Shepherd Center to Expand SHARE Military Initiative with Funding from Marcus Foundation

Shepherd Center plans to double the capacity of its SHARE Military Initiative when the program moves into Shepherd Center's new building at 80 Peachtree Park Drive – a move expected to occur in the first quarter of 2017. Shepherd Center’s purchase of the 15,000-square-foot building was made possible by a $3.8 million gift from the Marcus Foundation.

SHARE, which launched in 2008 with funding from the Marcus Foundation, is a comprehensive rehabilitation program that focuses on assessment and treatment for service men and women who have sustained a mild to moderate traumatic brain injury and PTSD while serving in post-9/11 conflicts. SHARE clients participate in individual and group therapy sessions and see their Shepherd Center physician in the program's clinic. With the expansion, the goal is to be able to treat up to 100 SHARE clients annually – doubling the program’s reach.

“This latest generous gift from the Marcus Foundation will allow us to expand the SHARE Military Initiative, which is a huge need,” says James Shepherd, co-founder and chairman of the board of Shepherd Center. “The new facility will allow SHARE to serve even more military service members so they can better manage the effects of injury as they transition into life after their military service.”

The Peachtree Park Drive facility also will house a complex concussion clinic, which is a new initiative for Shepherd Center. Led by Russell Gore, M.D., SHARE medical director, the clinic will focus on patients who have sustained concussions, but have not recovered fully within a typical timeframe and/or those who have experienced complications. Patients will be evaluated clinically by Shepherd Center’s specialized medical team and undergo various types of therapy, if necessary.

By Kerry Ludlam