Shepherd Center

02/04/2026

We welcome Priyanca Shah, D.O., MBA, to the Rehabilitation Medicine Clinic team. Dr. Shah has particular clinical interests in brain injury and neurorehabilitation and works primarily with patients who have sustained brain injuries.

Before joining Shepherd Center, Dr. Shah was an inpatient physician at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston. She studied biology at the University of Delaware, earned her medical degree from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, and completed residency and fellowship training in brain injury and rehabilitation.

Michael Yochelson, M.D., MBA, chief medical officer at Shepherd Center, stated, "We are delighted to welcome Dr. Shah as the newest member of our medical staff. Her expertise and commitment to caring for patients with brain injuries make her an excellent addition to our team."

Dr. Shah stated, "I chose to join Shepherd Center because of its commitment to restoring function and quality of life for individuals with neurologic injury. The organization's culture of teamwork, innovation, and compassion aligns closely with my values and my dedication to providing comprehensive, individualized care."

02/03/2026

Private First Class Jennifer Boston knew who she was before her injury. Outgoing. Bubbly. Miss Get Things Done.

She designed clothing and shoe lines. She traveled extensively, especially as a civilian employee after her separation from the Army, to Japan, South Korea, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Cuba.

And she wrote children’s books, including one about relocating her family from Atlanta to Tokyo, written from the perspective of her then 5-year-old daughter, Juju.

Jennifer did not recognize who she was after she sustained a traumatic brain injury while working in her civilian role in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. She seemingly lost her confidence. Her motor skills became more reserved, and she experienced paranoia from time to time.

Thankfully, a referral led her to Shepherd Center’s SHARE Military Initiative. Being around her fellow veterans, Jennifer felt at ease.

“Next thing I know, I started opening up. We’re all connected through our service, our injuries. Once I started participating, everyone was so supportive,” Jennifer says.

Furthermore, Jennifer questioned the activities available within SHARE. “I mean, it was awesome. But tai chi in the pool? Music classes? Yoga? Horticulture? What is this place? How is all this helping my condition?”

She soon realized that with her new treatment plan and therapy sessions, those same activities that she questioned for helping her heal showed her that a full life was possible again.

“I went from totally withdrawn to fully immersed. From ‘why’ to ‘wow,’” Jennifer recalls. “I started feeling like a person again. Not a shell, not an outcast.”

02/02/2026

In Mableton, Georgia, right beside the Silver Comet Trail, there's a 40-foot shipping container that houses adaptive cycles from Catalyst Sports, an Atlanta nonprofit that connects people with physical disabilities to gear and programming that help them pursue their athletic goals. Shepherd Center’s Recreation Therapy Program often partners with Catalyst Sports to host biking clinics.

Catalyst Sports Adaptive Cycling Program is run by Desiree Stanley. The adaptive bike program, Stanley said, thrives thanks to the Silver Comet Trail. Hosting rides on the trail offers Catalyst’s athletes a mostly flat, protected starting or restarting point for becoming cyclists. There, she said, they gain confidence and build community.

Katie Baker, a recreational therapist with the Shepherd Center’s SHARE Military Initiative program, expressed that one of her favorite moments in the profession happened on the Silver Comet. “A client who had been struggling with depression and chronic pain was hesitant to get on a bike, but once he did, he couldn’t stop laughing and smiling,” she wrote. “Later, he told me it was the first time in a long while that he felt like himself again … that riding gave him a sense of freedom, play, and permission to enjoy the moment.”

The Silver Comet, Baker wrote, isn’t just a place for her clients to ride. “It’s a place of healing.”

To read more about Catalyst Sports and how they are making trails accessible for all, click the link below.

https://bit.ly/3ZIqUAH

01/30/2026

Mike Hynes, a former FBI – Federal Bureau of Investigation agent, remembers meeting his charge nurse, Elliot Scott, upon his arrival at Shepherd Center.

“They were just super friendly and very smiley,” he remembers. “Laughter was such a good medicine with them, just to distract from my world being turned upside down. But their professionalism and customer service was just as good as their personalities.”

At the time of his injury in 2024, Mike was living in Virginia and working as an FBI agent. Following the assault that resulted in his spinal cord injury (SCI), he spent a month in the intensive care unit at the University of Virginia Health University Medical Center before transferring to Shepherd Center.

During his stay, Mike remembers his girlfriend and his sister taking turns staying in family housing to support him. After completing inpatient therapy, he participated in our Spinal Cord Injury Day Program to help prepare for his transition home.

“Not only was it nice to have that extra therapy, but [to stay in] housing, just to kind of transition to being on your own a little more, having a little kitchen to use ... it's a nice transition period,” he says.

01/30/2026

It’s the beginning of the year, which means it’s the perfect time to set yourself up for a positive health journey that lasts all the way through December. And our Research & Innovation Best Health Wellness Team is here to help you do just that.

Whether it’s identifying purposeful movements you enjoy, carving out time in your daily routine to move your body, or leaning on peers for motivation, our team has curated a set of practical tips to help you feel your best in 2026.

Let’s make this your healthiest year yet.

Click the link below to see more tips.

01/29/2026

We got three furry tails that we've added to our pack, and we're wagging with his excitement!

