Here’s a list of guest speakers at many Northern California and Central California PD support group meetings for June 2017.
With my Brain Support Network atypical parkinsonism (DLB, PSP, MSA, CBD) hat on, these meetings are especially appealing to me (because of the guest speakers or topics) BUT remember that these are PD support group meetings:
Santa Rosa, Sat 6/3: Neurologist speaks about mood, cognitive, and sleep disorders in PD. This might be applicable to those with DLB and MSA.
Roseville, Tues 6/6: Learn from a pharmaceutical company rep about a new drug for hallucinations and delusions. This is applicable to those with DLB.
Sonoma/Vintage House, Thurs 6/8: Topic is balance and fall prevention. Speaker unlikely to know about any of the atypical parkinsonism disorders specifically but she probably has some good suggestions.
Stockton, Thurs 6/8: Medical marijuana is the topic
Gilroy, Mon 6/12: Listening to and discussing Michael J. Fox Foundation podcasts on sleep disturbances and urinary problems in Parkinson’s. This is applicable to those with DLB and MSA especially.
Pacific Grove (Monterey County), Tues 6/13: Speech therapist talks about speech and swallowing changes in PD. This is applicable to all the disorders in our group.
Palo Alto Young Onset Parkinson’s Group Tues 6/13: Medical cannabis is the topic
Palo Alto/Avenidas, Wed 6/14: Manager of Stanford’s Farewell to Falls program will be speaking on the topic of fall prevention. This is applicable to everyone in our group, whether you can take advantage of Stanford’s program or not.
Sacramento/Arden Arcade, Thurs 6/15: Movement disorder specialist Lin Zhang, MD, PhD will be addressing the non-motor symptoms of PD. These symptoms are part of the disorders in our group.
Mill Valley, Fri 6/13: Registered dietitian speaks about nutrition and PD. Most of the information should be applicable to those in our group.
Fremont, Mon 6/26: Movement disorder specialist Han Lee, MD will be the guest speaker. Unfortunately we don’t know his topic. But he is very familiar with all the disorders in our group.
Generally, I recommend driving no more than 30 minutes to attend any of these meetings. If you attend a meeting and learn anything, please share with me so that I can share with others!
Do you need to know the support group meeting location, day/time, contact info, and how to RSVP if required? Please refer to the Stanford
Parkinson’s website for all Northern and Central California support groups:
parkinsons.stanford.edu/support_groups.html
As always, I’ve deleted the deep brain stimulation-related talks.
Robin
**********************
Half Moon Bay
Thursday, 6/1, 3-4pm
Guest Speaker: Cherry Tuck, PD fighter
Topic: Her journey
RSVP?: No.
San Jose/Willow Glen
Friday, 6/2, 10am-noon (program starts about 10:20am)
Program: Break into two groups — those with PD and caregivers
RSVP?: No.
Santa Rosa (Sonoma County)
Saturday, 6/3, 1-3:15pm (guest speaker 1-2pm)
Guest Speaker: Allan Bernstein, MD, neurologist, Santa Rosa
Topic: Mood, cognitive, and sleep disorders in Parkinson’s
RSVP?: No.
Lodi
Monday, 6/5, 10-11am
Guest Speaker: Dianna Powell, San Joaquin County coordinator, Legal Services of Northern California
Topic: HICAP and Medicare updates
RSVP?: No.
Roseville
Tuesday, 6/6, 1:30-3pm
Guest Speaker: Saul Avila, Acadia Pharmaceuticals
Topic: Nuplazid – new drug for psychosis and schizophrenia associated with Parkinson’s
RSVP?: No.
San Francisco/UCSF Young Onset Parkinson’s Group
Tuesday, 6/6, 6:30-8pm
Guest Speaker: Cameron Wisdom, Mission Bay Rock Steady Boxing Gym, San Francisco
RSVP?: Yes, preferred to Monica Volz, [email protected]
Soquel (Santa Cruz County)
Wednesday, 6/7, 1-2:30pm
Guest Speaker: Jenifer Armstrong, PharmD, pharmacist, Santa Cruz
Topic: PD – Inside and out of the prescription bottle
RSVP?: No.
Chico
Wednesday, 6/7, 1:30-3pm
Guest Speaker: Attorney, Corporon Law Offices
Topic: Long-term care planning (trusts, wills, and other legal documents)
RSVP?: No.
Sonoma/Vintage House
Thursday, 6/8, 10-11am
Guest Speaker: Vanessa Kettler, balance instructor
Topic: Balance and fall prevention
RSVP?: No.
