Many Northern and Central California Parkinson’s support groups have
guest speakers or programs planned for October 2014. Here’s what’s
happening at a support group near you.

Need to know the meeting location, day/time, contact info, and RSVP
details (if an RSVP is required or preferred)? Please refer to the
Stanford Parkinson’s website for all Northern and Central California
support groups:

http://parkinsons.stanford.edu/support_groups.html (no www in front)

**********************
Soquel (note new location for Santa Cruz group as of Sept. 2014)
Wednesday, 10/1, 12:30-2pm
Guest Speaker: Gary Edwards, ombudsman
Topic: Long-term care facilities and assisted living residences in
Santa Cruz County
RSVP?: No.
Chico
Wednesday, 10/1, 1:30-3pm
Guest Speaker #1: Rhonda Kramer, Passages
Topic #1: 2015 Changes in Medicare
Guest Speaker #2: Della Nicola, group co-leader
Topic #2: PD informational and support resources
RSVP?: No.
San Lorenzo/San Leandro
Thursday, 10/2, 10-11:30am
Guest Speaker: Amber Bennett, Carlton Plaza
Topic: Assisted living
RSVP?: No.
Orangevale
Thursday, 10/2, 10-11:15am
Guest Speaker: Gladys Musana-Desmarais, LVN, Eskaton
Topic: A Nurse’s Perspective on PD
RSVP?: No.
San Jose/Willow Glen
Friday, 10/3, 10-11:45am
Guest Speaker: William Buchholz, MD, retired oncologist and author
Topic: “Living Beyond Expectations: Stories Patients Have Taught Me
About Living Longer and Better” (book title)
RSVP?: No.
Visalia
Friday, 10/3, 10:30am-noon
Program: Watch “Fall Prevention” video and discuss
RSVP?: No.
Santa Rosa (Sonoma County)
Saturday, 10/4, 1-3:15pm (guest speaker is from 1-2pm)
Guest Speaker: Lin Zhang, MD, PhD, movement disorder specialist, UC Davis
Topic: Living Well with PD
RSVP?: No.
Lodi
Monday, 10/6, 10-11am
Guest Speaker: Matt Arnold, MD, movement disorder specialist, Sutter
East Bay
Topic: Living Well with PD
RSVP?: No.
San Andreas (Calaveras County)
Tuesday, 10/7, 10am-noon
Guest Speaker: Jessica Koscheka, Sonora Regional Hospital, nutritionist
Topic: Nutrition and PD
RSVP?: No.
Placerville
Tuesday, 10/7, 1:30-3pm
Group Discussion Topic: How we put what we learned last month (about
preparing for emergencies) to use during the King Fire
RSVP?: No.

Roseville
Tuesday, 10/7, 1:30-3pm
Guest Speaker: Eddie Ballesteros, senior ombudsman, DMV
Topic: Driving and PD
RSVP?: No.
Palo Alto
Wednesday, 10/8, 2-3:30pm
Discussion Leader: Diana Blum, MD, neurologist, private practice, Menlo
Park
Discussion Topic: Depression and Other Mood Issues in PD
RSVP?: No.
Oakland
Thursday, 10/9, 1:30-3pm
Guest Speaker: Rima Ash, MD, movement disorder specialist, Kaiser SF
Topic: Complementary Therapies for PD
RSVP?: No.
Millbrae (Magnolia)
Thursday, 10/9, 1:30-3pm
Speaker: Rock Steady Boxing SF representative
RSVP?: No.
Stockton
Thursday, 10/9, 1:30-3pm
Guest Speaker: Ben Remmington, MD, neurosurgeon
Topic: Deep Brain Stimulation
RSVP?: No.

Fresno
Saturday, 10/11, 10am-noon
Guest Speaker: Abbas Mehdi, MD, neurologist
Topic: Medication and PD
RSVP?: No.
Pleasanton
Saturday, 10/11, 10am-noon (in October, speaker is from 10-11am)
Guest Speaker: Jeffrey Klingman, MD, neurologist, Kaiser Walnut Creek
RSVP?: No.
Yuba City (Tri-County)
Monday, 10/13, 1-2:30pm
Guest Speaker: April Shirley, community relations director, Summerfield
Retirement Home, Yuba City
Topics: Assisted living, memory care, and benefits of retirement living
RSVP?: No.
Pacific Grove (Monterey County)
Tuesday, 10/14, 3-4:30pm
Guest Speaker: Grant Helm, executive director, MS Quality of Life Program
RSVP?: No.
San Francisco
Tuesday, 10/14, 4:30-6pm
Guest Speaker: Rima Ash, MD, movement disorder specialist, Kaiser SF
Topic: What’s new with PD research and upcoming therapies
RSVP?: No.
Palo Alto Young Onset PD (YOPD)
Tuesday, 10/14, 6:30-8pm
Guest Speaker: Camilla Kilbane, MD, movement disorder specialist, Stanford
Topic: Cognition and Memory in YOPD
RSVP?: Yes, if this is your first time attending. Email group leader
in advance.
Modesto
Wednesday, 10/15, 1-3pm
Program: Watch and discuss two interviews from the “Living with
Parkinson’s” video
RSVP?: No.
Davis
Thursday, 10/16, 1:30-3pm
Guest Speaker: Peggy Phelps, caregiver resource consultant, Yolo Adult
Health Center, Woodland
Topic: Advance Care Planning
RSVP?: No.
Walnut Creek
Saturday, 10/18, 10am-noon (break-out groups begin at 10:30am)
Program: Break into two discussion groups — one for those with PD and
one for caregivers only
RSVP?: No.
Auburn
Tuesday, 10/21, 1:30-3pm
Guest Speaker: Marilyn Riley, HICAP (health insurance counseling and
advocacy program)
Topic: Changes in Medicare
RSVP?: No.
San Jose/The Villages
Tuesday, 10/21, 2-3:30pm
Guest Speaker: Mario Giorgianni, MD, physical medicine and
rehabilitation specialist, private practice, Los Gatos
Topic: PD and Physical Therapy
RSVP?: Required if you are not a resident of The Villages. Call group
leader in advance about access.
Sacramento – PANC Annual Education Conference
Saturday, 10/25, 8am check-in, program 9:30am-2pm
Crowne Plaza Sacramento
See parkinsonsacramento.org for event details. There is a fee.
Mill Valley (Marin County)
Tuesday, 10/28, 1-3pm (speaker is from 1-2pm)
Guest Speaker: Nick Galifianakis, MD, movement disorder specialist,
UCSF Surgical Movement Disorders Center
Topic: Recent Developments and Strategies in PD Treatment
RSVP?: No.
If you know of a PD support group meeting with a guest speaker, please
pass the info along!

Finally….if you copy this guest speaker information elsewhere, please
give credit to: Robin Riddle, Stanford Parkinson’s Community Outreach
Program. Credit is always appreciated 🙂