Message From the Executive Director (March 2025)

I don’t know about you, but I’m still buzzing from the energy of our fabulous Parkinson’s Today symposium last month. 

Over the course of four hours we covered the latest standards of care for Parkinson’s with Movement Disorder Specialist Dr. John Legge and Neurosurgeon Dr. Jessica Shields. We heard from family and professional caregivers about the best practices for navigating changes at home and from placement specialists about when to consider next steps for yourself or your loved one. We finished the day with an update from our partners at The Michael J. Fox Foundation about critical policy and research updates in the quest for a future without Parkinson’s. 

In the words of one attendee, “Feeling connected to a larger group of people, learning new information about Parkinson’s, research, medication, support groups in the area... all this was very encouraging to me.”

After the event, I heard from another constituent who told me he was bracing for a depressing day; that he knew he needed to go but he wasn’t sure he wanted to. Instead, he left with a feeling of hope and positivity about the present and future of Parkinson’s.

It was a true honor to put on this event for our Parkinson’s community. I’m proud we were able to bring such a collection of experts together for your edification, I’m proud we were able to inject some lighthearted fun into the day (hello, dance break), and I’m very proud we were able to make the event free for everyone who wanted to attend. A huge thanks is owed to our presenting sponsor, The Auen Foundation, and the rest of our sponsors who made that possible. 

Most of all, I’m proud that this event is available for everyone who couldn’t join us in person on February 8th. We took sophisticated video of every panel and we’re in the process of editing and uploading each video to our website and YouTube for you to peruse at your leisure. Our goal was to make this event as accessible as possible. That’s why it was free, that’s why it was at an ADA accessible auditorium, and that’s why the day’s learning will be accessible free online. Check out our YouTube, keep an eye on your emails, and give us a call if you need help accessing the content. 

Looking ahead, please enjoy a safe and happy March. I’ll indulge my heritage this month by signing off with an Irish proverb: “A little fire that warms is better than a big fire that burns.”

My great hope is for PRO to be the little fire that warms you, this month and every month. 

Now read on for these articles:

EPA WILL SOON WEIGH IN ON WEED KILLER THAT MAY CAUSE PARKINSON’S DISEASE

DID YOU KNOW? EXERCISE & PARKINSON’S

BLOOD PRESSURE TREATMENT EASES PARKINSON’S TREMOR IN SMALL TRIAL

US VOTERS OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORT CAREGIVER TAX CREDIT: SURVEY

NEW IN-PERSON DANCE CLASS

NANOPARTICLES REVERSE PARKINSON’S IN MICE BY HEALING DAMAGED DOPAMINE CELLS

MEET THE PRO TEAM

ALWAYS remember to CELEBRATE YOU and LEAD WITH LOVE.