A look at Alana Shepherd of Atlanta's Shepherd Center

Metro Atlanta

Alana Shepherd is the Alana Shepherd — co-founder of what started back in 1975 as a six-bed unit.

Alana Shepherd (left), founder of Shepherd Center, meets with patient Bobby Madril (right) at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta on Tuesday, March 12, 2024. (Arvin Temkar / arvin.temkar@ajc.com)

Alana Shepherd, founder of Shepherd Center, makes a phone call at her office at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta on Tuesday, March 12, 2024. (Arvin Temkar / arvin.temkar@ajc.com)

Shepherd Center co-founders Harold, James and Alana Shepherd leaving Craig Hospital in Denver where James received spinal cord injury rehabilitation in late 1973 and early 1974. Contributed

Alana Shepherd (center), founder of Shepherd Center, meets with patient Hannah Evans (left) and staff at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta on Tuesday, March 12, 2024. (Arvin Temkar / arvin.temkar@ajc.com)

Family photo 2015 – left to right: Jamie Shepherd, Alana Shepherd, Harold Shepherd, James H. Shepherd, Jr., Julie Shepherd.
Contributed

Patient Peter Brown and engagement coordinator Jennifer Heffron (left to right) laugh as Alana Shepherd, founder of Shepherd Center, speaks during a patient dinner at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta on Tuesday, March 12, 2024. (Arvin Temkar / arvin.temkar@ajc.com)

Alana Shepherd and Dr. David Apple, Jr. founding medical director of Shepherd Center.
Contributed

Alana Shepherd (right), founder of Shepherd Center, meets with patient Hannah Evans (left) at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta on Tuesday, March 12, 2024. (Arvin Temkar / arvin.temkar@ajc.com)

Alana Shepherd (left), founder of Shepherd Center, meets with patient Christoper Peixoto at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta on Tuesday, March 12, 2024. (Arvin Temkar / arvin.temkar@ajc.com)

Alana Shepherd hoists the torch to start the 1996 Paralympic Games in Atlanta after championing efforts to make the Olympics and Paralympics more equitable.
Contributed

Alana Shepherd, founder of Shepherd Center, uses a mobility scooter to travel around the Shepherd Center in Atlanta on Tuesday, March 12, 2024. (Arvin Temkar / arvin.temkar@ajc.com)

1/11

Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com

Alana Shepherd (left), founder of Shepherd Center, meets with patient Bobby Madril (right) at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta on Tuesday, March 12, 2024. (Arvin Temkar / arvin.temkar@ajc.com)

Today's Gallery Headlines

PHOTOS: An early look at CNN Center's redevelopment in downtown Atlanta

PHOTOS: Wayfair opens first Atlanta store

PHOTOS: Hawks defeat Celtics in key East battle

People march in Bishop Park in Athens on Saturday, March 28, 2026. Protesters gathered in 10 different locations around Georgia’s Congressional District 10, leading up to a “Democracy Fair” at Bishop Park as part of a nationwide day of “No Kings” demonstrations. Organizers estimate that a few thousand people participated, many of them first-time protesters. (C.J. Bartunek for the AJC)

PHOTOS: 'No Kings' rally at Bishop Park in Athens, Ga.

More Galleries

Game 2 of Atlanta Braves vs Kansas City Royals

PHOTOS: Braves go to 2-0 after walk-off grand slam

Sen. Jon Ossoff speaks during Georgia Service Academy Day at Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta on Saturday, March 28, 2026. (Ben Gray for the AJC)

PHOTOS: Deepening impasse over DHS funding was plain to see at Dobbins Air Reserve Base hangar

PHOTOS: No Kings rally and march in downtown Atlanta

Atlanta Braves season opener against the Kansas City Royals

Alerts