Shepherd Center Names Next Chief Operating Officer
SCI Rehabilitation Program Director Shari McDowell promoted to COO
Shari McDowell, PT, DPT, FASIA, FACHE, a 31-year veteran of Shepherd Center, will become chief operating officer (COO) in September. As COO, McDowell will provide leadership and clinical insight, serving on the senior management team to drive the hospital’s strategic vision forward.
“I am honored to have the privilege to help advance care at Shepherd Center,” McDowell said. “The needs of our patients and families will be front and center as we continue to drive toward excellence.”
In 1992, McDowell joined Shepherd Center as a physical therapist in the Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Rehabilitation Program. Since then, McDowell has worked as a physical therapist in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), as a physical therapy and SCI education coordinator, and most recently as the program director for the SCI Rehabilitation Program. Her expertise extends beyond traditional leadership roles, and she excels at designing and implementing administrative, clinical, technological, and operational workflows that enhance patient care.
McDowell is admired within Shepherd’s community, and her influence in the SCI rehabilitation field extends beyond the hospital’s walls. In 2024, she was selected as a Fellow of the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA), an honor bestowed to individuals who exemplify distinguished accomplishments in spinal cord injury research, clinical practice, education, and advocacy, and for longstanding service to the society. Over the years, she has led collaborations with organizations like the Georgia Hospital Association (GHA) and the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE). She has also written about SCI prevention and rehabilitation for 13 healthcare publications and contributed to over 30 professional presentations, conferences, and research studies.
“We are excited about the future and the expertise and excellence Shari will continue to bring to Shepherd Center,” said Jamie Shepherd, MBA, MHA, FACHE, president and soon-to-be chief executive officer of Shepherd Center. “Her leadership will undoubtedly drive us towards new heights, ensuring that we continue to provide exceptional care and support to our patients and their families.”
McDowell received her bachelor’s degree from Georgia State University, and she then received her doctorate in physical therapy from the University of Montana-Missoula. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling and spending time with family and friends, and hiking with her English lab, Mr. Pimm.
McDowell assumes the COO position as Jamie Shepherd transitions into the role of chief executive officer.
With five decades of experience, 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 ranked by U.S. News as one of the nation’s top hospitals for rehabilitation, Shepherd Center is also recognized as both Spinal Cord Injury and Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems. Shepherd Center treats thousands of patients annually with unmatched expertise and unwavering compassion to help them begin again.