Atlanta, GA,
25
August
2016
|
14:30 PM
America/New_York

Shepherd Center CEO Announces Retirement; Hospital Names Successor

ATLANTA – Shepherd Center president and CEO Gary Ulicny, Ph.D., has announced his forthcoming retirement on March 31, 2017, after 22 years at the 152-bed, private, not-for-profit spinal cord and brain injury rehabilitation hospital.

Also, James Shepherd, co-founder and chairman of the board of Shepherd Center, announced that the hospital’s vice president of clinical services, Sarah Morrison, PT, MBA, MHA, will assume the role of president and CEO on April 1, 2017. The decision to promote Morrison, who has worked at Shepherd Center since 1984, was made after consulting for many months with board members and stakeholders, Shepherd said.

Gary Ulicny has led Shepherd Center through a period of tremendous growth and success,” Shepherd said. “He has fostered a culture of excellence that Sarah Morrison will carry on. She has the experience and skill to help us continue to exceed national standards as we navigate through a changing healthcare environment.”

Founded in 1975, Shepherd Center specializes in medical treatment, research and rehabilitation for people with spinal cord injury, brain injury, multiple sclerosis, spine and chronic pain, and other neuromuscular conditions.

Ulicny has been president and CEO of Shepherd Center since 1994. During his tenure, Shepherd Center has:

  • for 16 years been ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the best rehabilitation hospitals in the nation;
  • been presented with the Edward Loveland Award for Distinguished Contributions in Healthcare by the American College of Physicians;
  • selected as the Hospital of the Year by the Georgia Alliance of Hospitals;
  • been named one of Atlanta’s Best Employers by the Atlanta Business Chronicle and Atlanta magazine;
  • enjoyed a Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems designation by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research.

As vice president of clinical services since 2012, Morrison has worked closely with Ulicny as she’s directed operational and financial management of patient care. Now, to ensure a smooth transition in leadership, Morrison will spend the next seven months working alongside Ulicny, preparing to assume her new role.

“For the past 22 years I have had the pleasure and honor of leading Shepherd Center,” Ulicny said. “None of our success could have been possible without the dedication and commitment of our board, senior managers, physicians and staff. I will leave with my head held high knowing that Shepherd Center has had a significant impact on so many lives and comforted by knowing that it will now be in Sarah Morrison's capable hands.”

Before assuming the role of vice president of clinical services, Morrison served as director of the Shepherd Center Spinal Cord Injury Program, which serves nearly 600 inpatients from across the nation each year. Before that, she worked at Shepherd Center as a director of the medical surgical and ICU program, spinal cord injury day program manager, physical therapy supervisor and physical therapist.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to lead Shepherd Center into the future,” Morrison said. “In my 32 years at Shepherd Center, I have witnessed significant growth while Shepherd continues to raise the bar for improving quality.

“Healthcare is a fast-changing industry, and Shepherd Center needs to be prepared to be flexible to adapt quickly,” she added. “My tenure at Shepherd Center gives me a historical foundation of the organization, but more importantly, it gives me the ability to maintain our unique culture that drives our exceptional outcomes and ability to achieve our mission.”

Morrison is well known in the healthcare community, having written more than 30 peer-reviewed publications, presented more than 40 invited lectures to professional organizations and actively participated in eight funded research studies. In 2013, Morrison received the award for Clinical Excellence in Neurology from the Neurological Section of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). Morrison’s career includes leadership roles as a surveyor of external rehabilitation hospitals for the Commission on the Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities and chair of the APTA Special Interest Group for Spinal Cord Injury.

Morrison earned her bachelor’s degree in physical therapy from the University of Miami, where she graduated summa cum laude. She received master’s degrees in healthcare and business administration from Georgia State University, where she received the Max G. Holland scholarship for the highest grade point average in the graduate business program.

Morrison lives in Atlanta with her husband, Jeff, a visiting instructor at Emory University. Their son, Michael, lives in Houston, Texas, and works for Cigna Healthcare in the area of process management. Their daughter, Susan, lives in Atlanta and works as an editor for an independent publishing company.

About Shepherd Center

Shepherd Center provides world-class clinical care, research, and family support for people experiencing the most complex conditions, including spinal cord and brain injuries, multi-trauma, traumatic amputations, stroke, multiple sclerosis, and pain. An elite center recognized as both Spinal Cord Injury and Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems, Shepherd Center is ranked by U.S. News as one of the nation’s top hospitals for rehabilitation. Shepherd Center treats thousands of patients annually with unmatched expertise and unwavering compassion to help them begin again. 

Shepherd Center announces CEO’s retirement, successoropens in new window
Shepherd Center in Buckhead Thursday announced its president and CEO Gary Ulicny, Ph.D., will retire March 31, after 22 years at the 152-bed, private, nonprofit spinal cord and brain injury rehabilitation hospital.
25
Aug
2016
www.mdjonline.com
Shepherd Center Names New CEOopens in new window
Shepherd Center, the well-known Atlanta hospital for spinal and brain injury rehabilitation, said CEO Gary Ulicny will retire next spring after 22 years as the center’s top executive. His successor will be Sarah Morrison, a 32-year employee who is currently vice president of clinical services.
25
Aug
2016
www.ajc.com
Shepherd Center CEO to Retireopens in new window
Gary Ulicny, CEO of Shepherd Center, is retiring after 22 years. On Aug. 25, the hospital's co-founder and chairman of the board James Shepherd announced Sarah Morrison, vice president of clinical services, will assume the role of president and CEO on April 1, 2017.
25
Aug
2016
www.bizjournals.com