Matt Edens Named to Dixie Wheelchair Athletic Association Hall of Fame
Shepherd Center's sports teams coordinator recognized for his dedication to competitive sport opportunities for athletes with physical or visual disabilities.
Matt Edens, sports teams coordinator at Shepherd Center, was recently inducted into the Dixie Wheelchair Hall of Fame for his contributions to organizing wheelchair sports. The Dixie Wheelchair Athletic Association recognizes individuals who are dedicated to supporting competitive sport opportunities for athletes with physical or visual disabilities within the Dixie Region, which includes Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi and Tennessee.
Edens has worked at Shepherd Center for 15 years – five years as an inpatient/day program recreation therapist and 10 years as sports teams coordinator. Edens coordinates Shepherd Center's 11 sports teams with more than 100 athletes participating in Shepherd’s team practices. Shepherd Center athletes have won national and international competitions, with several athletes holding world records. More than 20 athletes from Shepherd Center have qualified to represent the United States in their sports during the past several Paralympic games.
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.