What Shepherd Center does

Shepherd Center is a private, non-profit specialized neurorehabilitation hospital founded in 1975 and headquartered at 2020 Peachtree Road NW, Atlanta, Georgia. The facility provides a full continuum of care for patients aged 12 and above with complex neurological injuries and conditions, including spinal cord injury, brain injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis, multiple trauma, and chronic pain. Services span intensive inpatient rehabilitation (3-5 hours of daily therapy), outpatient clinics, specialty institutes (Andrew C. Carlos MS Institute, Dean Stroud Spine and Pain Institute, SHARE Military Initiative), assistive technology, adaptive sports, recreation therapy, and lifelong follow-up. The organization maintains an on-site ICU, 24/7 respiratory therapy, and dedicated research infrastructure including the Hulse Spinal Cord Injury Laboratory and the Innovation Institute.

The underlying technology platform centers on interdisciplinary clinical care delivery rather than software, integrating advanced rehabilitation modalities such as functional electrical stimulation, neuroplasticity-based activity-based therapy, driving evaluation and rehabilitation, wheelchair seating, and complex concussion care across ten specialties. Research capabilities include clinical trial operations (NVG-291 Phase 3 RESTORE trial for chronic tetraplegia), pharmaceutical and device studies, user experience and usability research, and assistive technology innovation. The 30,000-square-foot Innovation Institute opened in 2025 with an assistive technology showroom enabling device trial prior to purchase.

The business model is healthcare-services revenue: Shepherd Center is reimbursed primarily through health insurance, Medicare, and workers' compensation carriers, with financial clearance and insurance verification embedded in the admissions process. The go-to-market motion is sales-led, relying on physician referrals, hospital discharge planners, insurance case managers, and direct patient inquiries, with formal intake channels via phone, web-based referral platforms (CarePort, Ensocare), and fax. Patients are admitted from acute care hospitals, rehabilitation hospitals, nursing facilities, and long-term acute care hospitals nationwide, with no disclosed single-customer concentration. Philanthropic support supplements operating revenue, exemplified by a $50 million grant from the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation in April 2022 for family housing expansion.

Name

Shepherd Center

Legal name

Shepherd Center

Website

https://shepherd.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2026

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Shepherd Center is a private, non-profit specialized neurorehabilitation hospital in Atlanta providing comprehensive inpatient and outpatient care for patients with spinal cord injury, brain injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis, multiple trauma, and chronic pain. It serves adolescents and adults nationwide through physician referrals and direct admissions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Neurorehabilitation Hospital Services

NAICS

Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists (62134), Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals (622310)

SIC

Services-Skilled Nursing Care Facilities (8051), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Rehabilitation & Physical Therapy (Hydrotherapy, Sports Med) (HLAMAAAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care Hospitals (HLAMACAA)

Keywords

• Neurorehabilitation services
• Spinal cord injury care
• Brain injury rehabilitation
• Stroke recovery services
• Chronic pain management

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlanta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Healthcare Services Revenue: Shepherd Center generates revenue through providing specialized medical and rehabilitation services to patients with neurological injuries and conditions. Services include inpatient rehabilitation, outpatient therapy, specialized clinics, and wellness programs. The facility accepts insurance, works with managed care and workers' compensation carriers, and can assist with appeals or negotiating service coverage when needed.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Shepherd Center is a private, non-profit specialty neurorehabilitation hospital providing comprehensive inpatient and outpatient medical treatment, therapy, and rehabilitation services for individuals aged 12 and older with complex neurological injuries and conditions including spinal cord injury, brain injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis, multiple trauma, and chronic pain. The hospital operates a full continuum of care — from intensive inpatient rehabilitation with 3-5 hours of daily therapy to outpatient clinics, specialty institutes (Andrew C. Carlos Multiple Sclerosis Institute, Dean Stroud Spine and Pain Institute), adaptive sports, and lifelong follow-up — supported by clinical research and a 30,000-square-foot Innovation Institute.

