Q& a With Parkinsons Foundation Ceo And President John L Lehr
Gratefully, Bev was referred by her excellent primary care physician to the Cleveland Clinics Center for Neurological Restoration, which is dedicated to the medical and surgical management of movement disorders, including essential tremor, PD, and other neurological disorders. It is also designated as a Parkinsons Foundation Center of Excellence.
This designation means that the medical center has a specialized team of neurologists, movement disorder specialists, physical and occupational therapists, mental health professionals, and others who are current on the latest PD medications, treatments, and research to provide the best possible care for individuals with PD.
Bev and I both knew that her diagnosis would require a team of skilled healthcare professionals working with Bev and her caregivers. We wanted to make sure that the team specialized in PD and other movement disorders versus general therapies for all diseases.
The Johns Hopkins Parkinsons Disease and Movement Disorders Center recommends that a persons PD healthcare team include a neurologist, occupational therapist, physical therapist, speech therapist, mental health provider, case manager/social worker, and others who will play a role when needed. Bevs team at the Cleveland Clinic included all of these healthcare professionals.
After dealing with Bevs PD over the past four years, she and I can offer the following tips on what to look for in a top medical center:
Thomas Prieto Phdmedical Physicist
Dr. Prieto received a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Missouri at Columbia and a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from Marquette University. He was Associate Professor of Neurology at the Medical College of Wisconsin before coming to Stanford Healthcare in 2014. He provides technical support for the autonomic testing lab and for the deep brain stimulation surgeries for movement disorders. His primary interests are in instrumentation and signal processing methods for the evaluation of autonomic and movement disorders.
Andrei Iagaru Mdprofessor Of Radiology
Dr. Iagaru is a Professor of Radiology – Nuclear Medicine and the Co-Chief of the Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging at Stanford University Medical Center. He completed medical school at Carol Davila University of Medicine, Bucharest, Romania, and an internship at Drexel University College of Medicine, Graduate Hospital, in the Department of Medicine in Philadelphia. He began his residency at the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, in the Division of Nuclear Medicine, where he was the chief resident. Dr. Iagaru finished his residency and completed a PET/CT fellowship at Stanford University’s School of Medicine in the Division of Nuclear Medicine. His research interests include PET/MRI and PET/CT for early cancer detection clinical translation of novel PET radiopharmaceuticals peptide- based diagnostic imaging and therapy radioimmunotherapy.
Read Also: Are Parkinson’s Tremors Worse In The Morning
Location: Baltimore Mdunited States
Stephen Grill is co-founder of the Parkinsons and Movement Disorders Center of Maryland, a freestanding clinic affiliated with Johns Hopkins University. His research interests concern how use of sensory information and feedback may improve motor functioning in persons with Parkinsons disease and other movement disorders.
He received his PhD in Neuroscience from Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, and his MD also from Northwestern University at the Chicago campus. He completed his Neurology Residency at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, and a fellowship in Movement Disorders at the Human Motor Control Section of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke of the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland. Dr. Grill was the recipient of the Dystonia Doctors of Excellence Award in 2003.
Birgitt Schuele Mdassociate Professor Of Pathology
Birgitt Schuele, MD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine. Her research focuses on medical genetics and stem cell modeling to unlock disease mechanisms and pathways leading to neurodegeneration in Parkinsons disease and related disorders. Projects range from clinical genetic family studies and human stem cell modeling of neuronal cell types or neurocircuits to translational approaches to ultimately find new treatments for Parkinsons disease and other neurodegenerative disorders of the brain.She received her medical training from the Georg-August University Goettingen and Medical University Luebeck, Germany and completed doctoral degree in medicine in neurophysiology at the Georg-August University Goettingen . During her neurology internship from 2001 to 2002 at Medical University of Luebeck with Prof. Christine Klein, Dr. Schuele studied genes for inherited forms of Parkinsons disease and dystonia. From 2003 to 2005, she completed a postdoctoral fellowship in human genetics with Prof. Uta Francke at Stanford University School of Medicine. From 2005-2019, Dr. Schuele led key clinical research programs and biospecimen repositories for neurogenetics, translational stem cell and brain donation at the Parkinsons Institute and Clinical Center.
Recommended Reading: Does Parkinson’s Affect Your Heart
Parkinsons Disease Treatment: Why Choose Johns Hopkins
- Our team offers the newest and most effective therapies to address Parkinsons disease symptoms, from carbidopa/levodopa infusion therapy and laser ablation of brain lesions to deep brain stimulation and transcranial direct current stimulation.
