A Culture Like No Other

Our culture is fueled by progress, inclusiveness and human connection that unites people from all walks of life. Some of our staff have been here for decades and some are just starting their career paths, but we continue to grow together. Some of the things makes Shepherd Center a special place to be a part of include:

Employee Recognition & Events

Best Employee Attitude Awards

Special people who bring sunshine to Shepherd Center are recognized every year with our highly celebrated Best Employee Attitude Awards. While it feels amazing to be a recipient, heaping praise on a colleague is rewarding and uplifting, too.

Shepherd STARs

Our STAR Program is designed to recognize employees who go above and beyond the expectations of clients and co-workers and exemplify our five pillars of excellence: people, service, quality, finance and growth.

Field Day

Team members band together on themed teams (think superheroes or sports teams) to compete for bragging rights. Whether bloated arm floaties or tiny tricycles are involved, bring your best game — and sense of humor. You’ll love going for the gold and giggles at this annual event.

Communication & Transparency

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility Council

Leveraging the rich talent and creativity of our diverse team is critical to being a center of excellence in rehabilitation and the focus of our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility Council. Every employee can contribute to diversity and equity efforts by giving feedback in formal surveys and participating in business improvement processes.

People Committee

In an ongoing effort to support a culture of inclusion, a diverse group of employees who represent all levels of the organization meet several times a year. They evaluate and implement programs and activities to positively impact employee acquisition, retention and ongoing engagement.

State of the Center

Our company meetings allow us to connect and collaborate with a focus on our business. Our president and CEO typically shares Shepherd Center’s financials and progress toward our pillar goals, Vision 2025 goals, as well as sustainability, and diversity, equity and inclusion.

Giving Back to Others

ShepherdCares

Each September, employees support a patient-focused need within the hospital by donating to the ShepherdCares Employee Giving Initiative. Past campaigns have funded new rehabilitation equipment for inpatient gyms, a new adaptive van for the driving program and funding for family housing. On average, 85% of our staff members give annually, a strong indication of how meaningful it is to be able to support patients this way.

ShepherdServes

This volunteer service program launched in 2019 because employees recognized the importance of giving back to the community. Four times a year, Shepherd employees can sign up to volunteer in underserved communities together and are paid for four hours of work without taking personal time. Slots are limited, so when you see the email from administration, sign up fast.

ShepherdShare

Our success as an organization is based on the contribution of every employee. ShepherdShare is an annual discretionary bonus program that rewards employees for contributing to the overall team effort at Shepherd.

Awards and Accolades

America’s Best Employers By State

According to Forbes’ 2022 list of America’s Best Employers By State, Shepherd Center ranks No. 5 overall among 100 companies in Georgia and No. 1 in the Healthcare & Social category for the state. The rankings are based on an independent survey of a sample of Americans working for companies with more than 500 employees.

Top Hospital for Rehabilitation

Shepherd Center has been recognized as a 2023-2024 Best Hospital for Rehabilitation by U.S. News. Shepherd Center has been one of the nation's top hospitals for rehabilitation for over a decade, testifying to the consistent, high-quality care it delivers. As a national destination for the most complex conditions, Shepherd Center focuses on neurorehabilitation, including spinal cord and brain injuries, multi-trauma, traumatic amputations, stroke, multiple sclerosis, and pain.

Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion

Shepherd Center has been named a “Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion” by the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) and Disability:IN. Shepherd Center earned this recognition by scoring 100 out of a possible 100 on the Disability Equality Index® (DEI), the world’s most comprehensive benchmarking tool for the Fortune 1000 and Am Law 2001 to measure disability workplace inclusion against competitors.

Traumatic Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems

The Administration for Community Living’s (ACL) National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) recently awarded a five-year grant to Shepherd Center to continue its nearly 40-year tenure as a Spinal Cord Injury Model System (SCIMS) and to receive designation as a Traumatic Brain Injury Model System (TBIMS). NIDILRR awards grants to institutions that are national leaders in medical research and patient care and provide the highest level of comprehensive specialty services through rehabilitation and re-entry into full community life. Shepherd Center is part of an elite group to be designated as both model systems.