Shepherd Center Impact Council elevates community ambassadors for hospital
Cory Jackson started his career at Synovus in 2005, and 19 years later, he is a market president of Atlanta. His innate leadership and flair for building relationships led to him being chosen to be a member of the Shepherd Center Impact Council. He began dedicating time to the Shepherd Center, a spinal injury rehabilitation hospital, when he and other Synovus team members hosted a fun-filled game night for patients.
Known as one of the nation’s top spinal injury care centers, Shepherd Center is a private, not-for-profit hospital specializing in medical treatment, research and rehabilitation for people with spinal cord injury, brain injury, multiple sclerosis, spine and chronic pain, and other neuromuscular conditions. His role in the Impact Council will give him, and the other 20 members, an opportunity to increase awareness of Shepherd’s and the work they do.
The Impact Council's purpose is to engage professionals aged 35-50 as future candidates for the hospital’s board of directors. Part of the center’s mission is to attract and develop young professionals, such as Jackson, who’ll inspire philanthropy and longstanding support. The appointed council members, as a group, lead by example through volunteerism and help address issues to elevate the patient's experience. One task for the council is attracting and retaining the best nurses.
According to the Georgia Nursing Workforce Center at Emory University, there are 750 nurses per 100,000 patients. “Currently the council is working to find solutions to gain and retain nurses,” Jackson shares. “We’re even considering offering scholarships for nursing students.”
To help patients regain their independence, nurses, volunteers and staff encourage self-reliance to reintroduce everyday tasks.
“Adversity can strike at any moment, and when it does, having a supportive community can make all the difference. I give back because it’s my passion, and I’m driven to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those around me.”
“Regardless, if you’re using a wheelchair or have a cognitive or physical disability, they want patients to learn independence again. Patients go to Atlanta Braves games, to dinner or out of state by themselves, allowing them the freedom to navigate and increase their confidence,” Jackson explains.
Jackson shares that engaging with patient families puts things into perspective. Within the hospital, Jackson interacts with the families of patients in various ways. On-campus family housing offers a close, private home-away-from-home for families. The Center hosts sponsored dinners called Feed the Family, which fosters togetherness, smiles and a fun outlet for up to 50 families every Tuesday. At these weekly events, families play games or sit and talk with each other to engage and build the family atmosphere.
“We may have things going on in our personal lives, and it may not be much when you compare it to others who have experienced injuries through life-changing events,” Jackson says.
Synovus has partnered with the hospital for more than 10 years. During that time, according to its leaders, Jackson’s presence has benefited the center.
Jon Roxland, the Center’s senior director of philanthropy and partnerships, says Jackson’s dedication made a strong imprint on the council. “Cory leads by example, making it a point to attend as many Shepherd events as possible and always working to connect people with our mission,” he explains. “If he believes something is meaningful, others will follow.”
Courtney Harris, senior philanthropy officer of the Shepherd Center Foundation, says, “Cory is passionate about Shepherd Center and its mission to see our patients rebuild their lives with dignity, independence and hope. Based on his interactions with Shepherd staff, patients and other board members, he leads with his heart.”
“Adversity can strike at any moment, and when it does, having a supportive community can make all the difference,” Jackson explains. “I give back because it’s my passion, and I’m driven to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those around me.”
Read more about how Synovus team members are enabling people to reach their full potential.