- World-class neuroscientists at Johns Hopkins are exploring the biochemical pathways involved in Parkinsons disease, yielding greater understanding of the disease and paving the way for new treatments.
- Top specialists in neurology, neurosurgery, physical therapy, speech and swallowing, occupational therapy and mental health work together to improve quality of life for people with Parkinsons disease.
- Our Parkinsons disease center is a leader in establishing benchmarks for quality care and educating physicians, patients and caregivers.
Parkinson’s Disease And Movement Disorders Research
Although curing Parkinson’s disease is not yet possible, treatment for movement disorders is a field in transformation. Every year, more insights on underlying causes and techniques for managing symptoms emerge through tireless research and dedicated innovation at Johns Hopkins.
Research at Johns Hopkins never takes place in isolation. Instead, scientists and doctors work together to translate advances in the lab into new therapies for patients with ataxia, dystonia, essential tremor, Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders.
Also Check: Does Medicare Cover Dbs For Parkinson’s
Parkinson’s Disease Effects Both Motor And Non
“Certain nerve cells in the brain gradually break down or die,” the Mayo Clinic explains of Parkinson’s. “Many of the symptoms are due to a loss of neurons that produce a chemical messenger in your brain called dopamine.” When the levels of dopamine decreases, “it causes atypical brain activity, leading to impaired movement and other symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.”
PD can have severe effects on peoples’ motor and non-motor skills, explains Johns Hopkins Medicine. “While it’s true that Parkinson’s disease symptoms include shaking and tremor, rigid muscles, slowness of movement, and a frozen or ‘flat’ expression, it’s a lot more than that,” says the site, noting that other symptoms include “cognitive impairment or dementia , anxiety and depression, fatigue, sleep problems and more.”
Johns Hopkins Medicine notes that while PD is not fatal, potentially deadly problems can manifest. “As the disease progresses, you may become more vulnerable to falls, which can be dangerous,” the site says. “Infection is another problem. In later stages of Parkinson’s, people often miss those signals and may not notice something’s up until it’s too late.”
Sharon Sha Mdclinical Associate Professor Neurology & Neurological Sciences
Dr. Sha received her Bachelors degrees in Cognitive Science and Molecular Cell Biology emphasizing in Neurobiology from UC Berkeley. She went on to obtain a Masters degree in Physiology and MD from Georgetown University. She trained in Neurology at UCLA and Stanford University and completed a clinical and research fellowship in behavioral neurology at UCSF where she focused on identifying biomarkers for genetic forms of frontotemporal dementia and caring for patients with movement disorders and cognitive impairment.
Dr. Shas clinical expertise include Alzheimers disease, frontotemporal dementia, Lewy Body disease, corticobasal syndrome, progressive supranuclear palsy, Huntingtons disease, ataxia, multiple system atrophy, and other dementias. She is currently co-director of the Huntingtons disease and Ataxia clinic with Dr. Veronica Santini.
Dr. Shas non-clinical time is spent conducting clinical trials in order to identify disease modifying treatments for dementia. She has a special interest in genetic forms of dementia and the cognitive impairment in parkinsonian-related disorders. She is also director of the Stanford Behavioral Neurology and Neuropsychiatry Clinical Fellowship.
Don’t Miss: My Father Has Parkinson’s Will I Get It
J William Langston Mdclinical Professor Department Of Neurology & Neurological Sciences
Dr. J. William Langston originally gained national and international recognition when he discovered the cause of parkinsonism in a group of young heroin addicts in Northern California. The chemical causing their parkinsonism was a contaminate known as MPTP. This discovery has had a major impact on research that continues to this day. Dr. Langston has published nearly 400 scientific papers on PD, and has received numerous national awards for his work, including the Pritzker Prize for Leadership in Parkinsons Research awarded by the Michael J Fox Foundation, and most recently the Van Andel Award for Outstanding Achievements in Parkinsons disease Research. He is currently the Associate director of Stanford Udall Center, Department of Pathology, Stanford University Medical School where brings his experience and in depth understanding of PD to virtually all aspects of the program, with a focus on how the rapidly changing concepts of the disease are affecting virtually all areas of research, from the clinic to laboratory.
The Morris K Udall Parkinson’s Disease Research Center Of Excellence
The Johns Hopkins Morris K. Udall Parkinson’s Disease Research Center of Excellence has led the world in explaining fundamental aspects of the neurodegenerative disease. Named in memory of Arizona Congressional Representative Morris K. Udall, who died from Parkinson’s disease, the Center at Johns Hopkins was handpicked by the National Institutes of Health as one of three sites to research and fight the disease.
