Parkinson's Disease Foundation Addresses Unmet Needs in Parkinson's Education with Newest Online Seminars

NEW YORK, Sept. 13, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Parkinson's Disease Foundation^® (PDF^®), a division of the Parkinson's Foundation, is pleased to announce the launch of its eighth series of PD ExpertBriefings — six free online seminars which address unmet needs in Parkinson's education.  The series, presented by leaders in Parkinson's research and care, begins today, Tuesday, September 13, at 1:00 PM ET at www.pdf.org/parkinsononline.

Many people living with Parkinson's disease have questions about practical aspects of living with the disease that often go unanswered.  As part of PDF's annual educational needs survey, more than 1,000 respondents helped the organization to identify areas of unmet need, which if addressed through education, could significantly improve the lives of people with Parkinson's.

The series kicks off today with, "Getting Around: Transportation & Travel with PD."  The seminar, co-led by Rebecca Gilbert, M.D., Ph.D., Clinical Associate Professor of Neurology, The Marlene and Paolo Fresco Institute for Parkinson's and Movement Disorders at NYU Langone and Sara Riggare, Ph.D. Candidate, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden, will offer practical tips to help people with Parkinson's and their care partners to travel with confidence.

The series offers additional seminars that address aspects of day-to-day living with Parkinson's, such as coping with an early diagnosis, understanding misunderstood symptoms such as skin changes, sleep and pain, and navigating legal and financial issues as a Parkinson's care partner.

"As part of our strategy to end Parkinson's disease, PDF mobilizes the members of our team — in the research, health and patient communities — to work together.  That teamwork is the foundation for the success of this educational series," said Robin Anthony Elliott, CEO, Parkinson's Disease Foundation.  "The seminars are led by one group of experts in the field —the researchers and health professionals who bring their expertise to bear on coping with the disease.  And they are guided by another — the people with Parkinson's and care partners who have ensured that PDF addresses the topics that matter most."

"As a person with Parkinson's who has lived in several rural communities, I know that finding timely and accurate information on Parkinson's can be a challenge," said A.C. Woolnough of Sandpoint, ID, Vice Chair of PDF's People with Parkinson's Advisory Council.  "That's the beauty of the PD ExpertBriefings — they allow anyone in the community to access relevant information regardless of where they live.  Through PD ExpertBriefings, PDF ensures that people with Parkinson's have access to the information we need."

Qualifying health professionals have the opportunity to earn free continuing education credits by participating live or within 30 days of any PD ExpertBriefing.  The full schedule appears below.

PD ExpertBriefings Schedule

Getting Around: Transportation & Travel with PD
Tuesday, September 13, 1:00-2:00 PM ET
Sara Riggare, Ph.D. Candidate, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden, and Rebecca Gilbert, M.D., Ph.D., Clinical Associate Professor of Neurology, The Marlene and Paolo Fresco Institute for Parkinson's and Movement Disorders at NYU Langone

Parkinson's Disease: Financial, Legal and Medical Planning Tips for Care Partners
In recognition of National Family Caregivers Month
Tuesday, November 8, 1:00 PM-2:00 PM ET
Martin M. Shenkman, C.P.A., M.B.A., P.F.S., A.E.P., J.D., Founder, Shenkman Law

Pain in PD
Tuesday, January 10, 2017, 1:00 PM-2:00 PM ET
Jori E. Fleisher, M.D., M.S.C.E., Assistant Professor of Neurology and Population Health, The Marlene and Paolo Fresco Institute for Parkinson's and Movement Disorders at NYU Langone

Diagnosis PD, Now What? Managing the First Few Years with Parkinson's
Tuesday, March 7, 2017, 1:00 PM-2:00 PM ET
Suketu Khandhar, M.D., Medical Director, Kaiser Permanente Northern California Movement Disorders Program, Kaiser Permanente Sacramento Medical Center

Is It Related to PD? Runny Noses, Skin Changes and Overlooked PD Symptoms
In recognition of Parkinson's Awareness Month
Tuesday, April 18, 2017, 1:00-2:00 PM ET
W. Lawrence Severt, M.D., Ph.D., Attending Neurologist, Mount Sinai Beth Israel Medical Center

Sleep and Parkinson's
Tuesday, June 13, 2017, 1:00-2:00 PM ET
Aleksandar Videnovic, M.D., M.Sc., Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital

To join a PD ExpertBriefing online or by mobile device, visit www.pdf.org/parkinsononline or contact PDF at (800) 457-6676 or [email protected].  Pre-registration is recommended.  Online viewers can submit questions to presenters during the live seminars.

About Parkinson's Disease
Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurological disorder that affects nearly one million people in the US and over 10 million worldwide.  Parkinson's is the second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer's and is the 14th leading cause of death in the US.  It is associated with a loss of motor control (e.g., shaking or tremor at rest and lack of facial expression) as well as non-motor symptoms (e.g., depression and anxiety).  Although promising research is being conducted, there is currently no cure for Parkinson's disease.

About PD ExpertBriefings
PD ExpertBriefings are free interactive seminars that provide people with Parkinson's, families and health professionals with first-hand access to leaders in research and care.  Since 2009, PDF has offered more than 50 PD ExpertBriefings, which are available online at www.pdf.org/parkinsononline and via DVD.  Through its sponsorship of the American Society on Aging, PDF offers continuing education credits to health professionals who participate in PD ExpertBriefings live or within 30 days.  The newest series covers topics chosen with the help of the community, including 1,000 survey respondents and eight regional organizations, including Dallas Area Parkinsonism Society (DAPS); Houston Area Parkinson Society (HAPS); Michigan Parkinson Foundation (MPF); Neuro Challenge Foundation (NCF); Parkinson Association of the Carolinas (PAC); Parkinson Association of the Rockies (PAR); Parkinson's Association (PA) and Parkinson Support Center of Kentuckiana (PSCKY).  This series has been made possible by educational grants from AbbVie, Inc., ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Lundbeck LLC.

About the Parkinson's Disease Foundation, a division of the Parkinson's Foundation
The Parkinson's Foundation is working toward a world without Parkinson's disease.  Formed by the merger of National Parkinson Foundation (NPF) and the Parkinson's Disease Foundation (PDF) in August 2016, the mission of the Parkinson's Foundation is to invest in promising scientific research that will end Parkinson's disease and improve the lives of people with Parkinson's, and their families, through improved treatments, support and the best care.  For more information, visit www.pdf.org or www.parkinson.org or call (800) 457-6676 or (800) 4PD-INFO (473-4636).

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SOURCE Parkinson's Disease Foundation

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