Sonia R. Thomas, DNP, NEA-BC, RNC
Sonia R. Thomas, DNP, NEA-BC, RNC serves as the Chief of Nursing for the Shelby County Government in Memphis, Tennessee, where she leads the Nursing & Allied Health Bureau. In this role, she oversees clinical nursing operations, public health initiatives, and professional development programs for nurses and allied health staff. With her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and advanced board certification in nursing leadership (NEA-BC), Sonia combines clinical expertise with executive leadership to improve population health and patient outcomes across the county.
Sonia’s career is rooted in a deep commitment to patient care and community service. She attributes her success to her love for people, her commitment to excellence, and her innate desire to care for others. She is passionate about ensuring every patient feels heard, supported, and confident in the care they receive, striving to make a meaningful difference in their quality of life. Her areas of specialization include public health nursing leadership, maternal and infant care, immunization and screening programs, emergency preparedness, community outreach, and professional nursing development.
Outside of her professional work, Sonia is a dedicated plant enthusiast with over 100 houseplants and enjoys gardening in her personal time. She is actively involved in advocacy and community service, serving as an ambassador for Girls Inc., which empowers young girls to become strong leaders, and supporting the Moms Who Serve Act, where she successfully helped extend maternity leave for professional women from six weeks to one year. Additionally, she maintains a commitment to ongoing professional growth by reading journals such as the Healthcare Nursing Practice Management Journal and the Healthcare Executive Journal.
• Baptist Health Sciences University - BSN
• Nurse Executive Advanced‑Certified
• Graduated with Honors - BSN 2025
• American College of Healthcare Executives
• Chi Eta Phi Sorority
What do you enjoy most about practicing medicine?
What I enjoy most about practicing medicine is the opportunity to help people and make a meaningful difference in their quality of life. Being able to positively impact patients’ health, support them through challenges, and contribute to their overall well-being is incredibly rewarding. It is this ability to combine expertise with compassion that drives my commitment to providing the highest standard of care.