2019 Udall Center Research Symposium
View presentations from our 2019 symposium. Topics include biomarkers, pathophysiology, nutrition, gut models and genetic mutations related to Parkinson’s disease.
Recommended Reading: How Long Between Stages Of Parkinson’s
Studying Music As The Prescription
The University of Pennsylvania’s Parkinson Disease and Movement Disorders Center periodically hosts a retreat for its patients, an escape from the humdrum of treatment. At a retreat in 2013, the center invited a group of West African drummers to lead a 45-minute class. The patients gathered in a circle. Each straddled a traditional goblet-shaped djembe drum and followed the lead of the instructor, who set the rhythm. Johns Hopkins neurologist Alex Pantelyat, then a fellow at the center, says the group made quite a racket, but what stood out was the patients’ reactions after the class. Unsolicited, they all reported a reduction in their symptoms. They walked more easily. Tremors seemed to subside. They were in better moods. “I thought, we can’t ignore this response,” says Pantelyat, who is now director of the Johns Hopkins Atypical Parkinsonism Center. He helped design a pilot study that involved twice-weekly drumming classes for 10 Parkinson’s patients over a six-week period. The results, published last year in the journal Movement Disorders Clinical Practice, showed that the classes improved the quality of life for the participants.
Pantelyat strongly believes that music has the power to heal more than Parkinson’s patients. The Johns Hopkins Center for Music and Medicine, which he co-directs, hopes to accelerate research in this nascent field.
Sarah Kahn Ms Rnnurse Coordinator
Sarah earned her BSN from the University of Arizona and an MS from University of California San Francisco. Her Composition paper outlined the difference between medical therapy and DBS in Parkinson’s disease patients and was inspired by her time at the San Francisco VA Parkinsons Center during graduate school. She previously worked on a cardiac and stroke unit at John Muir health. In her spare time she enjoys hiking, Pilates, and scuba diving.
Also Check: Parkinson’s Disease Treatment Options
What My Sister And I Looked For In A Top Parkinsons Center
How do I know that my family members are receiving the best care for their Parkinsons disease ? What criteria should I consider when choosing a disease management strategy?
Given my nursing background, I asked myself these questions when my sister, Bev, was diagnosed with PD in 2017. Fortunately, Bev, who was also a nurse, lived near Cleveland, Ohio, and I had grown up in that same suburb.
We were aware of the two medical center giants in Cleveland healthcare: the Cleveland Clinic and the University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center. Before my move to sunny Arizona, I worked at both organizations cancer centers as the director of cancer communications and community outreach.
Brent Solvason Md Phdclinical Associate Professor Psychiatry & Behavioral Science
Dr. Solvasons work is focused on novel interventional treatment approaches for treatment resistant unipolar and bipolar depression. His studies include using radiosurgical neuromodulation for refractory bipolar depression and DBS for unipolar depression. He is also working with children in Sub Saharan Africa, primarily focused on methods to assess well-being and long term outcomes for these vulnerable children.
You May Like: Does Parkinson’s Qualify For Disability
Jin Hyung Lee Phdassociate Professor Of Neurology Of Neurosurgery And Of Bioengineering And By Courtesy Of Electrical Engineering
Dr. Jin Hyung Lee is an Associate Professor of Bioengineering, Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Neurosurgery, and Electrical Engineering at Stanford University. Dr. Lee received her Bachelors degree from Seoul National University and Masters and Doctoral degree from Stanford University, all in Electrical Engineering. She is a recipient of the 2008 NIH/NIBIB K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award, the 2010 NIH Directors New Innovator Award, the 2010 Okawa Foundation Research Grant Award, and the 2011 NSF CAREER Award, the 2012 Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowship, the 2012 Epilepsy Therapy Project award, the 2013 Alzheimers Association New Investigator Award. As an Electrical Engineer by training with Neuroscience research interest, her goal is to analyze, debug, and engineer the brain circuit through innovative technology.
Kristen K Steenerson Mdclinical Assistant Professor Neurology & Neurological Sciences
Kristen Steenerson is a board-certified neurologist with fellowship training in otoneurology. Her specific interests include Vestibular Migraine, Benign Paroxysmal Positional vertigo, Ménière’s Disease and Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness. Her goal is to work in tandem with Movement Disorders specialists to help address the unmet need in balance disorders through the comprehensive evaluation and care allowed by the Stanford Balance Center, jointly addressing the junction of inner ear and brain disorders.
