You can participate in a web-based seminar — or webinar — from the privacy of your home. Join either live or view the archived version within a few days of the live webinar (in most cases). All webinars listed are free. All times listed are Pacific Time. Here are webinars that may be of interest to those living with Parkinson’s in May 2020…
Friday, May 1, 9:00-10:00am
“Parkinson’s and Your Pharmacist”
Program: Many people think of their pharmacist as the person who gives them their medications at the pharmacy and is a trustworthy and knowledgeable expert in medications. But do you know everything that your pharmacist is able to do for you as a member of your care team? Pharmacists are an integral part of the circle of health care professionals that surround you as someone living with Parkinson’s Disease. This presentation will discuss what roles your pharmacist can play in supporting you; we can help bridge the gap between doctor appointments, communicate with your neurologist, make it easier to take your medications (and make sure they’re going to work their best!) and so much more that you may not have heard of before. Tune in and hear what else your pharmacist can do!
Presenter: Alison Tario, Pharmacist
Presented by: Parkinson Society of Southwestern Ontario
Monday, May 4, 10:00-11:00am
“Mindfulness: Communication During Challenging Times”
Program: Join us to learn strategies of mindful speaking, listening, and conflict resolution during difficult, stressful, or demanding times that will help enhance personal and professional relationships.
Presenter: Taylor E Rush, PhD, Associate Staff Center for Neurological Restoration, Cleveland Clinic
Presented by: Parkinson’s Foundation
Monday, May 4, Noon-1PM
“The Mind Body Problem: Motivation, Exercise, and Parkinson’s”
Program: Our doctors tell us to exercise. Countless studies document the immeasurable benefits. So why can it be so hard to actually maintain an exercise regimen? And does being stuck in our homes amidst coronavirus panic make it harder, or easier? We’ll be joined by USC Clinical Assistant Professor of Neurology Sarah Ingersoll to dive into the neuroscience behind the mind body problem, and use that same science to explore how we can change our minds, and perhaps, change our bodies.
Presenter: Sarah Ingersoll, MBA, PhD. USC Keck School of Medicine
Presented by: PMD Alliance
Tuesday, May 5, 10:00-11:00am
“New Frontiers: PD GENEration”
Program: Join us for this important program highlighting the Parkinson’s Foundation national research initiative, PD GENEration: Mapping the Future of Parkinson’s Disease. Understanding genetic differences across people with Parkinson’s can help uncover important clues about how and why every person’s experiences with the disease differs. Participants will learn how research has shaped current treatments and hear an update on this study.
Presenter: Martha Nance, MD, Medical Director, Struthers Parkinson’s Center
Presented by: Parkinson’s Foundation
Wednesday, May 6, 9:00-10:00am
“Financial Assistance and COVID-19 Support for the PD Community”
Program: Join us on Wednesday, May 6 at noon ET for an informational session led by Ayesha Azam, Vice President of Medical Affairs at the Patient Access Network Foundation (PAN) about resources that may be available to individuals on Medicare to assist with costs related to the treatment or prevention of COVID-19. The Parkinson’s Foundation is proud to partner with the PAN Foundation to provide comprehensive support to the Parkinson’s disease community throughout the year, but especially now as we all come together during these difficult times.
Presenter: Ayesha Azam, PAN Foundation
Presented by: Parkinson’s Foundation and the PAN Foundation
Register (you will view on Facebook here)
Wednesday, May 6, 10:00-11:00am
“Empowering Mind and Body While Sheltering at Home”
Program: We are all at home, together, looking to keep our minds and bodies active. Dr. Bixby will provide ideas to help you energize both mind and body while sheltering in place.
Presenter: Mindy Bixby, DO, Scripps, San Diego
Presented by Parkinson’s Association of San Diego
Thursday, May 7, 8:00-9:00am
“DBS-Support During Quarantine”
Program: Learn about support for your DBS device while quarantine continues.
Presenters: Gonzalo J. Revuelta, DO, MSc, FANA; Director, Deep Brain Stimulation Program
Medical University of South Carolina
Ihtsham ul Haq, MD, Associate Professor, Neurology and Neurosurgery, Wake Forest Baptist Health
Randy LeBlanc, Person with Parkinson’s and DBS Engineer, Baton Rouge, LA
Presented by: Parkinson’s Foundation, Wake Forest Baptist Health, Medical University of South Carolina
Thursday, May 7, 9:00-9:45am
“You Caring for YOU”
Program: Join veteran and retired nurse Lou Eisenbrandt to talk about the process of facing, quieting, sharing, and working through emotions.
Presenter: Lou Eisenbrandt, Retired Nurse
Presented by: Parkinson’s Foundation
Thursday, May 7, 10:00-11:00am
“Telehealth 101: How to maximize your electronic medical appointments”
Program: Get tips on making your next telehealth appointment productive for you and the physician.
Presenter: Christopher Tarolli, MD, University of Rochester Medical Center
Presented by: Parkinson’s Foundation
Thursday, May 7, 12:00-1:00pm
“Food and Eating in the Time of the Coronavirus Pandemic”
Program: Life inside the COVID-19 crisis has created many changes to our everyday routines including shopping and cooking. Join us for a conversation with a movement disorder who will discuss how to prepare food and eat to optimize nutrition in these unusual times.
