In early April, I traveled to Chandler, AZ to participate in the annual meeting of the Parkinson’s Study Group, “a non-profit group of physicians and other health care providers from medical centers in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico experienced in the care of Parkinson patients and dedicated to clinical research of Parkinson disease.” 

There, I met with numerous researchers, old friends, and new ones, and heard the latest in ideas and innovative suggestions.  A hint of what I took from the meeting is here: urgency; transparency; making the patient voice a key component; and collaboration.   I’m working with CAP’s Cure Now: PD group to try to push these, and the idea of unity amongst groups, foundations, labs, and PWP’s to speak as one voice – working together, to find a Cure.  More on that soon!

I also recently participated in the MJFF Patient Council meeting, of which I am a member, in New York City.  This was another chance to catch up with old friends, make new ones, and to hear the latest from MJFF.  The adjoining picture shows me with fellow Patient Council members Jimmy Choi and Hadley Ferguson, as well as Jimmy’s wife, Cherryl.  Incidentally, Hadley’s presence in the picture is important as we are standing in front of her The Tree of Resilience at the MJFF offices in New York City.

During my travels, I was able to check out Inbrija from Acorda. Check out my video on Parkinsonsct.org to get a full explanation.