Syracuse Parkinson’s Disease Conference
Saturday, November 5, 2005 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM Holiday Inn 441 Electronics Parkway Liverpool, NY PROGRAM 9:00 REGISTRATION REFRESHMENTS WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS Bill Bush, Chairman, Board of Directors, Parkinson’s Support Group of Syracuse PANEL: PARKINSON’S DISEASE UPDATE Dragos Mihaila, M.D. – Moderator Tanya Simuni, M.D. James W. Holsapple, M.D.-INVITED Frank Middleton, Ph.D. LUNCHEON Questions & Answers—Medical Panel CHANGES IN MEDICARE AND HEALTH INSURANCE Robert O‘Connor CAREGIVING ISSUES Linda Watson 3:00 PROGRAM ENDS ALL ARE WELCOME! Advance Registration Required Information Phone 315-652-6857 e-mail Syracuse@chapters.Parkinson.org ************************ Rochester Symposium - reported by Marge Moylan Pat and I traveled to Rochester for their September Symposium. As we have come to expect, the PSGUNY group in Rochester put on another fine presentation this year. They covered a wide variety of topics from "PD 101" to clinical trials to exercise and nutrition programs, to a light presentation on healthcare during lunch. After lunch the program continued with one of the best talks that Pat and I have ever heard. People were so wrapped up in the words of Dr. Mark Noble as he spoke about the possibilities of stem cell research, that you could have heard a pin drop. Dr. Noble is not a medical doctor but a research scientist at the University of Rochester, and he sees embryonic stem cell research as the next huge breakthrough in medicine, akin to the discovery of antibiotics. PD Advocate Linda Herman, who also spoke at our symposium last year, was the final speaker. During the symposium Dave and Carol Look, who are semi-retiring from the position as president, were commended and applauded for their service to the Parkinson community in acting as presidents of PSGUNY for so many years.
October Education Day
Our regular meeting date of the third Tuesday of the month, the 18th, will also bring us our annual Parkinson's Education Day when we are fortunate enough to have a guest speaker from the Movement Disorders Unit of the Neurology Department of the University of Rochester Medical School. This year marks the 9th consecutive year for this program. These speakers have always been very well informed and very generous with their time in staying to answer our questions. I'm sure this year will be no exception. Our speaker will be Dr. Ray Dorsey who is currently an instructor in neurology and a fellow in movement disorders. His topic is one we should all be interested in: the non-motor side of PD. Most of you are very familiar with the motor aspects of stiffness, tremor, rigidity, and postural imbalance (falling). But PD can have a devastating effect on many other brain functions as well. This disease can cause depression, sleep problems, loss of memory, and dementia, to mention just a few. These are real problems and all are treatable in one way or another. Plan to come to our October meeting to see what you can learn. Don't forget to invite your family, friends, and neighbors or anyone interested in learning more about the "other side" of Parkinson's disease. All are welcome!
WORLD PARKINSON CONGRESS
World Parkinson Congress (WPC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing an international forum for the latest scientific discoveries, medical practices and caregiver initiatives for Parkinson’s disease. Many international Parkinson’s associations and organizations are represented in the group, which hopes to create a worldwide dialogue to advance work for a cure and best treatment practices for those living with Parkinson’s. A segment of the program, entitled ”Creativity and Parkinson’s,” will highlight works of art by people with Parkinson’s disease, including visual, literary and performing arts. Artistic submission guidelines are posted on the WPC website. Scientific abstract guidelines will also be posted. The conference will be held nd Wednesday, February 22 to Sunday, February th 26 , 2006 in Washington, D.C. For more information, please visit www.worldPDcongress.org, call (800)457-6676 or email info@worldpdcongress.org. 6