These four-legged friends are a vital part of patient care at Shepherd, and we welcome three new members to our facility dog team, bringing our total to seven.

Kimberly Wood, SLP, C-AAIS, a speech-language pathologist in inpatient and outpatient programs, now handles Pippy, Shepherd’s first female facility dog.

Julie Shepherd, CCM, LMSW, CLCP, C-AAIS, director of founding family relations and canine therapy program lead, now handles Jaxx.

In August, Shepherd welcomed its second female facility dog, Steffi II, who works with Juliana Heimann, CTRS, C-AAIS recreation therapist on the inpatient SCI unit.

The dogs are more than cute companions. Pippy, Steffi, and Jaxx trained hard and know over 40 cues. Not only do they bring joy and comfort to patients, but they also take part in physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, recreational therapy, and psychology in a fun and unique way.

All three completed two years of training through Canine Companions. Thank you to Canine Companions for their partnership and for training our facility dogs.

01/28/2026

Shepherd Center is growing! And with growth comes opportunity. From state-of-the-art facilities to expanded programs, we’re building the future of rehabilitation care. And we’re looking for people who want to be part of something bigger than a job.

You’ll work with collaborative teams who put patients and families first, delivering care that transforms lives. You’ll help shape what recovery looks like for generations to come.

If you believe in innovation, compassion, and excellence, come grow with us by clicking the link below.

https://bit.ly/49Urxxy

01/27/2026

01/27/2026

Bob Suter is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, a nurse, a dog trainer, and an avid reader who served three tours in Iraq. During his service, he sustained multiple traumatic brain injuries and spinal injuries, which were later compounded by PTSD after deployment. For years, he endured dizziness, vision problems, and emotional dysregulation—what he calls "white-knuckling life."

He reached a turning point when the emotional toll became overwhelming. “I couldn’t stop crying,” he recalls. “That’s when I knew something was really wrong.”

In 2022, after more than a decade of challenges, Bob enrolled in the SHARE Military Initiative at Shepherd Center. SHARE helped him slow down, shift his mindset, and gain tools to manage his physical health.

Today, Bob is a nurse on Shepherd’s Acquired Brain Injury Unit and supports others through Shepherd’s Men.

His journey has come full circle: from seeking help to supporting others on a similar path.

“Hope for me means that all of the people I know who are struggling with all the problems that I've been struggling with…will get the help and finally…feel better about their lives.”

In 2025, Bob participated in Shepherd Center’s Portraits of Hope, an exhibit that showcased the transformative journey of healing through portraiture, storytelling, and creative collaboration.

You can read more about it in the winter issue of Spinal Column by clicking the link below.

📸: Immanuel Laidlaw

01/26/2026

Always a passionate advocate for healthcare and education, Veronica Watts’ life changed when she attempted to cross an intersection in Atlanta.

“I started to walk while the pedestrian light was flashing, and a car crashed into me. I smashed my head on the windshield. The driver braked, and I was thrown 38 feet while my face skidded across the concrete,” Veronica recalls.

Bones in her face and her teeth were broken, and she had sustained a mild traumatic brain injury, commonly called a concussion. Veronica's concussion caused her to experience general memory and word loss, migraines, sensitivity to light, and motion sickness. The nerves connecting her eyes and ears to her brain were also damaged during the crash.

Veronica spent five days at Grady Memorial Hospital. Her mom, Laena Karnstedt, a doctor, recognized that she needed specialized care to continue to progress. After researching several programs, she decided the best place for Veronica was Shepherd Center’s Complex Concussion Clinic (CCC).

For about four months, Veronica attended multiple therapies – occupational, speech, and physical therapy – at the CCC. A speech therapist worked on memory activities while her occupational therapist focused on rehabilitating her vision.

Unfortunately, while recovering from our injuries, Veronica's mother, Laena, passed away unexpectedly.

She was at the CCC when she found out, and the three therapists were able to help her work through some of her grief.

“That’s not their expertise, but in a way, it helped me not only heal from my injury, but also my grief. It was hard, but every time I went to the CCC, everybody was really so kind.”

Now, she is using her advocacy passion to pursue a master’s degree in social justice education from the University of Toronto.

Photo by Jason Getz/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

01/26/2026

Shepherd Center has ended its emergency staffing plan. Patients with questions or challenges making it to outpatient appointments should call their clinic. Patients will not be penalized for canceling appointments. Promotion Gym will be closed on Monday. We thank everyone for their flexibility and support!

For clinic numbers: shepherd.org/weather-advisory/

01/26/2026

Shepherd Center is committed to the safety of our patients, families, and staff. Due to the winter weather in Atlanta, we have implemented our emergency staffing plan to ensure that our patients and families are safe and receiving excellent care.

On Monday, January 26, all Outpatient Medical Clinics, Rehabilitation and Day Program, Imaging, and Beyond Therapy appointments will have a delayed start. We are attempting to contact all affected patients by phone. If you have questions or cannot make it to your appointment, please call your clinic phone number. Patients will not be penalized for cancelling their appointments.

Promotion Gym will be closed on Monday.

Check back for further updates regarding potential changes as the weather develops and for clinic phone numbers. We appreciate your flexibility and support.

Thanks to all our staff who are working hard to care for our patients, families, and each other!

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