Presenter: Erin Presant, DO, Movement Disorder Specialist
Presented by: PMD Alliance
Friday, May 8, 10:30-11:30am
“What a Pain! Understanding and Treating Pain in PD”
Program: Pain in PD is one of the most frequent but ignored non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Join our presenter, a Movement Disorders Specialist from Swedish Neuroscience Institute, Seattle (and, previously, a long-time Movement Disorders Specialist at Stanford) who will review the causes of pain in PD and talk about treatment strategies for relieving the pain.
Presenter: Dr. Khemani, Movement Disorders Specialist, Swedish Neuroscience Institute, Seattle
Presented by: American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA)
Register online, or call 1-800-223-2732
Monday, May 11, Noon-1:00pm
“Patient-Centered Outcomes, Research, and PD Progression”
Program: Can we slow or potentially prevent Parkinson’s? There is an arm of research that focuses on patient reported outcomes of activities and behaviors that suggest you can, to some degree, slow down the disease and positively impact quality of life. Dr. Laurie Mischley, ND, Ph. D, MPH studies the influence of diet, exercise, social engagement and the role of lifestyle modification as a therapeutic strategy for Parkinson’s disease. Join us for a discussion with Dr. Mischley as she shares her findings from the CAM care PD Study.
Presenter: Laurie Mischley, ND, PhD, MPH
Presented by: PMD Alliance
Tuesday, May 12, 6:00-7:00am
“Paroxysmal dyskinesias: update on clinical and genetic aspects”
Program: Joint webinar series by the European Reference Networks for Rare Neurological Diseases (ERN-RND) and Neuromuscular Diseases (ERN-EuroNMD) and the European Academy of Neurology (EAN).
Presenter: Carlo Besta, MD, pediatric neurologist from the Foundation IRCCS- Institute of Neurology, Milan, Italy, an expert in pediatric movement disorders.
Presented by: European Reference Networks for Rare Neurological Diseases (ERN-RND), and Neuromuscular Diseases (ERN-EuroNMD),and the European Academy of Neurology (EAN).
Tuesday, May 12, 10:00-11:00am
“Ask the Expert Webinar: Depression and Parkinson’s”
Program: When most people think of Parkinson’s disease, motor symptoms like tremors and slowness of movement are typically the first to come to mind. However, mental health changes can be a significant aspect of the disease as well, with at least half of all people with Parkinson’s experiencing depression and/or anxiety. Dr. Vila-Rodriguez discusses the symptoms of depression and how to manage them. He will also go over current research on depression and Parkinson’s, including an opportunity to participate in a clinical trial for treatment.
Presenter: Dr. Fidel Vila-Rodriguez, Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the UBC Faculty of Medicine, and the Director of the Non-Invasive Neurostimulation Therapies Laboratory and Schizophrenia Program
Presented by: Parkinson Society British Columbia
Tuesday, May 12, 4:00-6:00pm
“Interdisciplinary care of post COVID-19 patients with Parkinson’s disease: Considerations and resources”
Program: Our interdisciplinary panel of LSVT Certified speech, physical and occupational therapists will discuss a range of therapy considerations for people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) who are post-COVID.
Presenters: LSVT-trained clinicians
Presented by: LSVT Global
Wednesday, May 13, 9:00-10:00am
“COVID-19 and Parkinson’s: Lessons Learned from the Frontlines”
Program: Doctors from Northwell Health discuss lessons learned from treating people with Parkinson’s who contracted COVID-19.
Presenters: Alessandro Di Rocco, MD and Ritesh Ramdhani, MD, Northwell Health
Presernted by: Parkinson’s Foundation
Register (You will view the presentation on the Facebook page)
Wednesday, May 13, 10:00-11:00am
“Sleep and Parkinson’s”
Program: Parkinson’s can affect sleep in many ways, ranging from trouble falling or staying asleep at night to excessive sleepiness during the day. Good sleep boosts everything from your mood to your ability to think and process to your physical movement. Understanding sleep problems and Parkinson’s is often the first step you can take to enhance your sleep.
Presenter: Ronald Postuma, MD, MSc, Clinical researcher, serves on Educational Committee of the Movement Disorders Society.
Presented by: Davis Phinney Foundation for Parkinson’s
Thursday, May 14, 8:00-9:00am
“Food and Your Brain”
Program: Ever wonder if there are specific diets or foods that keep your brain healthy? Ever think about the effect of foods on preventing or delaying memory and dementia issues associated with Parkinson’s disease or other brain diseases and conditions? Can specific foods, supplements or ways of eating improve your “brain health?”
Presenter: Warren B. Karp, PhD, DMD, Professor Emeritus of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pediatrics, Oral Biology and Oral Diagnosis, Augusta University
Presented by: Parkinson’s Foundation
Thursday, May 14, 10:00-11:00am
“Practical Tips to Make Day to Day Activities Easier”
Program: Join us to learn the importance of social connections and different ways to connect with others using technologies for easing communication challenges.
