Shepherd Center Welcomes Alicia Seeds, M.D., to Medical Staff
Dr. Seeds serves as new medical director of the Spinal Cord Injury Day Program
Shepherd Center recently welcomed Alicia Seeds, M.D., as the medical director of the Spinal Cord Injury Day Program. A board-certified physiatrist specializing in spinal cord injury medicine, Dr. Seeds views her role as a spinal cord injury physician not only as a passion, but also as a calling. Her own family member’s experience with spinal cord injury influences her approach to patient care.
“My goal is to partner with my patients to ensure they find their version of hope, meaning, and joy after injury. I enjoy providing care for patients throughout the spinal cord injury continuum,” she says. “I value the collaborative, interdisciplinary rehab team approach to optimize patient care.”
Originally from Santa Ana, California, Dr. Seeds earned her medical degree from Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, followed by an internship in internal medicine at the University of Washington and a residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation, also at the University of Washington. She completed a fellowship in spinal cord injury medicine at Emory University and Shepherd Center.
During her fellowship, Dr. Seeds felt a strong connection to the hospital.
“I knew that I wanted to return to Shepherd Center to continue my career in a collaborative, comprehensive rehab environment that strives to improve quality of life and create new possibilities for people experiencing neurologic injury with a team and culture that always puts the patient and family first,” she said.
“Anyone who meets Dr. Seeds quickly realizes her commitment to her patients and the rehab community,” said Angela Beninga, D.O, Chief Medical Informatics Officer and Associate Medical Director of Outpatient Rehabilitation at Shepherd Center. “Her compassion, dedication, and clinical excellence will be a welcome asset to our medical staff. Dr. Seeds made a real connection to our staff during her year here as the spinal cord injury fellow, which made inviting her back to Shepherd Center an easy decision.”
Dr. Seeds volunteers at the Georgia Rehabilitation Services Volunteer Partnership (RSVP) Clinic, providing free, comprehensive rehab care to patients in the Atlanta community. She also volunteers with adaptive sports programs. Her research interests are focused on health disparities, specifically firearm-related spinal cord injury outcomes.
When she is not caring for patients, Dr. Seeds enjoys running on the Atlanta Beltline, playing recreational flag football and soccer, and snowboarding. Her greatest joy comes from spending time with her six nieces and nephews in California.
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.