Shepherd Center

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Shepherd Center is a private, not-for-profit hospital in Atlanta, Georgia that specializes in medical treatment, research, and rehabilitation for people with complex conditions. These include spinal cord injury, acquired brain injury, multi-trauma, traumatic amputations, stroke, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, and other neuromuscular disorders.

Location and size
- Address: 2020 Peachtree Road, Atlanta, GA
- It operates a 152-bed rehabilitation facility and a 10-bed intensive care unit

History and leadership
- Founded in 1975 by Harold and Alana Shepherd after their son James became paralyzed in a body surfing accident in Rio de Janeiro. They built support from the community and donors to create the center.
- James served as chairman of the board before his death in December 2019. Alana Shepherd serves as the Chairperson of the Board of Directors.

Programs and services
- Shepherd Center offers specialized programs for adolescents (ages 12–17), adults, seniors (50+), dual-diagnosis patients, ICU patients, and people with neuromuscular disorders.
- It provides rehabilitation for brain injuries and for people who have had complications from stroke or tumors.
- The center includes the Multiple Sclerosis Institute, which focuses on MS treatment and rehabilitation.

research institutes and focus
- The Virginia C. Crawford Research Institute conducts neurological and neuromuscular research.
- Research at Shepherd Center focuses on spinal cord injury, brain injury, multiple sclerosis, and neuromuscular disorders.

recognitions and accreditation
- Since 1982, Shepherd Center has been designated a Model System of Care for spinal cord injury by the U.S. Department of Education’s National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR).
- In 2022, the Administration for Community Living’s NIDILRR awarded a five-year grant recognizing the center as a Traumatic Brain Injury Model System, to be known as Georgia Model Brain Injury System at Shepherd Center.
- The center is accredited by The Joint Commission and CARF.