Surpora Sparks-Thomas

Surpora Sparks-Thomas, MBA, BSN, RN, FAAN is Chief Nurse Executive Emeritus of Children’s of Alabama. She is also a certified Christian life coach and a human behavior consultant. She is an evangelist, a published author, inspirational speaker, and teacher of Living Biblical Principles.

Thomas was the first born of eight to Mr. and Mrs. Charles C. Sparks, Sr. in Wylam, Alabama, on July 6, 1940. She attributes her successful leadership style to being the eldest child and growing up in a family of ten. She is a graduate of Westfield High School in Birmingham, Alabama. She received a Diploma in Nursing from Grady Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in Atlanta Ga, her BSN from The University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing, and her MBA from Samford University.

In January 1962, Thomas began her career at Children’s Hospital in Birmingham as a staff nurse. Her career, leadership, and involvement in transitioning Children’s Hospital from a four-story, 100-bed hospital into a state of the art tertiary health system complex were chronicled in the Birmingham News. Thomas’ visionary leadership, strategic planning, and decision-making skills are derived from her faith-based innovative approaches and successful application of biblical principles. Relying on her faith and wealth of experience, in 1985 she developed an acuity-based pricing system for nursing that transitioned the profession from a cost to a revenue center.

A luminary in Alabama, and nationally renowned, Thomas’ name is synonymous with empowerment of communities and improvement in the health of children. She has been blessed with many professional, humanitarian, and civic awards. She is a Legend in White, a Leadership Legend, and a Lifetime Achiever. Thomas has been inducted into the Alabama Health Care Hall of Fame, the Alabama Nursing Hall of Fame, International Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honor Society, and as a Fellow in The American Academy of Nursing. She was the first inductee into the Pediatric Nursing Hall of Fame and the first recipient of The Surpora Thomas Nursing Excellence Award. In November 2001, Children’s Hospital Board of Trustees and Executive Administrative Staff named and dedicated The Surpora Thomas Pediatric Nursing Education and Research Center in her honor. The Surpora Thomas Nursing Excellence Fund to support nursing research was established in December 2009. In 2014, she established Surpora Thomas, LLC (DBA Surpora Thomas Ministries), and her book Equipped to Enjoy Life’s Journey was published.

Thomas retired on January 1, 2010. Receiving a personal letter from President Barack Obama, acknowledging her contributions to healthcare and congratulating her on a job well done, was a treasured recognition. He and first lady Michelle Obama included well wishes for the future.

After 52 years of marriage, Thomas continues to enjoy life with her husband, Jule Thomas III, who is also her best friend and confidante. They live in Birmingham, Alabama, and are blessed with four daughters, two sons-in-law, three granddaughters, two grandsons, one great grandson, and a large network of other family members and friends. Giving glory to God, Thomas’ motto is: “May the life that I live be a living testimony to the God I serve.”