海角社区 School of Kinesiology to Hold 10th Annual Louisiana Parkinson鈥檚 Conference
Register to attend this free day of education, networking, and inspiration for all affected by Parkinson's disease.
June 1, 2022
BATON ROUGE 鈥� The 海角社区 School of Kinesiology announces the . This year鈥檚 event will take place in-person for the first time since 2020 and will be held on Saturday, July 16, 2022 from 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. at the C. B. Pennington Jr. Conference Center.
鈥淲e are honored to celebrate the tenth year of this impactful event,鈥� says Don Ingram, PhD and Adjunct Professor at 海角社区鈥檚 Pennington Biomedical Research Center. 鈥淭his event came about through the dedication, hard work, and support of many different parties, and when we began this conference ten years ago, we couldn鈥檛 have dreamed of the impact it would have on the Parkinson鈥檚 community.鈥�
The number of commercially insured adults diagnosed with Parkinson's disease is on the rise, according to a 2020 report from Blue Cross Blue Shield, with approximately 14 percent of cases diagnosed in adults younger than 50.1 This event offers individuals from across the state of Louisiana the opportunity to come to Baton Rouge and learn about the latest research, share effective strategies for managing the challenges of Parkinson鈥檚 disease, and connect with others impacted by this illness at no cost.
Dr. Ingram continues, 鈥淪ince its beginnings, we have brought together more than 2,000 attendees, held nearly 50 informative sessions, and provided critical resources to persons with Parkinson鈥檚, their caregivers, researchers, and more.鈥�
Kicking off a day of learning and community-building, survivor, fighter, leader, author, and speaker will deliver this year鈥檚 P.J. Mills Keynote Address. Mr. Ritscher became a global advocate regarding Parkinson鈥檚 disease research after his 2011 diagnosis. His message of 鈥渕ak[ing] every single day count for something better鈥� has inspired countless fellow persons with Parkinson鈥檚.
The P.J. Mills Keynote Address began last year through a generous endowment by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation on behalf of the late Percy Joseph (P.J.) Mills, Jr. Mr. Mills was a prominent figure in the Louisiana business and political sectors and a longtime advocate for community-building. Among his many roles throughout his career, he was the President and CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana. He passed away January 16, 2021 from complications related to Alzheimer鈥檚 and Parkinson鈥檚 disease. The keynote address, named for Mr. Mills, honors his legacy of service and excellence.
"Nearly one million people in the U.S. live with Parkinson's disease2 with over 10,000 in Louisiana, yet the experience for each person differs," says Jan Hondzinski, PhD and Professor at the 海角社区 School of Kinesiology. "By bringing together people affected by Parkinson鈥檚 disease - whether it is a patient, caregiver, clinician, or researcher - we can help ensure they not only have the tools they need to live well with the disease, but that these individuals also have a community of people surrounding them on their journey."
Sessions at this year鈥檚 conference include presentations on 鈥淧arkinson鈥檚 Friendly Changes for the Home,鈥� research on wearable exosuits and how they benefit walking, and a presentation by Baton Rouge鈥檚 Dr. Gerald Calegan, who helped pioneer the capital city鈥檚 first Deep Brain Stimulation Center to treat patients with Parkinson鈥檚 disease, essential tremor, and dystonia. Conference attendees can attend a variety of sessions, as well as learn about local and national resources, support groups, and more.
While this event is free, space is limited and registration is required. For more information and to register, please visit .
About the 海角社区 School of Kinesiology
The 海角社区 School of Kinesiology advances the understanding of physical activity, sport,
and health to optimize the quality of life for diverse populations through excellence
in teaching, learning, discovery, and engagement.
Visit the School of Kinesiology at lsu.edu/kinesiology.
About the 海角社区 College of Human Sciences & Education
The College of Human Sciences & Education (CHSE) is a nationally accredited division
of 海角社区. The College is comprised of the School of Education,
the School of Leadership and Human Resource Development, the School of Kinesiology,
the School of Library and Information Science, the School of Social Work, and the
University Laboratory School. These combined schools offer 8 undergraduate degree
programs and 18 graduate programs, enrolling more than 1,900 undergraduate and 977
graduate students. The College is committed to achieving the highest standards in
teaching, research, and service and is continually working to improve its programs.
Visit the College of Human Sciences & Education at chse.lsu.edu.
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