Manager of Social Services • Woman’s Hospital
Whitney Craig has built a career around what happens beyond a diagnosis: the fear, grief and uncertainty that families carry into healthcare.
At Woman’s Hospital, the manager of social services helped establish Louisiana’s first Perinatal Mental Health Unit, expanding access to specialized care for mothers. That milestone grew from a career spent connecting clinical care with emotional support.
Work included creating camps and support programs for children and families affected by cancer and grief, making room for connection and joy during difficult chapters. A licensed clinical social worker and supervisor, Craig has carried those lessons into leadership, program development and professional education.
Her influence now reaches statewide maternal health discussions through commissions and advisory groups. At Woman’s, she co-chairs the Palliative Care Committee, helping keep patients’ and families’ experiences central to care.
A leadership lesson I learned the hard way: “I learned not to take things personally. Leadership requires making difficult decisions, receiving criticism and navigating differing perspectives. The moment I stopped equating disagreement with failure, I became a better leader.”
A quirky talent: “I’m quick-witted. It’s probably equal parts talent and coping mechanism. I can usually find a pun, a joke or an unexpected connection in almost any conversation. It’s a small thing, but I’ve learned that laughter is often one of the best ways to bring people together.”
