Cathy Herring, C.T.R.S., a recreation therapist at Jackson Rehabilitation Hospital, was recently honored with the Florida Hospital Association’s Celebration of Service Award for Caregiver of the Year.

 

For the past 22 years, Herring has dedicated her life to inspiring and transforming the lives of countless patients with spinal cord injuries throughout South Florida. She uses recreation as a treatment to encourage and motivate adults and children with life-changing injuries to remain active members of their families and their community.

 

Through goal-oriented and skill-based community outings, Herring’s patients – most of whom are paraplegics and quadriplegics – have the opportunity to use the skills learned in a traditional rehabilitation setting in real-life situations.

 

Her accomplishments at Jackson are many: launching the hospital’s aquatic rehab program for spinal cord injury patients; partnering with the City of Miami Parks and Recreation department to start a hand cycling program at Jackson; and becoming a canine companion with her dog, Jean, to conduct pet therapy sessions for Jackson patients with limited motor skills. She is also on the board of the Leisure Access Foundation of the Miami-Dade Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department and is a Paralympics partner.