James Shepherd, the co-founder of a Georgia hospital specializing in spinal injuries, died on Saturday, the Shepherd Center said in a statement. He was 68.
Shepherd, his parents and Dr. David Apple founded the Shepherd Center after James Shepherd suffered a paralyzing spinal cord injury in 1973.
They garnered support to open a specialized facility for spinal cord injuries because they were frustrated by a lack of high-quality rehabilitation care in the southeastern U.S., the center said.
The Shepherd Center began in 1975, as a six-bed unit that leased space from an Atlanta hospital. Today it is a 152-bed hospital.
“James was a dedicated and passionate advocate for people with disabilities,” said Sarah Morrison, president and CEO of the Shepherd Center. “We will miss seeing him in the halls at Shepherd, during his visits with patients and staff, and most deeply, in our hearts.”
Funeral services were still being finalized late Saturday.
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