As we get closer to the Victory Over Parkinson's Komano Kodo trek in Japan, Parkinson's Association of San Diego's Director of Operations Jeff Seckendorf takes a look back on the prior five treks and a look forward to the upcoming Japan trek. Jeff gives us a first hand look at what it takes to complete one of these trips while living with Parkinson's...ordinary people doing extraordinary things, pushing themselves past their limits and proving that Parkinson's does not have to be limiting.

For more information on the trek and to donate on behalf of a trekker, click here.

"Power Over Parkinson's" international trek number six! Nurse Practitioner Sherrie Gould has, over the past 14 years, led people with Parkinson's on fundraising treks to Kilimanjaro, Mt. Everest Base Camp, Machu Picchu, The Camino de Santiago, the Dolomites, and now, coming up in May 2024, the Kumano Kodo in Japan. Funds raised on this trip support the Parkinson's Association of San Diego along with research for stem cell transplant therapies.

In today's episode we catch up with Sherrie in the car on her way to the first training hike for Japan, this one in Poway, California. Stay tuned for many more episodes from the training and the trek.

To support a hiker on this amazing journey, click here:
https://parkinsonsassociation.org/japan-trek-sponsorship/

In this episode Phil Goodrich, Parkinson's Association of San Diego Board member, continues his story of his journey with DBS. Today Phil looks back on his Parkinons's diagnosis and some of the physical, emotional, and family issues that surrounded it.

In this episode Parkinson's Association of San Diego board member Phil Goodrich continues his story about his journey with DBS. Still a few weeks before surgery, Phil explores more about his personal journey with the decision, and the process, of getting deep brain stimulation implanted.

https://parkinsonsassociation.org/

In this episode of our Microcast Series, PASD Board member Phil Goodrich continues his story of his journey with DBS. Today Phil looks a bit more at what led him to DBS and what his process will look like.

Watch for future episodes as Phil takes us with him through his prep, surgery, recover, and outcome.

Beginning January 1, 2024 Scripps Clinic and Scripps Coastal will stop accepting Medicare Advantage plans. This leaves all Scripps patients on Medicare Advantage are facing some kind of change, and that change must be decided on by December 7, 2023.

This 30-minute interview is with Sophie Exdell of HICAP – Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program, a division of Elder Law & Advocacy, a non-profit organization. Sophie explains some of the ins and outs of Medicare Advantage and some options for people wishing to stay with their Scripps doctors or willing to move to another health plan.

Scroll down to see links for more information from Elder Law & Advocacy – webinars and resources specific to the situation with Scripps and Medicare Advantage.

For links to more infomation about Medicare and Scripps, and the video version of this podcast, please click here:
https://parkinsonsassociation.org/medicare-advantage-and-scripps/

Phil Goodrich, Parkinson's Association of San Diego board member, is about to undergo deep brain stimulation surgery. What makes Phil's DBS journey unique is that he is going to take us along with him. Phil will be recording short microcast episodes as he prepares for surgery, goes through the surgery, then goes through the programming process.

In this first episode Phil talks about how he came to the conclusion that DBS is the best option for him.

Have comments or questions for Phil? Post them here and we'll pass them along:
https://parkinsonsassociation.org/contact-pasd/

The Parkinson's Association of San Diego has just released an education program for mental health professionals – social workers, clinical psychologists, and marriage and family therapists. As we recorded the interviews for this program we asked each person why they work with the Parkinson's community – what makes it rewarding.

In this short episode Adriana Gonzales, a social worker at the UCSD Parkinson's & Other Movement Disorders Center, tells us the rewards she sees working with People with Parkinson's and their families.

Contact the Parkinson's Association of San Diego here: https://parkinsonsassociation.org/contact-pasd/

Deep brain stimulation is becoming a more and more popular treatment for some of the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. In this episode we speak with Anna Manor of Boston Scientific. Boston Scientific is one of the three companies providing most of the DBS equipment to Parkinson's patients. Anna talks about the new technologies Boston Scientific has to offer and what it's like to be in a patient's first programming session after the deep brain stimulation surgery.

For more on Boston Scientific's DBS program, click here:
https://www.dbsandme.com/en.html

The 6th World Parkinson's Congress wrapped up a few days ago in Barcelona and as we all return to our lives in San Diego we caught up with Nurse Practitioner Sherrie Gould to get her thoughts on being together with thousands of people all living with Parkinson's or trying to find a way to make living with Parkinson's easier. Or, better yet, find a cure.

