(R-L) APDA President & CEO Leslie A. Chambers moderates panel discussion about current PD research featuring Beate Ritz, MD, PhD, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Echo Tan, MD, Cedars-Sinai, and Natalie Diaz, MD, Harbor – UCLA Medical Center.
APDA hosted it’s first-ever Parkinson’s Educational West Coast Forum in October. For two days, attendees received the latest information about PD and were treated to some special activities meant for respite and relaxation. APDA assembled some of the best and brightest minds in the area of PD to present the most current and pressing information about research, treatments and to answer questions from those on their PD journey.
In addition to plenary sessions and panel discussions there were also breakout sessions on topics like Your Sleep & PD and Early Management of PD as well as a special session for care partners. To balance out the weekend, attendees were treated to complimentary chair massages and hair and make-up touch ups prior to a fun evening of dinner, dancing and socializing.
The weekend ended with an inspirational presentation and Q&A featuring Allison Toepperwein, who was diagnosed at age 37 and used her diagnosis as motivation to live her best life. Upon hearing that she would benefit from exercise, she not only began working fitness into her life, she charged forward full-force and became a two-time contestant on TV’s American Ninja Warrior! An incredible role model to her young daughter, to her fellow people with PD, and to all of us, Allison’s story and positive attitude was the perfect close to an incredible weekend.
““The APDA Forum was terrific in all respects — the speakers and their information, the incredible Allison Toepperwein, learning what leadership is all about … It was the best event I have ever been to!” — David Bunch, Attendee
APDA works tirelessly every day to provide the education, support and research that will help everyone impacted by PD live life to the fullest and the West Coast Forum is one of the many ways we are doing just that. Attendees left the weekend armed with a wealth of information to help them better navigate their life with PD and we look forward to bringing more programs like this to our PD community around the country.
The program was generously supported by our presenting sponsors: AbbVie, Acadia and Sunovion.