Shepherd Center

12/05/2025

Josh Harper picked the right day for a haircut.

Shepherd staff members, charge nurse Elliott Scott, and physical therapists Chris Ready and Brian Tanner, provide patients with haircuts every few weeks. But a few weeks ago, a Shepherd Center visitor gave Josh the star treatment.

Jalyn Sizemore, owner of Detroit 2 Atlanta Fade'z & Braid'z LLC, stopped by to offer tips and tricks to the Shepherd staff members who volunteer to give patients haircuts. Josh, who was injured in an explosion at the end of June, served as a model for Jalyn to demonstrate his techniques for Elliott, Chris, and Brian. Jalyn also offered advice on the best products and how to better understand a client's facial structure and hair type.

The haircut was Josh's first since his injury nearly four months prior, and Jalyn made sure he got the whole barber shop experience, complete with a hot towel and straight-razor shave. And while Elliott, Chris, and Brian learned some new tricks, they jokingly warned Josh not to get too accustomed to the professional treatment.

The haircut left Josh feeling refreshed and ready for the rest of his day, including an outing with his wife. Thanks, , for making Josh's day!

12/04/2025

Nothing ushers in the start of December like participating in winter sports. Our clients had a blast at a recent recreation therapy clinic hosted by our department, in collaboration with the Peachtree Curling Association.

Clinics like these are not only providing our clients with an Olympic-sized gold time, but they are also helping people form lasting friendships and reconnect with the community.

To join us at our next clinic, click the link below.

https://bit.ly/4pkLvq4

12/03/2025

Bowling balls were not the only thing rolling when our recreation therapy department hosted a bowling clinic at Main Event in Atlanta. The good times were also rolling with strikes, spares, and a couple of gutter balls.

Bowling is often one of those activities that people hesitate over, unsure if they can still participate in it as they used to. That's why we are thankful for our team helping our clients rediscover their hobbies and explore new and exciting ways to enjoy them.

12/03/2025

Every day is an opportunity to change lives at Shepherd Center. Ranked among the nation’s top rehabilitation hospitals, we’re more than a workplace; we’re a community united by compassion, innovation, and a shared mission to help patients reclaim independence.

Our nurses and therapists don’t just deliver care. They deliver hope. They collaborate, problem-solve, and celebrate victories big and small. If you’re looking for a place where your expertise makes a lasting impact, where excellence is the standard and purpose is the reward, we’d love for you to be part of our story.

Join our family today and help us shape what recovery can look like. Click the link below for open positions.

https://bit.ly/49Urxxy

12/02/2025

1.2 million Georgians don’t have health insurance, and thousands more are underinsured, meaning their insurance wouldn’t cover services needed for full rehabilitation after an ABI or SCI. Many uninsured patients who sustain an SCI or ABI are discharged home from an acute care hospital, meaning they don’t receive the rehabilitation, mobility devices, medical equipment, or transition support needed after injury.

That’s where the Georgia Rehabilitation Services Volunteer Partnership (RSVP) Clinic at Shepherd Center comes in. Georgia RSVP Clinic offers free, high-quality outpatient rehabilitation services to uninsured and underinsured people recovering from brain injury, stroke, or spinal cord injury.

“This year marks our five-year anniversary as we celebrate the opening of the clinic. It has been amazing to witness the GA RSVP clients and their families rediscover hope,” says Susan Johnson, MA, CCC-SLP, founder of Georgia RSVP Clinic.

In the five years since its founding, the organization has served nearly 100 clients, providing expert medical, nursing, and therapy services; outfitting them with appropriate wheelchairs or mobility devices; and connecting them with peer support to foster emotional resilience and shared experiences.

Looking ahead, the RSVP clinic hopes to continue to spread awareness of the challenges faced by the uninsured and underinsured, particularly in the face of spinal cord injuries or brain injuries.

They plan to expand their volunteer force, deepen their allied health student program, increase the breadth of services offered to clients, and reach even more lives in need. Above all, they remain steadfast in pursuing the vision of “ability for all,” ensuring that everyone, regardless of their circumstances, deserves hope and the promise of a meaningful, high-quality life.

To volunteer with the Georgia RSVP Clinic, refer a client, or learn more, please visit https://www.garsvpclinic.org/impact.

