Our Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation program is among the best in the nation. Our care and research teams strive to restore functional ability and quality of life for people with catastrophic injuries—such as burns or brain and spinal cord injuries—and those living with cancer, heart dysfunction, stroke, and organ transplants.

Physical spaces for multidisciplinary collaborations are central to this work. As part of an academic medical center, we are able to leverage the research strengths and clinical knowledge of experts throughout Emory Healthcare and the university. 2O36 will support a new Emory Rehabilitation Hospital, providing exceptional, collaborative spaces to better serve our patients, their families, and the physicians and researchers working to make their lives better.

The health of our community depends on providing care for all. An inability to pay keeps people from seeking health care, leading to more disease and escalating costs that can put a family’s entire financial health at risk. This is why Emory Healthcare strives to serve every patient in need. 2O36 will help us provide financial assistance and outreach services that improve access to care, advance medical knowledge, and create healthier, more productive communities.

Hospital systems must be able to handle unexpected challenges and expenses, often at a moment’s notice. Sometimes a patient’s family needs temporary housing or help with travel, for example, or the supply of personal protective equipment for employees runs low in the middle of a pandemic. 2O36 supports programs, services, and equipment that help Emory Healthcare quickly respond to such unexpected situations so our care teams can stay focused on their mission.

The Emory Healthcare Employee Hardship Fund helps our care teams weather difficult times in their lives. They may experience a death in the family, medical expenses from a severe illness or accident, financial losses from an uninsured disaster, unusual expenses when caring for a sick family member, or pandemic-related financial emergencies. 2O36 will increase this fund, previously supported solely by employee giving, to reach more Emory Healthcare staff in need.

At Emory Healthcare, we empower our teams to serve patients in the most efficient, effective ways possible. This is where EmPower comes in. Started with an investment from Jim Kennedy of the James M. Cox Foundation, EmPower is a customer-focused way of thinking that reduces waste, optimizes patient care and safety, and improves the patient and family experience. 2O36 will expand EmPower to all areas of Emory Healthcare and create a sustainability plan to ensure this valuable approach continues to thrive. The result will be continued improvements for the patients and families who entrust us with their care.

The Emory Healthcare Veterans Program delivers life-changing care to post-9/11 veterans and service members struggling with the invisible wounds of war. This remarkable program reduces the symptoms of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance use disorder, and mild traumatic brain injury at no cost to veterans. Those who complete the program—more than 3,000 since 2015—reconnect with their families, rejoin the workforce, and take many other important steps along the road to recovery. 2O36 will contribute to expanding the program to serve 50 percent more patients and extend eligibility to pre-9/11 veterans.

At a time when demand for health care providers is at an all-time high, education remains our most-underfunded mission. Education increases employee well-being, reduces job turnover, improves efficiency, and increases productivity—all to the betterment of patient care. By coordinating diverse educational experiences, 2O36 will strengthen compassionate, cross-cultural care. By advancing programs to improve the mental, emotional, and physical wellness of care teams, 2O36 will put people first across the board.