Parkinson's Disease Foundation Announces Newest Series of Community-Driven Online Seminars

NEW YORK, Sept. 9, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Parkinson's Disease Foundation® (PDF®) is pleased to announce its sixth series of PD ExpertBriefings, free interactive seminars presented by leaders in Parkinson's disease research and care.  Designed for people living with Parkinson's disease and health care professionals, the series of six seminars – which can be accessed online or by phone – will begin today, Tuesday, September 9 at 1:00 PM ET at www.pdf.org/parkinsononline.  The series will cover topics chosen with the help of the Parkinson's disease community, including nearly 1,000 survey respondents and four regional Parkinson's disease organizations.

"As a person with Parkinson's disease, PD ExpertBriefings have been invaluable to me.  When I first listened to these online seminars, my small world of Parkinson's disease grew larger and larger," said Karen Smith of Evansville, IN, Vice Chair of PDF's People with Parkinson's Advisory Council.  "PD ExpertBriefings ensure that all of us, including those living in rural communities without Parkinson's-specific programs or specialists, have access to the 'best of the best.'"

The latest series kicks off today with, "Occupational Therapy and Parkinson's: Tips for Healthy Living," a one-hour seminar led by Sue Berger, Ph.D., O.T.R/L., B.C.G., F.A.O.T.A., Clinical Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy at Boston University College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent College, and Linda Tickle-Degnen, Ph.D., O.T.R/L., F.A.O.T.A., Professor of Occupational Therapy and Director of the Health Quality of Life Lab at Tufts University.

In addition, the series will cover five other topics identified by the community as most critical for improving their lives with Parkinson's disease.  These include parenting while living with Parkinson's disease, exercising effectively, coping with vision challenges, maximizing medications and managing advanced Parkinson's disease.  The full schedule appears below.  Due to popular demand, the series will also offer continuing education credits to a variety of health care professionals who participate live or within 30 days of any PD ExpertBriefing.  

"At the Parkinson's Disease Foundation, we are committed to including the perspectives of people with Parkinson's in every aspect of our work," said Robin Elliott, President of the Parkinson's Disease Foundation.  "In this latest series of PD ExpertBriefings, the community has once again guided us toward traditionally-overlooked topics – for example the important role of occupational therapists and the impact of the disease on a person's vision – which can make a significant impact on the lives of people living with Parkinson's disease."

PD ExpertBriefings Schedule

Occupational Therapy and Parkinson's: Tips for Healthy Living
Tuesday, September 9, 2014, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM ET
Sue Berger, Ph.D., O.T.R/L., B.C.G., F.A.O.T.A., Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy, Boston University College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent College, and Linda Tickle-Degnen, Ph.D., O.T.R/L., F.A.O.T.A., Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy and Director, Health Quality of Life Lab, Tufts University

Parkinson's and Parenting: The Impact on Children and Young Adults
In recognition of November as National Family Caregivers Month
Tuesday, November 18, 2014, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM ET
Elaine Book, M.S.W., R.S.W., Clinical Social Worker, Pacific Parkinson's Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Canada

The Effects of Exercise on Parkinson's Disease
Tuesday, January 13, 2015, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM ET
Margaret Schenkman, P.T., Ph.D., F.A.P.T.A., Associate Dean for Physical Therapy Education, and Director, Physical Therapy Program, University of Colorado School of Medicine

More Than Meets the Eye: Vision Symptoms of Parkinson's Disease
Tuesday, March 3, 2015, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM ET
Daniel Gold, D.O., Assistant Professor of Neurology and Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Maximizing Parkinson's Medications: How to Get the Most Out of Your Treatment Plan
In recognition of April as Parkinson's Awareness Month
Tuesday, April 28, 2015, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM ET
Connie Marras, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor of Neurology, University of Toronto, Morton and Gloria Shulman Movement Disorders Centre and the Edmond J. Safra Program in Parkinson's Disease, Toronto Western Hospital, Canada

Challenges of Advanced Parkinson's and Tips for Better Living
Tuesday, June 23, 2015, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM ET
Peter Fletcher, M.B.Ch.B., M.Sc., F.R.C.P., Consultant Physician, Department of Old Age Medicine, Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, United Kingdom

To register for a live PD ExpertBriefing, call (800) 457-6676, visit www.pdf.org/parkinsononline or email [email protected].  Phone participants will receive event-specific phone numbers, which differ from the one above.  PDF invites support group leaders and health educators to contact us for tips on organizing viewing parties.

About Parkinson's Disease
Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurological disorder that affects nearly one million people in the United States and an estimated seven to 10 million people worldwide.  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 disease, families and health care professionals with first-hand access to the leaders in research and care.  Since 2009, PDF has offered more than 30 PD ExpertBriefings, which are available on its website at www.pdf.org/parkinsononline and via DVD.  PDF offers continuing education credits to health care professionals who participate in the series through its sponsorship of the American Society on Aging.  This year, PDF's PD ExpertBriefing series was designed in collaboration with Houston Area Parkinson Society (HAPS), Michigan Parkinson Foundation (MPF), Parkinson Association of the Carolinas (PAC) and Parkinson Association of the Rockies (PAR).  This year's series has been made possible by an educational grant from AbbVie, Inc.  

About the Parkinson's Disease Foundation
The Parkinson's Disease Foundation® (PDF®) is a leading national presence in Parkinson's disease research, education and public advocacy.  We are working for the nearly one million people in the US who live with Parkinson's disease by funding promising scientific research while supporting people living with Parkinson's disease through educational programs and services.  Since its founding in 1957, PDF has dedicated over $105 million to fund the work of leading scientists throughout the world and over $44 million to support national education and advocacy initiatives.

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SOURCE Parkinson's Disease Foundation