Founder Ed Eckenhoff Honored With Service at National Cathedral in D.C.

WASHINGTON, D.C., - MedStar National Rehabilitation Network Founder and Past President Edward A. Eckenhoff was honored with a special service at the Washington National Cathedral in early May.

Ed passed away peacefully with family and friends by his side earlier this year on January 10 at his home in Naples, Florida. He is survived by his wife Judi Eckenhoff, his brothers Walt and Roderic Eckenhoff, many nieces and nephews and the family dog, Bogey.

Ed opened the doors of NRH in 1986 and through his leadership, we have grown from one single inpatient facility to having served tens of thousands of inpatients and outpatients via our 50 network sites.

Highlights of Ed’s achievements with MedStar NRH include:

1986 – NRH establishes four core programs – stroke, spinal cord injury, brain injury & orthopaedics

1987 – NRH becomes accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals

1989 – Received accreditation from CARF – the Commission on the Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities

1989 – First class of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation residents graduate

1990 – Worked closely with President George H.W. Bush on the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), officially signed into law, July 1990

1992 – NRH begins association with volunteers from Junior League of Washington, D.C., which continues to this day

1993 – First rehabilitation day treatment program established

1993 – Adaptive sports program launches

1994 – Second ever outpatient site opens in Mitchellville, Md

1996 – Formation of the outpatient network officially called the NRH Rehabilitation Network

1997 – Innovative therapy space known as Independence Square launches, with tremendous philanthropic support

1998 – NRH and National Institutes of Health sign agreement for joint efforts in research, training and medical treatment

2000 – U.S. Congress appoints $6M towards new NRH Neuroscience Research Center

2004 – NRH holds first ever Super H 5K Run, Walk & Wheel benefitting adaptive sports programs and launched by former patient Harry Freedman and his wife, Renie

2005 – The Christoph Ruesch Research Center opens

2006 – NRH becomes one of 14 Model Spinal Cord Injury Systems designated by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research

2007 – NRH Spinal Cord Injury & Stroke Programs receive CARF – Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities – accreditation

The Eckenhoff family asks that any gifts and donations be made in Ed’s honor to MedStar NRH’s Adding Life to Years® Campaign. Please visit www.giving.medstarhealth.org/edwardeckenhoff for more information. You can also make checks payable to: MedStar NRH, 102 Irving St., NW, Washington, D.C., 20010.