Connecting Communities: 11th Annual Louisiana Parkinson's Conference to be Held Saturday, July 15, 2023
LSU School of Kinesiology announces annual event to empower and educate Persons with Parkinson’s and their Caregivers, as well as encourage research support.
BATON ROUGE - The LSU School of Kinesiology is hosting its annual Louisiana Parkinson's Conference next month. Now in its 11th year, the conference will take place on Saturday, July 15, 2023, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. at the esteemed C. B. Pennington Jr. Conference Center in Baton Rouge, La.
Conference attendees participating in a movement exercise at the 2022 event.
LSU School of Kinesiology
An estimated 1 million people in the United States live with Parkinson’s disease, with nearly 11,000 of those residing in Louisiana.[1] Additionally, the number of individuals being diagnosed with Parkinson’s continues to increase each year,[2] highlighting the need to further research in this field and provide Persons with Parkinson’s (PWPs) the necessary resources, education and community networks to enhance their quality of life and well-being.
“The impact of Parkinson’s disease is far-reaching, and it is critical for those affected to receive not only education from professionals, but also community support, as isolation can worsen symptoms,”[3] states Jan Hondzinski, PhD and professor at the LSU School of Kinesiology. “Through the inspiring presentations and interactions, attendees learn valuable strategies for managing the challenges of this condition and connect with a community of individuals who truly understand and empathize with their experiences.”
Sharing their wealth of knowledge and experience, Karl and Angela Robb will be this year’s P.J. Mills Keynote Address. Karl, who has battled Young Onset Parkinson's disease for over thirty years, is not only an advocate but also an entrepreneur, inventor, Reiki Master and accomplished author. Alongside him, Angela, his wife and Reiki Master, has actively advocated for caregiver issues and received recognition as a Champion of Change in Parkinson's disease. Their presentation, “Moving As One,” promises to encourage resilience and compassion while empowering individuals affected by Parkinson's disease and their caregivers worldwide.
Additional programs at this year’s conference include presentations by four movement disorder neurologists from Baton Rouge and New Orleans; a session by “Mission for Movement,” an organization that provides life-changing resources like online classes, podcasts and educational events to those impacted by Parkinson’s; time for conference attendees to meet with various organizations and businesses that provide support and solutions for PWPs and their caregivers; movement breaks specifically designed for PWPs; and more.
While this event is free, space is limited and registration is required. For more information and to register, please visit Louisiana Parkinson’s Conference.
About the LSU School of Kinesiology
The LSU 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 LSU College of Human Sciences & Education
The College of Human Sciences & Education (CHSE) is a nationally accredited division
of Louisiana State University. The College is comprised of the School of Education,
the School of Leadership and Human Resource Development, the School of Kinesiology,
the School of Information Studies, 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.
[1] https://www.parkinson.org/understanding-parkinsons/statistics