Read Also: Why Is Parkinson’s Medication Time Specific
Professor Of Neurology And Neurological Sciencesdirector Autonomic Disorders Program
Dr. Jaradeh’s clinical interests include autonomic disorders, small fiber neuropathies and the development of effective methods of testing and treating these disorders. Prior work has focused on small fiber, painful and autonomic neuropathies syncope and syndromes of orthostatic intolerance including postural orthostatic tachycardia gastrointestinal motility dysfunction cyclic vomiting neurology of gastroesophageal reflux non-allergic rhinitis syndromes and the relationship between the autonomic nervous system and normal or abnormal sleep. Additional areas of interest include the neurology of phonation and swallowing disorders, autoimmune neuromuscular disorders, hereditary neuropathies, and peripheral nerve injury and repair.
Dr. Jaradeh is board certified in Neurology and in Clinical Neurophysiology by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. He is also board certified in Electrodiagnostic Medicine by the American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine, and board certified in Autonomic Disorders by the UCNS Board of the American Autonomic Society.
Prior to his arrival at Stanford Hospital and Clinics, Dr. Jaradeh was the Chair and a Professor at Medical College of Wisconsin from 2000 to 2011.
Kim Bullock Mdclinical Professor Psychiatry & Behavioral Science
Dr. Bullock is certified in the subspecialty of Behavioral Neurology & Neuropsychiatry. She runs an outpatient Neuro-Behavior Clinic and Laboratory with special emphasis on non-pharmacological interventions and evidenced-based psychotherapies for problems such as psychogenic seizures. Her focus is cognitive behavior group therapy and she trains residents, psychology students and therapists in these methods. She currently is investigating the use of group dialectical behavior for non-epileptic seizures.
Don’t Miss: Do Parkinson’s Patients Have Tremors During Sleep
Gerald Popelka Md Phdconsulting Professor Of Otolaryngology
Dr. Popelka holds a PhD degree from the University of Wisconsin with an emphasis in neuroscience, and a two year post doctoral research fellowship in otolaryngology from UCLA. Prior to these he earned a masters degree in audiology from Kent State University and maintains certification in audiology. He was a faculty member for 24 years at Washington University in St. Louis and joined the Otolaryngology faculty at Stanford in 2004.
As Chief of the Audiology division in the Department of Otolaryngology he is responsible for audiological services provided by a team of experienced audiologists. These services include basic audiological measures and advanced auditory physiological measures that include auditory evoked potentials, intraoperative monitoring during cochlear implant surgery and auditory monitoring of the effects of ototoxic drugs commonly used in cancer therapy. The division also provides and fits of comprehensive range of hearing devices including conventional hearing aids and a large range of special hearing devices including surgical implanted bone conduction devices and cochlear implants and non-surgical dental devices. He also is responsible for vestibular diagnostic services that include conventional caloric measures and a variety of special measures that contribute to the Stanford Balance Center.
Parkinson’s Has Many Different Early Symptoms
Because PD causes both motor and non-motor symptoms, the signs can be extremely wide-ranging. PD requires that you have the symptom known as bradykinesia . “People who have this describe it as muscle weakness, but it happens because of muscle control problems, and there’s no actual loss of strength,” explains the Michael J. Fox Foundation , which notes that other possible symptoms can include rigidity or stiffness, unstable posture or gait, and a tremor while muscles are resting. “This is a rhythmic shaking of muscles even when you’re not using them and happens in about 80 percent of Parkinson’s disease cases.”
Those are the more commonly known symptoms of PD. “Some of the lesser recognized oneseven among doctorsinvolve the eyes and visual system,” MJFF says. “People with PD blink less frequently, which can lead to dryness, irritation or burning of the eyes.”
Recommended Reading: Phones For Parkinson’s Patients
Staff Neuropsychologist And Associate Professorclinical And Research Neuropsychologist
Dr. Deutsch has special expertise in evaluation of brain function in people with epilepsy. She received her doctoral degree in clinical psychology at Drexel University and completed a pre-doctoral internship the University of Pennsylvania and a post-doctoral fellowship in clinical neuropsychology at the Graduate Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was the Staff Neuropsychologist at the New Jersey Neuroscience Institute and Assistant Professor of Neuroscience at Seton Hall University, Graduate School of Medical Education. Her research interests are the neural basis of dyslexia and learning disorders and cognitive disorders in epilepsy.