Heath Ponder named as member of the National Philanthropy Committee

Heath Ponder named as a member of the National Philanthropy Committee 

for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

(Atlanta, GA, July 2023) – The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) Georgia - South Carolina Region is pleased to announce the appointment of Heath Ponder, Director- Strategic Communications Plastic and Regenerative Medicine for Allergan Aesthetics at Abbvie to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s National Philanthropy Committee. The National Philanthropy Committee is a group of influential leaders comprised of individuals from across the country and representing an array of different industries. Individuals that are selected to serve as members on the LLS National Philanthropy Committee work to help drive philanthropic success across the organization through offering support in building connections to philanthropists through leveraging their personal network. Additionally, these committee members provide strategic thought leadership to the organization as well as help to impact the organization's lifesaving mission through their personal philanthropic efforts.

LLS and its mission are not new to Ponder, he has been involved as a volunteer since 2002 in honor of his father, a Hodgkin’s Lymphoma survivor.  Heath served as a volunteer, team captain and Executive Committee member for the Light The Night campaign for seven years before being nominated to run as the first Atlanta Man of the Year candidate in 2009, raising over $25,000 for blood cancer research. In 2014 he went on to become Chairman of the Atlanta event which raised a record-breaking $1 million. And if that were not enough, in 2018 he was nominated, yet again, as a National All-Star candidate and raised $120,000 in just ten weeks. Ponder currently sits on the Georgia-South Carolina Region Board of Trustees and to this day continues to garner resources for the organization as well as provide leadership on important issues such as access to affordable care and clinical trials for blood cancer patients, helping to move forward new therapies and research, provide education and improve the quality of life for those currently fighting a blood cancer diagnosis.  

Originally from Guntersville, Alabama Ponder has been with Allergan for 14 years and currently serves as Director of Strategic Communications for the US Plastic & Regenerative Medicine Business. In this position, Ponder is responsible for Key Opinion Leader consulting engagement, advisory boards, national society sponsorship and relationship management, and the NextGen Resident/Fellow/New Specialist Program. Heath is also proud to lead EED&I customer engagement and serve on the EED&I Council for Allergan Aesthetics.

Heath Ponder has an extensive background with Allergan Medical Aesthetics having led the LapBand Practice Advisor and Reimbursement Business Manager Teams, as well as serving as the Reimbursement Director for Plastic Surgery.

Ponder noted “I am honored by the nomination and acceptance to the National Philanthropy Committee for LLS. I feel my volunteer work over the years for LLS in the Georgia and South Carolina region has positioned me well for this wonderful opportunity. What started back in 2002 in honor of my father and his Hodgkin’s lymphoma journey has turned a devastating occurrence into a lifelong passion to help others facing the battle of their lifetime. I have been blessed to see many new treatments that have been developed for blood cancer patients due to the work of LLS and I feel confident in the organization’s future vision to bring on more cures.”

Prior to joining Allergan Ponder had different roles in the health industry and marketing field.  Ponder is an avid War Eagle, and lives with his husband, Jim and dogs, Penelope, and Huckleberry in Atlanta.

About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society® (LLS) is the world’s largest voluntary health agency dedicated to fighting blood cancer. The LLS mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease, and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world, provides free information and support services, and is the voice for all blood cancer patients seeking access to quality, affordable, coordinated care.

The Georgia - South Carolina Region serves patients with a variety of programs including education and support, the Patti Robinson Kaufmann First Connection Program, the Southeast Blood Cancer Conference, the LLS Co-Pay Assistance Program, and other Financial Assistance programs.

Please visit www.lls.org for more information.

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