Public invited to learn more about Parkinson’s disease Saturday
An “Ask the Doctor — Live” segment will be one of many features of the University of Florida’s 9th annual Parkinson Disease Symposium for Patients, Caregivers and Health-care Providers on Saturday (April 30) at Trinity United Methodist Church, 4000 NW 53rd St., Gainesville.
UF medical doctors, including Michael Okun, Irene Malaty, Ramon Rodriguez, Nikolaus McFarland and Aparna Wagle Shukla, will field questions from noon to 12:45 p.m. Pens and paper will be available for people to write their questions in advance for the panel.
The event, sponsored by the National Parkinson Foundation and the UF Center for Movement Disorders and Neurorestoration, begins at 8 a.m. with registration and welcoming remarks at 9 a.m. from Okun, a co-director of the center and the national medical director of the National Parkinson Foundation.
McFarland will talk about Parkinsonisms, which are disorders characterized by Parkinson-like symptoms that could have a number of causes. He will also discuss new approaches in Parkinson’s research.
Also on hand will be Larry Baird, a resident of The Villages, who will deliver an inspirational talk about his experience with Parkinson’s medications.
At 10 a.m., Dr. Theresa Zesiewicz, a professor of neurology at the University of South Florida, will talk about being a Parkinson’s disease caregiver from a daughter and a doctor’s point of view during the second annual Robert Stockdale Lecture.
The Stockdale lecture was established by a private donation to increase public awareness of movement disorders through lectures provided by experts within the movement disorders field.
The event is free and open to the public and lunch is provided. Please register in advance by calling Amanda Eilers at 352-294-5434 or email amanda.eilers@neurology.ufl.edu.