It is hard to believe it is August already. I hope everyone is enjoying the summer. Our Board, Committee Members, and all our volunteers have been extremely busy this year trying to fulfill our mission. I am very proud of the accomplishments we have achieved in 2019. I want to personally thank everyone involved for all their time and effort. I would like to use my message this month to highlight some important happenings in the CAP community. 

New Board Members Elected

In June, CAP elected three new Board members. I am excited to welcome Robert Stillman, Ellen Greenberger, and Susan Peters to CAP’s Board of Directors. All three are very talented individuals who collectively bring a wealth of business acumen to our Board. Undoubtedly, they will help CAP achieve great success. Robert is a retired Vice President from Aetna, where he served for 25 years in the legal department. Robert received his undergraduate degree from Yale and a legal degree from Harvard Law School. Ellen’s career spanned thirty-three at Cigna where she retired as an Assistant Vice President in the Finance department. She received a BA in English from UCLA and an MA in Behavioral Science from California State University. Susan is a retired business executive with strong financial acumen serving in the health insurance field for over twenty-five years. She worked at Aetna for many years in leadership roles including as Senior Vice-President for Healthcare Reform Preparedness and Healthcare Management. She received her MBA from Yale School of Management and a BA in Economics from Bucknell University. She is also a Fellow in the Society of Actuaries.

Parkinson’s Center of Connecticut

In July, CAP opened the Parkinson’s Center of Connecticut, a 3000 square foot facility located in East Hartford, Connecticut. The Center will be run as a joint partnership with Beat Parkinson’s Today, an area non-profit currently offering exercise classes that are functional to everyday living.

 In a supportive and caring environment, we will offer a range of education, exercise, and healing programs that will sooth the mind, calm the spirit and strengthen the body. The facility will also serve as CAP’s corporate headquarters. Please join us at our grand opening planned for September 15.  I want to thank Michelle Hespeler and Robin Downey for their leadership in planning and implementing CAP’s new PD Center. 

Clinical Trial Transportation Program (CTTP)

CTTP was the brainchild of Steve Dewitte, CAP Founder, and PWP. CTTP was born of the need to get people with, and without Parkinson’s that want to participate in a clinical trial to the actual study, and of the desire to ensure that Participants know they are important. CTTP is a program that connects drivers and groups to help “get you there” with a group of likeminded participants.  Steve has coordinated has many clinical trials in the Northeast. Since the program’s inception, CTTP has brought patients to clinical trials at institutions such as Columbia Medical Center, Beth Israel Deaconess, and Weill Cornell. Soon, CAP will be participating in a study at Boston University regarding Smartphone Cognitive Assessment. 

CureNow: PD Initiative

CAP recently launched Cure Now: PD. Information on the program can be found at www.curenowpd.org.

Our aspiration is to mobilize the Parkinson’s so that we speak as one voice. Our mission is to find disease-modifying treatments for Parkinson’s by funding cutting-edge research, and establishing collaborative relationships, with leading research institutions, foundations, and labs that can lead to breakthroughs via transparent sharing of ideas, methods and processes, with a high degree of urgency, while incorporating the patient voice throughout. In addition to Yale University in New Haven, CT, Cure Now: PD is working with MIT in Cambridge, MA on a Parkinson’s research initiative that is unique, that differs from existing approaches, that potentially fills a gap in existing research – an “unmet need”  – using nanotechnology and MIT-specific tools and approaches that are found nowhere else.  CAP has made the quest for funding research a high priority. We are in a tirelessly quest to seek partners to help them in their research initiatives to find new scientific breakthroughs. Better treatments start with better research.  A many thanks to Kelly Kearney, CAP Vice-Chairman, for leading this important initiative. He has worked tirelessly and with a great sense of urgency to get this effort off the ground. 

Patient Advocacy

Steve DeWitte, a nationally recognized Patient Advocate, has led CAP’s efforts. He has been joined by many other CAP members as well. In 2015, Steve was honored at the White House as a Champion of Change in the fight against Parkinson’s disease. Steve believes that patients of any disease can be empowered to make a difference, and are important partners in the development of disease-modifying treatments. He is a firm supporter that there is no stronger influence for change than sharing patient experiences with elected officials who can drive change through funding and the appropriate support for regulatory authorities. 

Special Note: On Saturday, October 5th CAP will be hosting our 4th Gala event at the Aqua Turf Club in Plantsville, CT. This event promises to be a fun-filled evening. Our hope is that 500 people will attend the event including many from the research, hospital, and pharmaceutical communities.  Monies raised will be used to help our members live lives today while trying to find a cure for tomorrow. 

Warm Regards,

Karl C. Hespeler
Chairman 
860-490-0251
Karl@Parkinsonsct.org