Deborah Backus

About Dr. Backus

“Innovation matters most when it improves lives.”

Dr. Deborah Backus is a nationally recognized leader in neurorehabilitation research, physical therapy, and education, with more than 30 years of experience advancing evidence-based care for individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI), multiple sclerosis (MS), and other neurological conditions. As Vice President of Research & Innovation and Director of the Virginia C. Crawford Research Institute at Shepherd Center, she oversees multidisciplinary research programs and strategic partnerships that translate discoveries into real-world solutions for people with complex neurological conditions.

Dr. Backus began her career at Shepherd Center in 1989 as a physical therapist after earning her B.S. in Physical Therapy from Boston University. Motivated by a passion for improving patient outcomes, she earned a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Emory University and returned to Shepherd in 2004 to join the SCI research team. In 2012, she became Director of MS Research, launching the MS Rehabilitation and Wellness Research Program and championing clinician engagement in research, evidence-based practice, and technology integration. Since assuming her current leadership role in 2021, Dr. Backus has continued to drive innovation in rehabilitation science, focusing on technology-driven interventions, augmented therapy, and implementation science.

Beyond Shepherd Center, Dr. Backus has held influential national leadership roles, including serving as President and Immediate Past President of the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine (ACRM), where she helped shape research priorities and clinical standards across the field. She currently serves on multiple advisory boards and committees, including the Georgia Research Alliance Board of Trustees, SCI Ventures Board of Directors, and the NINDS/NICHD NeuroRehab Common Data Elements Oversight Committee. She also holds adjunct faculty appointments at Emory University and Georgia Institute of Technology.

Her contributions have been recognized with numerous honors, including the ACRM John Stanley Coulter Award (2023), the Hope Award from the National MS Society, and designation as an ACRM Fellow. A frequent keynote speaker and published author, Dr. Backus continues to champion innovation that empowers individuals with neurological conditions to live full, independent lives.

Research specialties

• Neurorehabilitation for SCI and MS
• Augmented therapy and functional electrical stimulation
• Technology-driven interventions
• Knowledge translation and implementation science

Education & training

• Ph.D., Neuroscience – Emory University, 2004
• B.S., Physical Therapy – Sargent College, Boston University, 1986

Certifications

• National Institutes of Health (NIH) Human Subjects Research Certification
• Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) – Human Subjects Research

Why her work matters

“Shepherd Center’s work is meaningful to me because it is truly patient-centered. Every day, we focus on helping people live their best lives, even with impairment or disability. Knowing our research leads to practical solutions, greater independence, and improved quality of life makes this work profoundly rewarding.”

Beyond Shepherd

Dr. Backus serves on multiple advisory boards and leadership committees, including:

• Chair, Advisory Board, Georgia Solve Sickle Cell Initiative
• Board of Directors, SCI Ventures
• Board of Trustees, Georgia Research Alliance
• Research Advisory Board, Kennesaw State University

She also holds adjunct faculty appointments at Emory University and Georgia Institute of Technology.

Outside of work, Dr. Backus enjoys time with her husband, three children, and new grandson. She loves the outdoors, regular exercise, and hopes to learn the cello and explore creative hobbies in her “free” time.

Awards and honors

• 2023 Recipient American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine (ACRM) John Stanley Coulter Award
• 2019 Co-recipient, Robert M. Herndon Award, Outstanding Article in International Journal of MS Care, “Effects of treadmill training on muscle oxidative capacity and endurance in people with Multiple Sclerosis with significant walking limitations”, July/August 2019 Issue
• 2016 Designated “Elite Reviewer” by Archives for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
• 2016 Therapy Leadership Council, Distinguished Lecture, Academy Spinal Cord Injury Professionals
• 2016 National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society MS Leadership Class Graduate
• 2014 Hope Award, National MS Society, Georgia Chapter
• 2014 Fellow, ACRM
• 2011 ACRM Deborah L. Wilkerson Early Career Award in Rehabilitation Research
• 2010 Distinguished Clinical/Research Award, Academy of Spinal Cord Injury Professionals
• 1994 Mary Lou Barnes “Adopt-a-Doc Scholarship”, APTA, Neurology Section
• 1986 Bernard Kutner Award, Sargent College, Boston University
• 1986 Scarlet Key Honor Society, Boston University
• 1985 Eleanor Kitchin Award, Sargent College, Boston University