Dr. Apple’s Medical Background
David F. Apple, Jr., M.D., served as medical director of Shepherd Center since the hospital's inception in 1975 until 2005, and now holds the position of medical director emeritus.
Dr. Apple earned his bachelor's degree at the University of Virginia in 1958. There, he was president of the College of Arts and Sciences and chairman of the Honor Council. He earned his medical degree at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in 1962.
Certified in orthopedic surgery, Dr. Apple is recognized as an expert in the field of spinal cord injury. He has written numerous articles on caring for spinal cord-injured patients and holds academic appointments at Emory University and Georgia State University.
From 1964-1966, Dr. Apple practiced in the United States Air Force, serving as chief of surgery from 1965-1966.
His numerous civic involvements include the director of the Home Rehabilitation Service for the Easter Seal Center, member of the Board of Directors of the American Red Cross and the Board of Directors of the Lovett School.
During the summer of 1996, Dr. Apple served as co-chair of the doping committee for the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games and as chief medical officer of the 1996 Atlanta Paralympic Games. He was the team physician of the NBA's Atlanta Hawks for 30 years.
Among his many awards, Dr. Apple was the recipient of the ASIA Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997 as well as the Humanitarian of the Year Award from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Dr. Apple has served in leadership positions on many national and regional medical societies and associations including the presidency of the American Spinal Injury Association, Georgia Orthopaedic Society, the Society of Physicians of the National Basketball Association and the Orthopaedic Rehabilitation Association, which he founded.
He is a member of the Board of Directors of Shepherd Center and has been the principal investigator on many grants concerned with spinal cord injuries. He and his wife Jane have four children.