Presenter: Kathleen Stoklosa,MD, Occupational Therapy Department, Nazareth College of Rochester
Presented by: Parkinson’s Foundation
Thursday, May 14, 10:00-11:00am
“Genetic Testing for Dementia in the Era of Precision Medicine”
Program: This webinar will focus on how to identify who is most at risk for having a hereditary dementia, and discuss genetic counseling and genetic testing protocols. Discussion will include: explaining the difference between sporadic and familial disease history; describing the benefits and limitations related to diagnostic and predictive genetic testing; detailing what is involved when participating in a Heredity Dementia Risk Assessment
Presenter: Jill S. Goldman, MS, MPhil, CGC, Professor of Genetic Counseling in Neurology, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Scientists, and Genetic Counselor at Columbia University’s Taub Institute
Presented by Alzheimer’s Foundation of America
Thursday, May 14, 11:00-11:45am
“Brain and Body Boost”
Program: Learn how to boost your brain and body while sheltering in place
Presenter: Cheri Prince, DPT, PDWell
Presented by: Parkinson’s Foundation
Thursday, May 14, 12:00-12:30pm
“Protecting Emotional Health While Staying at Home”
Program: Learn about mental health issues for those living with Parkinson’s while staying at home.
Presenter: Taylor Rush, PhD, Psychologist, Cleveland Clinic
Presented by: Parkinson’s Foundation
Thursday, May 14, 1:00-2:00pm
“Managing Stress and Anxiety”
Program: While anxiety is a common, non-motor symptom of Parkinson’s disease, the current environment can cause people with Parkinson’s and their loved ones additional stress. As the situation around COVID-19 continues to develop, it is important to recognize the changes happening both in- and outside of your space and how best to deal with negative thoughts and feelings.
Presenter: Evan Phys, PhD, University of Colorado Palliative Care Clinic
Presented by: Parkinson Association of the Rockies
Friday, May 15, 11:00am-12:00pm
“Ask the Expert Webinar: Pole Walking for Parkinson’s”
Program: Join us to find out how Nordic poles can turn your walks into a convenient and fun high-intensity workout! All levels of abilities are welcome, and no experience with pole walking is required. People with Parkinson’s, carepartners, and healthcare professionals are all welcome.
Presenter: Mandy Shintani, OT, Gerontologist, Urban Poling, Inc.
Presented by: Parkinson Society British Columbia
Wednesday, May 20, 11:00am-12:00pm
“The Impact and Treatment of Non-Motor Symptoms in LSVT LOUD and LSVT BIG”
Program: Individuals with Parkinson disease (PD) typically experience non-motor symptoms alongside common motor challenges. These non-motor symptoms may include changes in cognition, fatigue, and apathy. Addressing both motor and non-motor symptoms as part of LSVT treatment may optimize improvements in mobility, communication, and quality of life.
Presenters: LSVT clinicians
Presented by: LSVT Global
Wednesday, May 20, 4:30-5:30pm
“Therapy Break™ – Chinese Medicine Therapies”
Program: Therapy Break is an interactive, online video discussion featuring a subject matter expert with knowledge relevant to living well with Parkinson’s disease. Addressing a variety of topics related to living with a movement disorder, these informal discussions provide a forum for you to learn, ask questions, interact and be part of a community, regardless of where you live.
Presenter: To be advised at time of web presentation
Presented by: PMD Alliance
Thursday, May 21, 9:00-10:00am
“Let’s Travel Without Leaving Home: Expressive Arts Workshop for the Parkinson’s Community’
Program: Learn about the many benefits that art and creativity offer for people with Parkinson’s disease and their care partners. This fun and interactive workshop is an invitation to travel with us from the comfort of your home! No passport or luggage are required, only some materials that you can easily find in your home like a favorite photo, colored pencils, and paints (a full list of materials and templates will be provided when you register).
Presenter: Claudia Martinez, MD, Expressive Arts and Hispanic Outreach Coordinator, Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center at Barrow Neurological Institute
Presented by: Parkinson’s Foundation
Thursday, May 21, 9:00-10:00am
“Cognition Changes in Parkinson’s”
Program: Our presenter will provide an overview of the range of cognitive issues that happen with Parkinson’s from the very mild to the most severe (dementia), the way we assess cognitive function, the impact of these issues on the lives of people with Parkinson’s and available ways to manage these issues to reduce the impact on quality of life and function
Presenter: Amer Burhan, MBChB, MSc, PRCPC
Presented by: Parkinson Society of Southwestern Ontario
Thursday, 21 May, 9:00-10:00am
“I’ve Got Parkinson’s… Now What? Navigating a New Parkinson’s Diagnosis”
Program: Expert panelists and people with Parkinson’s will discuss practical tips and personal viewpoints on being diagnosed with PD as well as ways to connect with the community.
Presenters: To be advised at time of webcast
Presented by: Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research
Tuesday, May 26, 9:00-10:00am
“Young Onset Parkinson’s: A conversation on our unique needs”
Program: A panel of those diagnosed with Parkinson’s before the age of 50 will discuss their challenges and needs.
Presenters: Panel of those diagnosed with PD before age 50
Presented by: Parkinson Canada