About Us
About Us
For more than 50 years, Methodist Rehabilitation has been restoring ability and hope to people rebuilding their lives after life-changing injuries and illnesses. What began in 1975 as Mississippi’s first freestanding rehabilitation hospital has evolved into a comprehensive system offering advanced inpatient and outpatient therapy, pain management, orthotics and prosthetics, and specialized programs for stroke, brain, spinal cord injuries and more. Supported by the Wilson Research Foundation, our groundbreaking research continues to shape the future of neurorehabilitation. Through innovation, compassion, and faith, Methodist Rehabilitation remains dedicated to its founding vision: restoring independence, advancing recovery, and transforming lives every day.
Our Mission
In response to the love of God, Methodist Rehabilitation is dedicated to the restoration and enhancement of the lives of those we serve. We are committed to excellence and leadership in the delivery of comprehensive rehabilitation services.
Our History
Fifty years ago, Methodist Rehabilitation opened its doors with a simple but powerful mission: restore hope and independence to people facing life-changing injuries and illnesses. Since then, thousands of patients have learned to walk, work, and live independently again—turning what began as a bold vision into a living legacy of transformation.
The idea for a rehabilitation center in Mississippi was first conceived in 1955. Recognizing a critical gap in care, hospital founders began advocating for a facility to serve patients with disabling injuries and conditions. In 1968, with support from the Mississippi Legislature, the University of Mississippi Medical Center, the Mississippi Methodist Conference, and the Mississippi Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, land was secured, and a board of trustees was established.
On December 8, 1970, ground was broken for what would become Mississippi’s first freestanding rehabilitation hospital.
The center officially opened on May 5, 1975, with 60 beds and a bold philosophy rooted in treating the whole person—body, mind, and spirit.
In 1998, Methodist Rehabilitation launched the Center for Neuroscience and Neurological Recovery. Today, its work is supported by the Wilson Research Foundation, named for founding chairman Earl R. Wilson and his wife, Martha. This research initiative has produced hundreds of published studies and advanced new therapies for stroke, spinal cord, and brain injuries.
In 2000, Methodist Rehabilitation became the first hospital in Mississippi to be named one of America’s Best Hospitals by U.S. News & World Report.
What began as a three-floor inpatient hospital has grown into a comprehensive system of rehabilitative care—an inpatient facility spanning seven floors, multiple outpatient services, a thriving research foundation, a residential care facility, and specialized programs in orthotics and prosthetics, pain management, and physical medicine.
Today, Methodist Rehabilitation remains a regional and national leader in the treatment of stroke, brain injury, spinal cord injury, and complex orthopedic and neurologic conditions. Through five decades of vision, teamwork, and faith, Methodist Rehab has truly fulfilled its founding dream: restoring ability and hope through compassion, dedication, and innovation.
