{"id":15507,"date":"2025-02-10T10:02:47","date_gmt":"2025-02-10T15:02:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shepctr2025dev.wpengine.com\/?post_type=idfive-person&p=15507"},"modified":"2025-02-10T10:04:08","modified_gmt":"2025-02-10T15:04:08","slug":"aj-sumser","status":"publish","type":"idfive-person","link":"https:\/\/shepherd.org\/staff-directory\/aj-sumser\/","title":{"rendered":"A.J. Sumser"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"A\n\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.J. Sumser<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

MS, CTRS<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Aquatics Specialist<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
  • \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/use>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
    Shepherd Center Main Campus<\/address>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
    Beyond Therapy<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t
    \n\t
    \n\t\t

    A.J. Sumser, MS, CTRS, has been with Shepherd Center since 2022 and is part of the Beyond Therapy\u00ae team.<\/p>\n

    Education and training<\/h2>\n

    Northwest Missouri State University<\/strong>
    \nMaster’s in Parks and Recreation Administration, 2024<\/p>\n

    Slippery Rock University<\/strong>
    \nBachelor of Science, Recreational Therapy, 2022<\/p>\n

    Certifications<\/h2>\n

    National Council of Recreational Therapy Certification<\/strong>
    \nCertified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS)<\/p>\n

    Certified Pool Operator<\/strong><\/p>\n

    American Red Cross<\/strong>
    \nLifeguard, Lifeguard Instructor, Water Safety Instructor, and First Aid\/CPR\/AED Instructor<\/p>\n

    American Heart Association<\/strong>
    \nBasic Life Support (BLS)<\/p>\n

    Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI)<\/strong>
    \nOpen Water Diver,\u00a0Advanced Open Water Diver, Rescue Diver, and Emergency First Responder<\/p>\n

    About<\/h2>\n

    A.J. Sumser is passionate about adaptive aquatics, inclusion in water-based activities, and promoting water safety and recreation for all individuals. With a strong commitment to helping people return to leisure activities, A.J. strives to create accessible and engaging aquatic experiences.<\/p>\n

    Drawn to Shepherd Center for its renowned recreational therapy department, A.J. was excited about the opportunity to develop the aquatics program in a setting that aligns with his goals. Finding a full-time role in adapted aquatics is rare, and A.J. feels fortunate to be part of an organization that prioritizes innovation, inclusion, and meaningful patient experiences.<\/p>\n

    Originally from Avon, Ohio, A.J. extends his expertise beyond Shepherd Center by teaching swim lessons to children with autism spectrum disorder and leading lifeguard and first aid trainings for pool facilities.<\/p>\n