12/02/2025

12/02/2025

Rebecca Williamson spent several months recovering from a spinal cord injury with the help of a team of nurses, therapists, and doctors. But in addition to her care team, a piece of technology was also helping in her recovery — a Hercules bed.

Hercules beds are equipped with a system that allows nurses and therapists to adjust a patient’s position in bed at the touch of a button. Kimberly Levenson, RN, BSN, CRRN, CWOCN, CFCN, says that it’s common for patients to slide down in their hospital bed throughout the day, and this can happen even more frequently for patients with high spasticity after a spinal cord injury.

The Hercules’ conveyor belt-like technology makes transferring them back to the head of the bed easier, reducing the risk of pressure sores and aspiration, she says. The tech also helps staff and caregivers.

“It reduces the risk of staff injuries,” Levenson says. “You aren’t manually lifting and twisting and pulling somebody in the bed. It’s a very gentle, non-traumatic way to reposition a patient.” Rebecca shares the sentiment — she says that compared to the standard bed she used at her acute care hospital, the Hercules beds allow for more gentle repositioning. “It prevents being tossed around in the bed,” she says. “That’s the biggest thing.”

We previously had 90 Hercules beds, which were not enough to meet demand, but thanks to the generosity of the Rotary Club of Buckhead and its sister club, the Suceava-Bucovina Rotary Club in Romania, as well as the Rotary Foundation, we’ve added nine new Hercules beds to our inventory.

12/01/2025

Sometimes, you just need to stretch it out—and that’s especially true for our patients living with varying levels of disability.

That’s why our Recreation Therapy Program hosts yoga clinics. These sessions aren’t just about restoring strength and flexibility—they’re about encouraging long, healthy, and happy lives.

To learn more about our recreation therapy clinics click the link below.

11/28/2025

Nothing warms our hearts more than an unexpected show of support from our hometown heroes.

We were thrilled to see Atlanta Falcons receiver Casey Washington highlight Shepherd Center on his cleats during Sunday’s game as part of the My Cause My Cleats campaign.

Casey chose Shepherd as his cause after his role model, Bobby Roundtree, sustained a spinal cord injury.

Thank you, Casey for helping spread our message as we continue to restore the lives of people living with the most complex conditions.

11/28/2025

At Shepherd, we understand the importance of family dinners. During the day, the fourth floor of the Shepherd Center serves as a therapy gym, but on Tuesday nights, it transforms into a gathering place where families bond over food.

Shepherd’s Tuesday Night Family Dinner “is one of the highlights of my week,” says Lynda Tuesca, attending with her son, Ben, who was injured in a car crash. “We’re all happier when we’re sitting around a dinner table. You hear what brought everybody here, then you know them when you see them in the halls and elevators.”

Anna Elmers, M.D., started the weekly dinners in 2016 with Renee Houle, a former Shepherd patient. At first, Dr. Elmers and Renee cooked and served the dinners themselves with the help of their families and friends.

The dinners were suspended during the COVID pandemic, but they came back bigger than ever under the leadership of Jennifer Heffron, engagement coordinator for Shepherd Center Foundation.

Inpatients, outpatients, and even former patients are welcome. Matthew Ryan walks down from the SHARE Military Initiative on Peachtree Park Drive, where he is a client, every Tuesday.

“A lot of times we’re off in our rooms just doing our own thing,” he says. “These dinners give us a chance to fellowship together. A lot of people can’t afford to go out to dinner because their finances are tied up in recovery.”

Matthew says he has brought several of his fellow SHARE clients to the dinners. “The dinners are just like your family away from home,” he says. “They keep you sane and keep your spirits up.” And, he adds with a grin, “the desserts are always good.”

To learn more about our family dinners click the link below.

11/27/2025

In this season of gratitude, we are thankful for our patients, families, staff, donors, volunteers, and friends who allow us to do such meaningful work everyday. From our family to yours, happy Thanksgiving!

11/26/2025

In October, Shepherd Center employees participated in the Atlanta PRIDE Parade to celebrate inclusion and community. We are proud to support activities that are important to our people. At Shepherd Center, we value diversity and love connecting with our community. And shout-out of gratitude to our employees who led the charge to plan this activity and make Shepherd’s presence in the parade a reality.