What are the benefits of having the administrative team from the Parkinson's Association of San Diego in Barcelona at the 6th World Parkinson's Congress? In this episode PASD Executive Director Chris Buscher give us his perspective on those benefits.

Meet Parkinson's advocate Ben Stecher. Ben was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2013 at age 29 and almost immediately realized that he had to learn as much about Parkinson's as humanly possible. His drive and tenacity led him to all corners of the world meeting with the most renowned experts – scientists, researchers, doctors, authors, and advocates. Two books and ten years later Ben is still at it, now as a patient advocate at Rune Labs.

Jeff sat down with Ben at the World Parkinson's Congress to hear a bit more about his story.

Ben's journey:  https://tmrwedition.com/my-pd-journey/ 
More about Rune Labs:  https://runelabs.io/

The 6th tri-annual World Parkinson's Congress opened yesterday in Barcelona, Spain. Executive Director Chris Buscher, board member Lisa Evans, and Director of Operations Jeff Seckendorf are all at the WPC for different reasons. In this short, first episode from Spain, Jeff talks with Lisa about some of the chaos associated with getting the Mentor Program booth set up.

Check out the Parkinson's Association Mentor Program by clicking here.
https://mentors.parkinsonsassociation.org/

In this episode we explore biofeeback and neurofeedback with Lisa Tataryn.

Lisa is a Clinical Neuroscientist at the SMARTPD Program focusing on computational brain modeling for non-invasive interventions for tracking and managing Parkinon’s symptoms. She is a board-certified Neurofeedback practitioner and a Certified Functional Medicine Health Coach specializing in Parkinson’s disease and the Bredesen Protocol for dementia prevention.

Join us to learn more about biofeeedback and neurofeedback for people with Parkinson's.

To check out Smart PD and contact Lisa, click here.

In this short episode Dr. Joanne Hamilton, neuropsychologist at the Scripps Clinic Medical Group, tells us a little about some of the rewards of working with people with Parkinson's.

Click here to contact the Parkinson's Association of San Diego.

Technology with DBS, or Deep Brain Stimulation, is advancing as fast as any tech these days. In this episode we speak with Shawn McMenamin of Abbott Pharmaceuticals and Nurse Practitioner Sherrie Gould of Scripps Clinic about some of this new technology, including Abbott's "Virtual Clinic," also known as remote programming. Hear about the benefits and challenges from Shawn and Sherrie.

For more on Abbott DBS, click here.

To contact the Parkinson's Association of San Diego, click here.

What is a social worker? How can a social worker benefit someone living with Parkinson's. What is the difference between a social worker and a psychologist? Do social workers do therapy or counseling? 

In this episode Licensed Clinical Social Worker Adirana Gonzlez addresses these questions and much more as we discuss finding, and working with, a social worker.

The Parkinson's Association of San Diego is hosted its  "Good Start Program" seminar on Wednesday, March 1st  from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church, 2111 Camino Del Rio South, San Diego, CA 92108.   

Designed for newly diagnosed Parkinson's patients and their care givers/care partners, the seminar is a 2-hour session followed by Q&A.  It will feature Dr. Brenton Wright, UCSD Movement Disorders Neurologist;  PASD Board President Marty Acevedo; Jessie Agrimas, DPT, PASD Board member and 360 NeuroLab President; Irene Miller, Fallbrook Support Group Team Leader; and PASD Executive Director Chris Buscher.

In this episode with talk with Dr. Wright about the medical portion of the Good Start Program.

To listen to the complete recording of the March 1, 2023 Good Start Program:
Click here.

The Parkinson's Association of San Diego is hosting its next "Good Start Program" seminar on Wednesday, March 1st  from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church, 2111 Camino Del Rio South, San Diego, CA 92108.   

Designed for newly diagnosed Parkinson's patients and their care givers/care partners, the seminar is a 2-hour session followed by Q&A.  It will feature Dr. Brenton Wright, UCSD Movement Disorders Neurologist;  PASD Board President Marty Acevedo; Jessie Agrimas, DPT, PASD Board member and 360 NeuroLab President; Irene Miller, Fallbrook Support Group Team Leader; and PASD Executive Director Chris Buscher.

In this episode with talk with NeuroLab360's Jessie Agrimis, DPT, on the exercise portion of the Good Start Program.

Use this link to register for the March 1, 2023 Good Start Program (register early, space is limited):
https://parkinsonsassociation.org/good-start-program-registration-march-2023/

Contact Jessie at NeuroLab360:
https://www.neurolab360.com/

The Parkinson's Association of San Diego is hosting its next "Good Start Program" seminar on Wednesday, March 1st  from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church, 2111 Camino Del Rio South, San Diego, CA 92108.   