    Outside of work, A.J. enjoys playing volleyball and pickleball, diving into the world of musical theatre, and traveling whenever possible \u2014 especially for SCUBA diving adventures.<\/p>\n\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    A.J. Sumser is an Aquatics Specialist at Shepherd Center. Learn more about his education and background.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":15509,"template":"","role":[],"specialty":[46],"class_list":["post-15507","idfive-person","type-idfive-person","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","specialty-physiotherapy"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nA.J. Sumser | Shepherd Center<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A.J. Sumser is an Aquatics Specialist at Shepherd Center. Learn more about his education and background.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/shepherd.org\/staff-directory\/aj-sumser\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"A.J. Sumser\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"A.J. Sumser is an Aquatics Specialist at Shepherd Center. Learn more about his education and background.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/shepherd.org\/staff-directory\/aj-sumser\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Shepherd Center\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/shepherdcenter\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-02-10T15:04:08+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/shepherd.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aj-sumser.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"377\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"377\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"1 minute\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\n\t \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n\t \"@graph\": [\n\t {\n\t \"@type\": \"WebPage\",\n\t \"@id\": \"https:\/\/shepherd.org\/staff-directory\/aj-sumser\/\",\n\t \"url\": \"https:\/\/shepherd.org\/staff-directory\/aj-sumser\/\",\n\t \"name\": \"A.J. Sumser | Shepherd Center\",\n\t \"isPartOf\": {\n\t \"@id\": \"https:\/\/shepherd.org\/#website\"\n\t },\n\t \"primaryImageOfPage\": {\n\t \"@id\": \"https:\/\/shepherd.org\/staff-directory\/aj-sumser\/#primaryimage\"\n\t },\n\t \"image\": {\n\t \"@id\": \"https:\/\/shepherd.org\/staff-directory\/aj-sumser\/#primaryimage\"\n\t },\n\t \"thumbnailUrl\": \"https:\/\/shepherd.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aj-sumser.jpg\",\n\t \"datePublished\": \"2025-02-10T15:02:47+00:00\",\n\t \"dateModified\": \"2025-02-10T15:04:08+00:00\",\n\t \"description\": \"A.J. Sumser is an Aquatics Specialist at Shepherd Center. Learn more about his education and background.\",\n\t \"breadcrumb\": {\n\t \"@id\": \"https:\/\/shepherd.org\/staff-directory\/aj-sumser\/#breadcrumb\"\n\t },\n\t \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\",\n\t \"potentialAction\": [\n\t {\n\t \"@type\": \"ReadAction\",\n\t \"target\": [\n\t \"https:\/\/shepherd.org\/staff-directory\/aj-sumser\/\"\n\t ]\n\t }\n\t ]\n\t },\n\t {\n\t \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n\t \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\",\n\t \"@id\": \"https:\/\/shepherd.org\/staff-directory\/aj-sumser\/#primaryimage\",\n\t \"url\": \"https:\/\/shepherd.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aj-sumser.jpg\",\n\t \"contentUrl\": \"https:\/\/shepherd.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aj-sumser.jpg\",\n\t \"width\": 377,\n\t \"height\": 377,\n\t \"caption\": \"Headshot of A.J. Sumser\"\n\t },\n\t {\n\t \"@type\": \"BreadcrumbList\",\n\t \"@id\": \"https:\/\/shepherd.org\/staff-directory\/aj-sumser\/#breadcrumb\",\n\t \"itemListElement\": [\n\t {\n\t \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\n\t \"position\": 1,\n\t \"name\": \"Home\",\n\t \"item\": \"https:\/\/shepherd.org\/\"\n\t },\n\t {\n\t \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\n\t \"position\": 2,\n\t \"name\": \"A.J. Sumser\"\n\t }\n\t ]\n\t },\n\t {\n\t \"@type\": \"WebSite\",\n\t \"@id\": \"https:\/\/shepherd.org\/#website\",\n\t \"url\": \"https:\/\/shepherd.org\/\",\n\t \"name\": \"Shepherd Center\",\n\t \"description\": \"\",\n\t \"publisher\": {\n\t \"@id\": \"https:\/\/shepherd.org\/#organization\"\n\t },\n\t \"potentialAction\": [\n\t {\n\t \"@type\": \"SearchAction\",\n\t \"target\": {\n\t \"@type\": \"EntryPoint\",\n\t \"urlTemplate\": \"https:\/\/shepherd.org\/?s={search_term_string}\"\n\t },\n\t \"query-input\": {\n\t \"@type\": \"PropertyValueSpecification\",\n\t \"valueRequired\": true,\n\t \"valueName\": \"search_term_string\"\n\t }\n\t }\n\t ],\n\t \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\"\n\t },\n\t {\n\t \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n\t \"@id\": \"https:\/\/shepherd.org\/#organization\",\n\t \"name\": \"Shepherd Center\",\n\t \"url\": \"https:\/\/shepherd.org\/\",\n\t \"logo\": {\n\t \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n\t \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\",\n\t \"@id\": \"https:\/\/shepherd.org\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\n\t \"url\": \"https:\/\/shepherd.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/shepherd-vertical-logo.png?ver=1741123227\",\n\t \"contentUrl\": \"https:\/\/shepherd.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/shepherd-vertical-logo.png?ver=1741123227\",\n\t \"width\": 981,\n\t \"height\": 1163,\n\t \"caption\": \"Shepherd Center\"\n\t },\n\t \"image\": {\n\t \"@id\": \"https:\/\/shepherd.org\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"\n\t },\n\t \"sameAs\": [\n\t \"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/shepherdcenter\",\n\t \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/shepherd-center\",\n\t \"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/ShepherdCenter\"\n\t ],\n\t \"description\": \"Shepherd Center\u2019s mission is to help people with a temporary or permanent disability caused by injury or disease rebuild their lives with hope, independence, and dignity, advocating for their full inclusion in all aspects of community life while promoting safety and injury prevention.