tex. Today the health system includes four hospitals as well as a retirement community and a full range of support services.

Willis-Knighton has offered many firsts in our community, including:

• Satellite hospital
• Center for women’s health
• Eye institute
• Heart and vascular institute
• Collaboration as a private hospital with a public, academic medical center, Louisiana Health Shreveport.
• Innovation center with virtual hospital
• Talbot Medical Museum
• Senior residential options at The Oaks of Louisiana to enhance continuum of care
• Freestanding hospital for physical and behavioral rehabilitation
• Numerous “firsts” in technology and procedures, including proton therapy and TomoTherapy at the Willis-Knighton Cancer Center, state-of-the art imaging and diagnostic services, innovative cardiovascular technology and eye surgery technology.

The remarkable advances of Willis-Knighton from a small neighborhood hospital to a regional health system have been due, in large measure, to the vision and leadership of James K. Elrod who was President & CEO of the health system for 56 years. Upon announcing his retirement, he was named President Emeritus of the health system. 

Learn More About James K. Elrod

Willis-Knighton’s past is closely tied to those of its friends and neighbors and so is the health system’s future.

Willis-Knighton is a not-for-profit, locally-operated healthcare organization dedicated to caring for the people in our community and investing in their health and wellness. The health system’s growth is a result of consistently responding to community needs, a mission it will continue well into the future.