Shepherd Center

Since 1994, Gary R. Ulicny, Ph.D., has served as the President and CEO of Shepherd Center. He is the longest-tenured chief executive officer of a medical hospital in the metropolitan Atlanta area.

He is currently serving as president of the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine, the largest organization in the U.S. devoted to interdisciplinary rehabilitation research.

Dr. Ulicny’s longevity at Shepherd Center speaks volumes about his commitment to leading the Center’s long-term success, as well as his passion for carrying out its day-to-day mission.

“Meeting patients and watching them strive to overcome challenges still affects me very personally,” he says. “What we do here makes a real difference in peoples’ lives, and that’s what makes my job so satisfying. It is work worth doing.”

During Dr. Ulicny’s tenure, Shepherd Center has received numerous awards and recognition. The hospital has been ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the best rehabilitation hospitals in the nation for the past 11 years, and received the 2008 NDNQI Award for Outstanding Nursing Quality™ in the Category for Rehabilitation Hospitals from the American Nurses Association.

Also during his time at Shepherd, Dr. Ulicny has overseen a major expansion of the hospital. Those efforts added an acquired brain injury treatment program and comprehensive pain institute, expanded research, marketed the hospital nationally and increased overall capacity from 100 to 132 beds.

Dr. Ulicny’s dedication to healthcare is also evident in his involvement with numerous professional organizations. He has served on the national board of the Head Injury Foundation and is active in the Atlanta community and serves on the Executive Board of the Atlanta Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America.