\",\n\t \"email\": \"hello@shepherd.org\",\n\t \"telephone\": \"404-352-2020\",\n\t \"legalName\": \"Shepherd Center\",\n\t \"foundingDate\": \"1975-08-18\",\n\t \"numberOfEmployees\": {\n\t \"@type\": \"QuantitativeValue\",\n\t \"minValue\": \"1001\",\n\t \"maxValue\": \"5000\"\n\t },\n\t \"publishingPrinciples\": \"https:\/\/shepherd.org\/about\/\",\n\t \"ownershipFundingInfo\": \"https:\/\/shepherd.org\/policies\/price-transparency\/\",\n\t \"actionableFeedbackPolicy\": \"https:\/\/shepherd.org\/policies\/\",\n\t \"correctionsPolicy\": \"https:\/\/shepherd.org\/policies\/terms-conditions\/\",\n\t \"ethicsPolicy\": \"https:\/\/shepherd.org\/policies\/code-of-ethics\/\"\n\t }\n\t ]\n\t}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"A.J. Sumser | Shepherd Center","description":"A.J. Sumser is an Aquatics Specialist at Shepherd Center. Learn more about his education and background.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/shepherd.org\/staff-directory\/aj-sumser\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"A.J. Sumser","og_description":"A.J. Sumser is an Aquatics Specialist at Shepherd Center. Learn more about his education and background.","og_url":"https:\/\/shepherd.org\/staff-directory\/aj-sumser\/","og_site_name":"Shepherd Center","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/shepherdcenter","article_modified_time":"2025-02-10T15:04:08+00:00","og_image":[{"width":377,"height":377,"url":"https:\/\/shepherd.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aj-sumser.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"1 minute"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/shepherd.org\/staff-directory\/aj-sumser\/","url":"https:\/\/shepherd.org\/staff-directory\/aj-sumser\/","name":"A.J. Sumser | Shepherd Center","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/shepherd.org\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/shepherd.org\/staff-directory\/aj-sumser\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/shepherd.org\/staff-directory\/aj-sumser\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/shepherd.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aj-sumser.jpg","datePublished":"2025-02-10T15:02:47+00:00","dateModified":"2025-02-10T15:04:08+00:00","description":"A.J. Sumser is an Aquatics Specialist at Shepherd Center. Learn more about his education and background.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/shepherd.org\/staff-directory\/aj-sumser\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/shepherd.org\/staff-directory\/aj-sumser\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/shepherd.org\/staff-directory\/aj-sumser\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/shepherd.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aj-sumser.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/shepherd.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aj-sumser.jpg","width":377,"height":377,"caption":"Headshot of A.J. Sumser"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/shepherd.org\/staff-directory\/aj-sumser\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/shepherd.org\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"A.J. Sumser"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/shepherd.org\/#website","url":"https:\/\/shepherd.org\/","name":"Shepherd Center","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/shepherd.org\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/shepherd.org\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/shepherd.org\/#organization","name":"Shepherd Center","url":"https:\/\/shepherd.org\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/shepherd.org\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/shepherd.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/shepherd-vertical-logo.png?ver=1741123227","contentUrl":"https:\/\/shepherd.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/shepherd-vertical-logo.png?ver=1741123227","width":981,"height":1163,"caption":"Shepherd Center"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/shepherd.org\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/shepherdcenter","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/shepherd-center","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/ShepherdCenter"],"description":"Shepherd Center\u2019s mission is to help people with a temporary or permanent disability caused by injury or disease rebuild their lives with hope, independence, and dignity, advocating for their full inclusion in all aspects of community life while promoting safety and injury prevention.","email":"hello@shepherd.org","telephone":"404-352-2020","legalName":"Shepherd Center","foundingDate":"1975-08-18","numberOfEmployees":{"@type":"QuantitativeValue","minValue":"1001","maxValue":"5000"},"publishingPrinciples":"https:\/\/shepherd.org\/about\/","ownershipFundingInfo":"https:\/\/shepherd.org\/policies\/price-transparency\/","actionableFeedbackPolicy":"https:\/\/shepherd.org\/policies\/","correctionsPolicy":"https:\/\/shepherd.org\/policies\/terms-conditions\/","ethicsPolicy":"https:\/\/shepherd.org\/policies\/code-of-ethics\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/shepherd.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/idfive-person\/15507","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/shepherd.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/idfive-person"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/shepherd.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/idfive-person"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shepherd.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15509"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/shepherd.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15507"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"role","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shepherd.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/role?post=15507"},{"taxonomy":"specialty","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shepherd.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/specialty?post=15507"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}