LSU Kinesiology to Host 13th Annual Louisiana Parkinson’s Conference

BATON ROUGE, LA – LSU School of Kinesiology will be holding its 13th Annual Louisiana Parkinson’s Conference on Saturday, July 19, 2025, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the C.B. Pennington Jr. Conference Center. 

Parkinson's disease affects approximately 1.1 million people in the United States today, including around 15,000 individuals in Louisiana alone. Each year, an estimated 90,000 new cases are diagnosed nationwide. With the population aging and increased awareness leading to more diagnoses, experts project that the number of people living with Parkinson’s in the U.S. will rise to 1.2 million by 2030. To fight the rise in numbers, President Biden signed the Dr. Emmanuel Bilirakis and Honorable Jennifer Wexton National Plan to End Parkinson’s Act into law. This law calls for an integrated national plan to prevent, diagnose, treat, and cure Parkinson’s, ameliorate symptoms, and slow or stop progression. 

The conference provides an opportunity for the at large community to learn about Parkinson’s disease, obtain access resources designed especially for people with Parkinson’s, establish networks with people that help those with Parkinson’s, and acquire information about combating symptoms of Parkinson’s. Each year I learn something new to use in our studies, teach my students, and share with the Parkinson’s community. On behalf of the conference committee, our hope is that each attendee finds something useful to help themselves or someone else. 

Jan M. Hondzinski, PhD
LSU School of Kinesiology Professor

This year’s P.J. Mills Keynote Address, “Mindfulness in Wellness and Illness: Strategies to Manage Stress,” will be given by Jayasharee Rao, MD, who has spent more than 30 years teaching in pediatrics and pediatric endocrinology at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center. Dr. Rao’s clinical practice focused on caring for children and adolescents with chronic and rare endocrine disorders, fostering deep empathy for patients and their families as they navigate the challenges of lifelong illnesses such as childhood diabetes and the effects of brain tumors. In addition to clinical and academic work, she leads courses on Mindfulness in Wellness and Illness for physicians, nurses, hospital staff, and the broader community, like people with Parkinson’s and their care givers. These sessions emphasize embodied teaching and include guided meditations tailored to various settings. 

Other conference sessions include Dance and Special Exercises by Madeleine Hackney, PhD; Life of a Parkinson’s Care Partner by Malenna Sumrall, Ph.D., an interactive demonstration from the New Orleans Ballet Association; Hot Topics in the Clinic by David J. Houghton, MD, MPH, and a Q&A session with the presenters. 

The annual Louisiana Parkinson’s Conference is a highlight of the year in the School of Kinesiology and the Baton Rouge community. Dr. Hondzinski and her team have done a phenomenal job in creating a fantastic program of outreach and engagement to those with Parkinson’s and their families. It is vital that people know they are part of a larger community. This is one of the most important attributes of the conference along with the information shared. 

John Nauright, PhD
LSU School of Kinesiology Director

Conference attendees can meet and network with individuals with Parkinson’s, care partners, researchers, and healthcare professionals. Conference attendance is free, but registration is required. Register here. 

Thank you to our sponsors!:

Watch footage from this year's conference here.

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About the LSU School of Kinesiology
The LSU School of Kinesiology (SOK) 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. SOK offers a BS, MS, Online MS, PhD, and two certificate options. Graduates go on to successful careers in the health and fitness industry, corporate wellness, sport agencies and businesses, athletic administration, and K-12 educational settings. SOK is part of the College of Human Sciences & Education.

Visit the School of Kinesiology website.

 

About the 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 Information Studies, the School of Kinesiology, the School of Leadership & Human Resource Development, and the School of Social Work. CHSE has two model demonstration schools, the Early Childhood Education Laboratory Preschool, enrolling birth to age four and the University Laboratory School enrolling Kindergarten through grade 12. The college also has four centers and institutes: the Early Childhood Education Institute, the Healthy Aging Research Center, the Leadership Development Institute, and Social Research & Evaluation Center. The college is committed to achieving the highest standards in teaching, research, and service and aims to improve quality of life across the lifespan.

Visit the College of Human Sciences & Education website.