Product overview

Shepherd Center is a specialized neurorehabilitation hospital offering a comprehensive portfolio of services organized around core rehabilitation programs and specialty institutes. The core services include Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation, Brain Injury Rehabilitation, Stroke Rehabilitation, Multiple Trauma Rehabilitation, and Chronic Pain management. These are supported by specialty institutes including the Andrew C. Carlos Multiple Sclerosis Institute and the Dean Stroud Spine and Pain Institute. Additional specialty programs include Beyond Therapy (neuroplasticity-based therapy), the Center for Assistive Technologies, the Complex Concussion Clinic, SHARE Military Initiative for veterans and first responders, Ventilator and Respiratory Services, Adaptive Sports, Recreation Therapy, and a Rehabilitation Medicine Clinic. The organization operates on an inpatient-to-outpatient-to-lifetime-support continuum of care model, providing everything from intensive inpatient rehabilitation with 3-5 hours of daily therapy to outpatient services, wellness programs, and lifelong follow-up care.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Andrew C. Carlos Multiple Sclerosis Institute: Comprehensive multiple sclerosis care institute offering diagnosis, symptom management, disease-modifying therapies, and wellness programs.
• Dean Stroud Spine and Pain Institute
• SHARE Military Initiative
• Beyond Therapy
• Center for Assistive Technologies
• Alias Family Sports Teams

Products and services

• Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation

Quantifiable outcome

• Patients typically begin inpatient rehabilitation about 23 days after injury and stay an average of 56 days for spinal cord injury rehabilitation
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Avalon Action AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShepherd Center is part of Avalon Action Alliance, a national alliance connecting veterans and first responders to life-changing care while removing financial and geographical obstacles. The partnership focuses on providing transformative solutions for those experiencing overlapping symptoms related to mild traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress, and substance abuse.
• Wounded Warrior ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWounded Warrior Project honors and empowers post-9/11 injured service members, veterans, and their families, in partnership with Shepherd Center's SHARE Military Initiative.
• Shepherd's MensupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerShepherd's Men is dedicated to bringing hope and healing to veterans and their families by raising funds and awareness for Shepherd Center's SHARE Military Initiative, empowering those living with TBI and PTSD.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital: Main Line Health's specialty rehabilitation hospital serving the Philadelphia suburbs with similar neurological rehabilitation programs, including brain injury, SCI, and stroke.
• Shirley Ryan AbilityLab: Specialty inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation hospital in Chicago with research intensity comparable to Shepherd's. Both operate the model of combining clinical neurorehabilitation with translational research labs, and both serve as national destinations for complex SCI, brain injury, and stroke cases.
• Craig Hospital: Specialty rehabilitation hospital in Denver focused specifically on spinal cord injury and brain injury, with a national draw similar to Shepherd's. Comparable patient acuity, length-of-stay, and research footprint (e.g., the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation-funded labs).
• TIRR Memorial Hermann: Houston-based specialty rehabilitation hospital within the Memorial Hermann system, treating SCI, brain injury, stroke, and complex trauma. Comparable in clinical scope, research activity, and CARF-accredited specialty programs.
• Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital: Harvard Medical School-affiliated specialty rehabilitation hospital in Boston with a similar mix of inpatient, outpatient, and research programs in SCI, brain injury, and stroke. National referral draw and academic medical-center affiliation make it a close functional peer.
• Magee Rehabilitation Hospital: Philadelphia-based specialty rehabilitation hospital, part of Jefferson Health, focused on spinal cord injury, brain injury, and stroke. Comparable CARF-accredited specialty programs and adaptive sports offerings.
• Burke Rehabilitation Hospital: Specialty rehabilitation hospital in White Plains, NY, affiliated with Weill Cornell Medicine. Treats similar neurological conditions with an inpatient-to-outpatient continuum and active research programs.
• Kennedy Krieger Institute: Baltimore-based specialty hospital and research institute focused on pediatric and young adult brain injury, SCI, and neurodevelopmental conditions. Comparable research intensity and a partial overlap in adolescent/young adult SCI and brain injury patients.
• Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center: Los Angeles County-affiliated specialty rehabilitation hospital with a long-standing reputation in spinal cord injury, brain injury, and stroke care. Comparable patient acuity and CARF-accredited specialty programs.
• MossRehab: Einstein Healthcare Network's specialty rehabilitation hospital in Philadelphia. Treats SCI, brain injury, stroke, and amputee populations, with comparable length-of-stay and research activity.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/ShepherdCenter
• Facebookfacebook.com/shepherdcenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/shepherd-center
• Instagraminstagram.com/shepherdcenter
• Xx.com/shepherdcenter

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Shepherd Center