Post written by Dr. Katie Spangler
The Greeks have given us many wonderful things: democracy and dolmades come to mind. Did you know that a “symposium” is of Greek origin?
Origin: 1580–90; < Latin < Greek
sympósion drinking party, equivalent to
sym- sym- +
po- (variant stem of
pī́nein to drink) + -
sion noun suffix.
In other words, its origin defines a symposium as a drinking party, usually with music and philosophical conversation. Although we will have many drinks — coffee, tea, water, juice, soft drinks (and some amazing food also) — that won’t be the highlight of our symposium. Ours will adhere to the more current definition of “a meeting or conference for the discussion of some subject, especially a meeting at which several speakers talk on or discuss a topic before an audience.”
Our Fourth Annual Symposium for People with Parkinson’s and Their Families will take place on Saturday, Sept. 24 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Country Springs Conference Center off of I-94 in Waukesha.
I am delighted and excited to be a speaker among the group of wonderful people presenting on several cutting edge topics. I will be speaking on the idea of “neuroprotection” and alternative therapies and how they relate to Parkinson's disease. Do they help? What is the data/scientific evidence behind such therapies? My colleagues here, Dr. Karen Blindauer and Dr. Brad Hiner will also be speaking. Dr. Blindauer will be speaking about the cognitive changes that can be seen with Parkinson's disease and Dr. Hiner will be speaking about the history of surgical treatments and Parkinson's disease.
Our Keynote Speaker is Dr. Allison Ebert, assistant professor in the Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy at the Medical College of Wisconsin. She will present about how stem cells are being used to understand and treat Parkinson’s disease. Dr. Ebert received undergraduate degrees in chemistry and psychology in 1999 from Indiana University in Bloomington. She then went to Northwestern University in Chicago where she received a Ph.D. in neuroscience in 2005 specializing in neurobiology and the study of Parkinson’s disease. She completed her post-doctoral training in the Stem Cell Research Program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the lab of Dr. Clive Svendsen where she studied stem cell transplantation in animal models of Parkinson’s disease.
Following her post-doctorate work, Dr. Ebert joined the Department of Neurology and the Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Center at UW-Madison where she continued investigating stem cell transplantation for neurodegenerative diseases. She also helped establish and characterize an induced pluripotent stem cell model of spinal muscular atrophy. In January 2011 she moved to the Medical College of Wisconsin in the Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy. Her primary research interests include utilizing induced pluripotent stem cells to understand the molecular processes occurring in neurodegenerative diseases.
Daniel M. Corcos, Ph.D. is our guest speaker. He is the director of the Motor Control and Learning Program in the School of Kinesiology at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He is a professor of Movement Sciences, Neurology, Physical Therapy, and Bioengineering. Dr. Corcos is completing a two-year randomized clinical trial of the effects of progressive resistance training vs. the effects of a flexibility and strengthening program. Dr. Corcos will present his results at our symposium.
Our own neuro rehab team will encourage exercise during our “movement breaks” and we will have the added benefit of having our meals once again selected by our registered dietician, Sarah Zangerle. Sarah has several surprises up her sleeve to encourage us to eat healthily. And, as always, we will have 20 or more exhibitors that have specific interest and knowledge in Parkinson’s.
To register for the Parkinson’s Symposium, please call 414-805-3666 or 800-272-3666. Registration is only $10 for breakfast, lunch and the amazing program described above.
View the "Save the Date" flyer.
I guarantee that it will be well worth your time!
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The following is feedback received for this blog:
Do you have any classes like Living Well with Chronic Conditions that might help those of us who have CMT Charcot Marie Tooth Inherited Neuropathy? We have recently formed a support group here in SE Wisconsin and are searching for any guidance that would be helpful for us. CMT is different from Parkinsons, but is life long, with such a variety of similar symptoms. Thanks.
- Susan Moore
Hello Susan – Living Well with Chronic Conditions is designed for folks with almost any chronic conditions (except dementia). It would be very appropriate and helpful for your group members. If you wanted the Milwaukee County representative to speak to your group, I bet he would. His name is Harvey Padek. Beyond Living Well, I’m just not sure what’s out there. For the various support groups I facilitate, I try to find topics and speakers that can either educate about the disease with an emphasis on coping strategies or people that actually inform on “living well” type strategies i.e. the various therapies, breath work, guided imagery, yoga or tai chi, etc. Good luck to you and your group.
- Vicki Conte
Community Outreach Coordinator |