Dr. Shepanek supported NASA HQ, Aerospace Medicine and ground based analogs for space flight in policy formulation, scientific research and clinical support, for the Office of the Chief Health and Medical Officer, the Office of Life and Microgravity Science and Applications and the Office of Exploration for over 39 years, retiring in January of 2026. He initiated programs facilitating research in Antarctica as well as training programs for NASA flight surgeons and residents at UTMB. He is an adjunct assistant research professor for the Department of Psychiatry at USU (since 2004). Dr. Shepanek supported the civilian aerospace medicine residencies at Wright State and UTMB. He worked on the NASA medical team at Stennis Space Center during the Hurricane Katrina disaster. He is the Deputy Chief Officer for space analogs for the Joint Expert Group for Human Biology and Medicine of the International Life Sciences Standing Committee of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR).
He has served as a funded Co-Investigator for the effects of T3 and T4 on cognitive processing in the extreme environment of Antarctica.