Partners in Parkinson's Marks Three Years of Serving the Parkinson's Community With Announcement of 2017 Programming Dates and Launch of On-demand Video Gallery

NEW YORK, March 7, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Partners in Parkinson's — a strategic health initiative of The Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) and AbbVie — announces 2017 programming including the launch of an online video gallery as part of its efforts to increase access to educational content, community research and support services for people living with Parkinson's disease (PD).

The Partners in Parkinson's program, which will host live events in Grand Rapids, Michigan and Orlando, Florida in 2017, aims to fill in knowledge gaps, provide new educational tools and resources for the Parkinson's community and optimize care at every stage of the disease, now and in the future.

Countless testimonials attest to how meaningful the Partners in Parkinson's program has proven to be for people navigating this challenging and complex disease, such as this survey comment from an attendee of the October 2016 New York City Partners in Parkinson's event: "I feel more comfortable… more knowledgeable, more connected and more hopeful. Thank you for a powerful day."

On-demand Video Gallery and Webinars: Available Anytime, Anyplace

To ensure the Partners in Parkinson's programming is accessible to everyone regardless of geographic location, Partners in Parkinson's has launched a new video gallery featuring an on-demand, virtual version of the live event at www.partnersinparkinsons.org/watch-our-videos. The gallery includes recordings of the panels and breakout sessions from the May 14, 2016 event held in Oakland, California. This event also was webcast and accessed by at-home viewers across the country. The gallery provides supplemental videos featuring the personal stories of people living with Parkinson's and care partners, as well as conversations with health care professionals and researchers studying PD.

Partners in Parkinson's also will host four live webinars in 2017 that provide a virtual option for staying up to date with resources about PD. Previous Partners in Parkinson's webinars are available on-demand and have covered topics such as how to assemble a care team and what to expect as PD advances, and have featured guests such as Lonnie Ali, widow of Muhammad Ali, who shared insights for care partners supporting a loved one with PD.

Serving the Parkinson's Community through Education and Connection

Since its launch in 2014, Partners in Parkinson's has served more than 20,000 members of the Parkinson's community, including people living with PD, families and caregivers, through in-person and online events.

The 2017 live events will take place in Grand Rapids, Michigan on June 10 and in Orlando, Florida on October 28. These in-person events will feature interactive panels and breakout sessions on life with Parkinson's; stage a typical appointment with a movement disorder specialist to help those with PD know what to expect; offer the latest updates on Parkinson's disease research; and revolve around a resource fair representing local community PD research and support organizations and activities. All sessions include time for audience Q&A.

These live events are held in collaboration with the following National Presenting Partners: the Davis Phinney Foundation, the Parkinson's Foundation, LSVT Global Inc. and the Parkinson Voice Project.

Additional Tools Available Online

On the Partners in Parkinson's website, users can access the first online tool to locate a movement disorder specialist, developed in collaboration with the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society. The website offers comprehensive information about PD and also connects patients and caregivers with AbbVie Parkinson's Disease Advocates, who are available to provide one-on-one support anywhere in the United States.

"Together with AbbVie, we are proud that Partners in Parkinson's has provided individuals with the support and empowerment to navigate their disease, and we look forward to connecting with more of the community through the tools we are adding to the program in 2017," said Todd Sherer, PhD, CEO of MJFF.

About Partners in Parkinson's
The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research and AbbVie developed Partners in Parkinson's in May 2014 to fill in knowledge gaps by providing new educational tools and resources for the Parkinson's community. The initiative features a comprehensive, educational website with the first online tool to locate a movement disorder specialist, a downloadable Parkinson's disease guide, access to live educational webinars and the opportunity to connect with an AbbVie Parkinson's Disease Advocate for one-on-one support. The program educates patients and their families on health care and support resources in their own community through day-long educational events throughout the United States. To learn more about the program visit the website: http://www.partnersinparkinsons.org.

About The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research
As the world's largest nonprofit funder of Parkinson's research, The Michael J. Fox Foundation is dedicated to accelerating a cure for Parkinson's disease and improved therapies for those living with the condition today. The Foundation pursues its goals through an aggressively funded, highly targeted research program coupled with active global engagement of scientists, Parkinson's patients, business leaders, clinical trial participants, donors and volunteers. In addition to funding more than $700 million in research to date, the Foundation has fundamentally altered the trajectory of progress toward a cure. Operating at the hub of worldwide Parkinson's research, the Foundation forges groundbreaking collaborations with industry leaders, academic scientists and government research funders; increases the flow of participants into Parkinson's disease clinical trials with its online tool, Fox Trial Finder; promotes Parkinson's awareness through high-profile advocacy, events and outreach; and coordinates the grassroots involvement of thousands of Team Fox members around the world.

For more information, visit us at michaeljfox.org, on Facebook or Twitter.

About AbbVie
AbbVie is a global, research-based biopharmaceutical company formed in 2013 following separation from Abbott Laboratories. The company's mission is to use its expertise, dedicated people and unique approach to innovation to develop and market advanced therapies that address some of the world's most complex and serious diseases. Together with its wholly-owned subsidiary, Pharmacyclics, AbbVie employs more than 28,000 people worldwide and markets medicines in more than 170 countries. For further information on the company and its people, portfolio and commitments, please visit www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on Twitter or view our Facebook and LinkedIn pages.

SOURCE The Michael J. Fox Foundation

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