Stockton
Thursday, 6/8, 1:30-3pm
Guest Speaker: Christopher Trinchera
Topic: Medical marijuana
RSVP?: No.
St. Helena/Rianda House (new group)
Thursday, 6/8, 3:30-4:30pm
Guest Speaker: Barbara Brown, PT, physical therapist, St. Helena Hospital
Topic: Importance of a PT’s expertise in a PD care plan
RSVP?: No.
Fresno
Saturday, 6/10, 10am-noon
Guest Speaker: Beate Ritz, MD, PhD, UCLA
Topic: PEG (Parkinson’s, Environment & Genes) study at UCLA
RSVP?: No.
Yuba City (Tri-Counties)
Monday, 6/12, 1-2pm
Guest Speaker: Carly Pacheco, deputy director, FREED Center for Independent Living, Grass Valley
Topic: FREED Center’s services
RSVP?: No.
Gilroy
Monday, 6/12, noon-1:30pm (new time)
Program: Listening to and discussing Michael J. Fox Foundation podcasts on sleep disturbances and urinary problems in Parkinson’s
RSVP?: No.
Bakersfield
Tuesday, 6/13, 2-4pm
Guest Speaker: Lin Zhang, MD, PhD, movement disorder specialist, UC Davis, Sacramento
Topic: PD and the management of off episodes with Apokyn
RSVP?: Yes to group leaders Linda Feist, 661-304-9227, or Bill Burgemaster, 661-343-2707
Pacific Grove (Monterey County)
Tuesday, 6/13, 3-4:30pm
Guest Speaker: Katie Pietsch, SLP, speech therapist, CHOMP
Topic: Think LOUD! – Speech and swallowing changes in PD
RSVP?: No.
Palo Alto Young Onset Parkinson’s Group
Tuesday, 6/13, 6:30-8pm
Guest Speaker: Helen Garvy, PD advocate and care partner
Topic: Medical cannabis for PD
RSVP?: Preferred, if this is your first time. RSVP at least 24 hours in advance to Martha Gardner, group leader, email [email protected].
Turlock
Wednesday, 6/14, 1-2pm
Guest Speaker: Robert McCulla, DDS, dentist
Topic: Parkinson’s and sleep
RSVP?: No.
Palo Alto/Avenidas
Wednesday, 6/14, 2-3:30pm
Guest Speaker: Ellen Corman, manager, Farewell to Falls, Stanford Health Care
Topic: Fall prevention in Parkinson’s
RSVP?: No.
Sacramento/Arden Arcade
Thursday, 6/15, 10am-noon
Guest Speaker: Lin Zhang, MD, PhD, movement disorder specialist, UC
Davis, Sacramento
Topic: PD – more than motor symptoms
RSVP?: No.
Walnut Creek (Mt. Diablo)
Saturday, 6/17, 9am-noon (speaker 10:45am-11:45am)
Guest Speaker: Nijee Luthra, MD, PhD, movement disorders fellow, UCSF
Topic: Advances in treatment of Parkinson’s
RSVP?: No.
Lincoln
Tuesday, 6/20, 10-11am
Guest Speaker: Millie Nunez, PD cycling instructor, Sun City Lincoln Hills
Topic: Nutrition and forced exercise
RSVP?: No.
Auburn
Tuesday, 6/20, 1:30-3pm
Guest Speaker: Stephanie Fiola, RN, AbbVie Pharmaceuticals
Topic: Discovering Duopa – carbidopa/levodopa eternal suspension
RSVP?: No.
Modesto
Wednesday, 6/21, 1:30-3:30pm
Guest Speaker: Carlos Becerra, personal trainer, Alpha Fitness
RSVP?: No.
Auburn (special bonus meeting at same location as regular meeting)
Thursday, 6/22, 6-7:30pm
Guest Speaker: Robert Ghelfi, MD, Northern California Surgical Group, Redding
Topic: Stem cell therapy for PD
RSVP?: No.
Mill Valley (Marin County)
Friday, 6/23, 1-3pm (guest speaker 1-2pm)
Guest Speaker: Sue Weiss, RD, dietitian, Kaiser San Rafael
Topic: Nutrition and Parkinson’s
RSVP?: No.
Fremont
Monday, 6/26, 7-9:30pm
Guest Speaker: Han Lee, MD, movement disorder specialist, Kaiser San Leandro
RSVP?: No.