Designed for newly diagnosed Parkinson's patients and their care givers/care partners, the seminar is a 2-hour session followed by Q&A.  It will feature Dr. Brenton Wright, UCSD Movement Disorders Neurologist;  PASD Board President Marty Acevedo; Jessie Agrimas, DPT, PASD Board member and 360 NeuroLab President; Irene Miller, Fallbrook Support Group Team Leader; and PASD Executive Director Chris Buscher.

In this episode with talk with Marty Acevedo on some of the personal aspects of being diagnosed with Parkinson's and how you can live your best life post-diagnosis..

Use this link to register for the March 1, 2023 Good Start Program (register early, space is limited):
https://parkinsonsassociation.org/good-start-program-registration-march-2023/

The Parkinson's Association of San Diego is hosting its next "Good Start Program" seminar on Wednesday, March 1st  from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church, 2111 Camino Del Rio South, San Diego, CA 92108.   

Designed for newly diagnosed Parkinson's patients and their care givers/care partners, the seminar is a 2-hour session followed by Q&A.  It will feature Dr. Brenton Wright, UCSD Movement Disorders Neurologist;  PASD Board President Marty Acevedo; Jessie Agrimas, DPT, PASD Board member and 360 NeuroLab President; Irene Miller, Fallbrook Support Group Team Leader; and PASD Executive Director Chris Buscher.

In this episode with talk with Irene Miller and her role as a care partner in Good Start.

Use this link to register (register early, space is limited):
https://parkinsonsassociation.org/good-start-program-registration-march-2023/

EN ESPAÑOL – Asociation de Parkinson Episodio #72 - Cindy Lopez de Renue Health con Lisbeth Garces.

Reneu Health, es un equipo de kinesiólogos clínicos con experiencia en ejercicios preventivos y de rehabilitación para personas mayores y personas con Parkinson.

En este episodio Lisbeth habla con Cindy Lopez de los beneficios de un programa de ejercicio estructurado en comparación con un ejercicio realizado por su cuenta.

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PASD Microcast ESPAÑOL #72 - Cindy Lopez from Renue Health with Lisbeth Garces.

THIS EPISODE IS IN SPANISH. Reneu Health is a team of experienced clinical kinesiologists who specialize in preventive and rehabilitative exercise for seniors and people with Parkinson's.

In this episode Lisbeth talks to Cyndy Lopez about the benefits of a structured exercise program compared to exercising on your own.

In this episode we meet Slim Shaky, also known as Joni Lowe. Joni's son, Sequoia, made the video with Joni and her friend, Heather Kennedy. "SLIM SHAKY is a Parkinson's rap anthem that captures the struggle and the strength of two vibrant women who live with it every day."

From Sequoia:
"I made SLIM SHAKY to give people with Parkinson's a voice, to spread awareness of life with PD, to show people with Parkinson's that they're not alone, and to raise funds for a cure. And I made SLIM SHAKY because I love my mom.

It was years ago that I first said at the family dinner table that I wanted to make a rap music video for my mom, but I meant it as a joke. My mom's never been into rap music or rapping, and that's exactly what made it so compelling. Even when I thought of the name "Slim Shaky", she just smiled and rolled her eyes, but I wasn't planning on making it happen."

Listen to the episode to hear Joni's story and learn more about Slim Shaky.

Direct link to the Slim Shaky video:
https://youtu.be/eD2nghI2k0A

To read Sequoia Lowe's story about the video and to donate to Michael J. Fox Foundation, click here:
https://fundraise.michaeljfox.org/tf-2022/slimshaky

The Parkinson's Association of San Diego:
https://parkinsonsassociation.org/

Reneu Health is a team of experienced clinical kinesiologists who specialize in preventive and rehabilitative exercise for seniors and people with Parkinson's. In this episode Jeff talks with Reneu founder Chris Corpuz about Reneu's in-home and in-facility exercise programs and Marty Acevedo, Parkinson's Association of San Diego's Board President about her experiences at Reneu Health.

https://www.reneu-health.com/

Contact the Parkinson's Association, click here.

Medtronic's Pat McDonnell has been working with Deep Brain Stimulation technology for over 20 years. In this episode Pat offers his thoughts on DBS and gives us his perspective on being an exhibitor at the Parkinson's Association of San Diego's Empowerment Day.

For more information on DBS from Medtronic, click here.
http://www.medtronic.com/DBS

For more information about how the Parkinson's Association of San Diego can help you, click here.