Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network and Moravian University have announced the formation of a partnership between the two storied organizations to explore and develop educational and research opportunities that advance rehabilitation.

While some elements of the partnership, including cross-training and education, the partnership will achieve full fruition with the opening of the Good Shepherd - Moravian University 3D Experience, a 3D printing lab that will be in Good Shepherd’s four-story, 76-bed inpatient rehabilitation hospital set to open in Upper Saucon Township in early 2023.

The Good Shepherd - Moravian University 3D Experience will be housed in the new rehabilitation hospital’s Experience Center, to explore and research technological mega-trends, including 3D printing, automation technology, wearables, artificial intelligence, that have the potential to advance rehabilitation practices for people with stroke, spinal cord injury, brain injury and other disabilities.

The partnership is the first of its kind between Moravian and Good Shepherd, and focuses on several key objectives:

• Implement an innovative 3D printing center in a rehabilitation setting

• Create and carry out a progressive research agenda

• Develop and serve as thought leaders

• Provide advanced training and education to current and next-generation rehabilitation professionals

• Influence the rehabilitation industry

“This partnership will have far-reaching impacts for our patients with disabilities, particularly when it comes to envisioning and creating customized solutions that can benefit one person or many people,” said Michael Spigel, PT, MHA, President & CEO of Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network.

“The ability to have our clinicians create an idea on paper to potentially change the life of someone with a disability, take that two-dimensional idea and create a three-dimensional product through the technical and clinical collaboration with Moravian, is incredible,” Spigel said.

“In short, we are designing the future,” said Moravian University President Bryon L. Grigsby.

“Our faculty are producing the next generation of occupational therapists and physical therapists that will be working in the field, and this opportunity allows us to explore ways to research new techniques and technologies in a practical environment,” Grigsby said.

“Good Shepherd is a leader in rehabilitation, and we’re able to use the actual practical nature of working with patients with these new products, see how they work and publish that information to the rest of the world,” said Grigsby.

Construction on Good Shepherd’s new rehabilitation hospital is scheduled to begin later in 2021. A ceremonial groundbreaking was held Sept. 22.

The rehabilitation hospital’s Experience Center will feature three areas of focus:

• 3D Printing

• Automation, where people with disabilities and their family members can learn how to control their environment through enabling and automating technology, such as Google Home, Amazon Alexa and other assisting technologies

• Wearables and artificial intelligence

Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network, a nationally-recognized, not-for-profit rehabilitation leader, has more than 70 locations in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Good Shepherd partners with Penn Medicine to provide rehabilitation and specialty services in the greater Philadelphia area and New Jersey through Good Shepherd Penn Partners.

Moravian University is the nation’s United State’s sixth-oldest university, located in Bethlehem. Moravian University is a member of The New American Colleges and Universities, a national consortium of selective, small to mid-size independent colleges and universities dedicated to the purposeful integration of liberal education, professional studies and civic engagement.