How Three Core Values Fueled 20 Years of Improving Lives at Rehab Medical

Rehab Medical, a company committed to improving and positively impacting the lives of its patients, partners, and employees, celebrates 20 years of service this year. Celebrating this milestone not only acknowledges how we’ve been able to support mobility users nationwide to achieve mobility freedom through custom rehab technology and unparalleled service, but also how we’ve remained committed to our servant leadership mindset.

At the heart of our servant leadership mindset are three core values that have shaped every aspect of our culture, service, and growth: Hard Work with Balance, Energetic to Achieve, and Compassionate.

These values haven’t just inspired how we work—they’ve propelled us forward, helping us build a company where employees thrive, patients are prioritized, and communities are positively impacted. As we reflect on two decades of progress, it’s clear that these core values have been—and will continue to be—the foundation of our success.

When the leadership team at Rehab Medical established the mission to improve lives, they recognized the need for a strong cultural foundation to support it. They sought to create a set of guiding principles that would align every employee—from frontline teams to leadership—toward that shared mission.

Drawing inspiration from individuals who consistently demonstrated traits like drive, balance, and empathy, our core values were born. With these guiding principles in mind, the leadership team established clear definitions to ensure every team member understood what each value truly means in action.

Energetic to Achieve: Driving Innovation and Momentum

At Rehab Medical, being Energetic to Achieve means more than just working hard—it’s about approaching each day with drive, initiative, and a commitment to lifting others up along the way. This value has fueled innovation, sparked bold ideas, and pushed us to break new ground in the mobility industry. From setting ambitious goals to supporting peers in reaching theirs, this go-getter mindset has been key to our sustained growth and success.

Hard Work with Balance: Building a Sustainable Culture

Our belief in Hard Work with Balance has created a workplace where high performance and personal well-being go hand in hand. We encourage team members to give their all during the workday—and then fully unplug to enjoy life outside of it. This value has helped us build a philosophy of trust, longevity, and resilience, enabling employees to thrive without burning out and supporting a sustainable path for long-term success.

Compassionate: Putting People First, Always

Compassion is more than a value at Rehab Medical—it’s a way of working. Being Compassionate means showing empathy in every interaction, whether with a teammate or a patient. It means actively listening, showing emotional support, and leading with the goal of improving lives. This value has shaped our customer care approach and fostered strong, meaningful connections across our teams and communities.

As we reflect on the journey from humble beginnings to becoming a leader in the industry, we want to honor the dedicated employees who have been with us since day one. Their passion and commitment have helped transform our values from mere words into daily actions, guiding Rehab Medical not just in what we stand for, but in who we continually strive to become.

When I first joined Rehab Medical, there were only seven of us in the office. Our CEO, Patrick McGinley, was incredibly driven and vocal about our mission to help others and maintain a positive, uplifting environment. That passion helped us build close, meaningful relationships with one another and foster a culture where the well-being of both our patients and employees truly mattered.

As we began exploring opportunities for growth, we welcomed our president, Kevin Gearheart. His arrival felt like an amplification of the strong culture and camaraderie we had already built. Both Patrick and Kevin were intentional about who they brought on board—ensuring new team members not only had the right skill sets but also embodied our three core values: Hard Work with Balance, Compassion, and Energetic to Achieve.

When we expanded beyond Indiana, there was some concern that our culture might be diluted. That’s when our leadership introduced the Core Values program—now a cornerstone of employee morale and retention. Designed to maintain meaningful connections and recognize individuals for living out our values, the program has kept our culture strong no matter how much we’ve grown.

Each year, it’s refreshing to see how our leaders continue to prioritize our core values through the Annual Conference, where employees are formally recognized in front of their peers for living our values. After putting in so much hard work, that public acknowledgment is not just rewarding, it’s a powerful reminder that what we do truly matters. Knowing we’ve made a positive impact in someone’s life means everything to me.

Now, 20 years later, it’s inspiring to see how those shared values continue to ripple outward. Just like a strong willow tree relies on deep roots for support, Rehab Medical’s culture is sustained by the dedication of its employees, all rooted in the mission laid out by our leaders.

With value-based hiring, open communication, and a shared commitment to improving lives, I believe Rehab Medical will continue to thrive for decades—still making a difference, one life at a time.

When Rehab Medical first began, we may have been small in numbers—but we were always mighty in purpose. From the beginning, our foundation was built on the strength of our core values: Hard Work with Balance, Compassion, and Energetic to Achieve. Over the years, those values have evolved with us, but their essence has remained constant.

As the company grew, I had the opportunity to witness the evolution of both our CEO, Patrick McGinley and our President, Kevin Gearheart. Together, they ensured our core values weren’t just words on a wall, they became the framework for how we operated.

By embedding these principles into our daily operations, leadership development, and our broader culture, we’ve created an environment where thoughtful decision-making, authentic leadership, collaboration, transparency, and individual empowerment are the norm—not the exception.

For me, Compassion has been the most impactful of our core values during my 20 years with Rehab Medical. I’ve seen our leadership team go far beyond expectations—extending real help to employees and stepping up for those in need across our communities. Programs like Operation Giving and other philanthropic efforts reflect more than our values—they reflect who we are as people.

Our Human Resources team also plays a vital role in carrying these values through every stage of the employee experience—from hiring and onboarding to recognition and performance evaluations. The result is a workplace where culture isn’t an initiative; it’s a shared belief.

One leader who truly embodies that spirit is our Employee Engagement and Development Manager, Jessi Harris. She’s been a driving force behind making sure our employees—whether at headquarters, in a branch office, or working remotely—feel valued, connected, and heard. Her dedication is a reflection of the kind of leadership that has helped Rehab Medical become not just a successful company, but a deeply human one.

As we continue to grow and evolve, I believe our mission and values will remain the steady foundation that drives our success—ensuring we stay grounded in purpose while reaching new heights.

What began 20 years ago as a way to keep our mission front and center has grown into the cornerstone of Rehab Medical’s culture—reinforcing the behaviors that support our mission to improve lives. Shortly after defining our core values, the leadership team launched the Core Values program to ensure those values would not only be upheld but celebrated.

The program was created to recognize employees who consistently demonstrate Energetic to Achieve, Hard Work with Balance, and Compassion in meaningful ways—whether through major achievements or everyday interactions. It also empowers employees to recognize each other, fostering a culture of peer-to-peer appreciation that’s authentic and lasting.

At the end of each year, employees with the most impactful nominations are formally recognized in front of their peers at our Annual Conference and are welcomed into the Excellence Club where they receive an opportunity to go on a fully paid, all-inclusive trip to a tropical destination outside the continental U.S.

Offering our employees this exclusive experience is our way of honoring those who go above and beyond—not only in serving customers, but also in uplifting teammates—and reflects our deep appreciation for those who embody the spirit of Rehab Medical.

With hundreds of nominations submitted annually, the Core Values program continues to thrive because it’s rooted in genuine recognition, shared purpose, and a collective commitment to improving lives.

As we celebrate two decades of growth, purpose, and impact, our commitment to improving lives remains stronger than ever. The core values that shaped our journey—Energetic to Achieve, Hard Work with Balance, and Compassionate—will continue to guide us as we navigate new challenges, embrace innovation, and expand our reach in the complex rehab technology space.

Looking ahead, these values are more than principles—they’re the foundation of every decision, every interaction, and every life we touch. As we move into the future, we will stay rooted in what has always set Rehab Medical apart: a relentless focus on people, purpose, and progress. Together, we’ll continue building a company where values drive excellence—and where improving lives isn’t just a mission, but a daily reality.