Hope is Here: Shepherd Center’s FY26 annual report

It’s something patients, families, staff, volunteers, and visitors feel from the moment they pull in the driveway: Hope is Here.

Over the last five decades, we’ve grown from a six-bed hospital specializing in spinal cord injury care into the premier neurorehabilitation facility of the Southeast, offering state-of-the-art care for patients experiencing the most complex conditions, including spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, stroke, and multiple sclerosis. This care, in addition to the support we offer patient families and our staff, defines our mission.

In our 2026 Annual Report: Hope is Here, you’ll see how our incredible inpatient rehabilitation programs, community-based outpatient services, and research and innovation teams support patients and their families, allowing them to return to what they love with independence and dignity. You’ll also find the remarkable progress achieved through Pursuing Possible: The Campaign for Shepherd Center, and updates on the hospital renovations that will allow us to care for more patients in the years to come.

A snapshot of Shepherd: April 1, 2025 – March 31, 2026

With over five decades of experience, Shepherd Center provides world-class clinical care, research, and family support for people experiencing the most complex conditions, including spinal cord and brain injuries, multi-trauma, traumatic amputations, stroke, multiple sclerosis, and pain. An elite center ranked by U.S. News as one of the nation’s top hospitals for rehabilitation, Shepherd Center is also recognized as both a Spinal Cord Injury and a Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems. Shepherd Center treats thousands of patients annually with unmatched expertise and unwavering compassion, helping them begin again.

902


Inpatient discharges

7.9K+


Outpatients served

71K+


Visits from outpatients

93.6%


Rate at which Shepherd patients return to community.

5,838


Participants who took part in active research studies at Shepherd.

85%


Overall percentage of patients liberated from ventilators. (5-year average)

A healthcare professional supports an elderly man wearing a red t-shirt, who is reclined on a therapy table and secured with straps. They are in a medical facility with exercise equipment visible in the background.

Helping patients and families on their mission

Our patients are on a mission to return to their families, communities, careers, and the things they love most. At Shepherd, we help patients return home at rates higher than the national average.

Shepherd Center’s annual report

Explore the key milestones and successes from the past year in the Shepherd Center Annual Report. Inside, you’ll find inspiring patient stories, groundbreaking research developments, and a detailed look at how we’re improving lives through innovative rehabilitation and compassionate care. For a deeper dive into our accomplishments and vision for the future, click below to download the full report.

Past annual reports

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