Raeda K. Anderson

About Dr. Anderson

“Data tells a story — and that story should lead to better lives.”

Dr. Raeda Anderson is a Research Scientist at Shepherd Center’s Virginia C. Crawford Research Institute, where she leads transdisciplinary analytics to advance rehabilitation science. She serves as Senior Scientist for the Accessibility User Research Collective (AURC), Lead Biostatistician for the Acquired Brain Injury Model Systems, and Lead Data Scientist for the Georgia Trauma Commission.

Her work focuses on leveraging multimodal data to generate actionable insights that improve patient outcomes and inform evidence-based practice. Dr. Anderson also directs the iCORD Lab at Georgia State University and serves as an Affiliate Professor in Sociology, fostering collaborations that bridge clinical research and social science.

Research specialties

• Community integration
• Community participation
• Social determinants of health
• Rural health
• Quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods research
• Clinician-driven research

Education & training

• Ph.D., Sociology (Minor: Survey and Research Methodology) – University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2018
• M.S., Applied Sociology – Valdosta State University, 2009
• B.A., Sociology and Anthropology – Valdosta State University, 2008

Certifications

• Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) – Social & Behavioral Research
• CPR Certification

Why her work matters

After a car accident involving Dr. Anderson and her mother, Shepherd provided exceptional rehabilitation care. Her mother’s experience, combined with her research on disability and community participation, strengthened her commitment to practical, outcome-driven research that improves rehabilitation trajectories.

“Shepherd Center and I share a common goal: advancing the quality of life and community participation of people with disabilities. Leveraging internal and external data enables us to generate timely, actionable insights that directly inform clinical practice. It is a privilege to lead studies that identify factors shaping recovery and contribute to meaningful, evidence-based change.”

Beyond Shepherd

Dr. Anderson directs the iCORD Lab at Georgia State University and serves as an Affiliate Professor in Sociology. She actively collaborates with academic and clinical partners to advance research on health equity and rehabilitation outcomes.

Outside of work, Dr. Anderson enjoys exploring state parks with her partner and two dogs and is an award-winning ceramicist — proof that she occasionally creates something that doesn’t involve statistics or dashboards.

Awards and honors

• Customer Service Award: Teamwork from Shepherd Center (2023)
• Outstanding Poster Award from the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine Annual Conference (2023)
• Outstanding Alumna of the Year from the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminal Justice. Valdosta State University (2019)
• Instructor of the Year from Georgia State University (2019)
• Graduate of the Last Decade from Valdosta State University (2018)
• J.J. & Eleanor S. Ogle Dissertation Fellowship from The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Department of Sociology (2017)
• University of Nebraska Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Award from The University of Nebraska-Lincoln (2017)
• Disability Awareness Award from the Mayor’s Council for People with Disabilities. City of Valdosta, Georgia (2009)