By Ramon A. Gil, M.D., Medical Director, Parkinson’s Disease Treatment Center of SWFL
Dr. James Parkinson was born on April 11, 1765, in London, England. He was a highly educated man, who not only became a surgeon, but he was also a geologist, apothecary, paleontologist and a political activist. He was the author of “An Essay on the Shaking Palsy”, published in 1817, describing the disease that many years ago received his name: “Parkinson’s Disease”. Honoring his birthday, we celebrate April as “Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month”.
Back in the early 1990’s, Dupont, makers of Sinemet and Sinemet CR, gave some of us a copy of its famous essay with a note that reads: “For those who search for ways to make life better for people living with Parkinson’s Disease. A gift of appreciation”. Those words continue to be a simple source of inspiration for many of us. Today, more than ever, we see the fruits of so many years of research leading to remarkable progress in this field, helping to enhance the quality of life of our PD patients and easing the load of the care partners.
Parkinson’s Disease Treatment Center of SWFL, in association with the Charlotte County Medical Society proudly presents our 2024 Spring Symposium. It will be held on Friday, April 5th. Admission is FREE, but registration is strongly recommended, as seating is limited. Those attending the program will enjoy four interesting and educational presentations. I will open the program with a lecture to help you with the challenges of being hospitalized. Tips to help you how to survive your hospitalization will be shared with you and your care partners.
Sleep disturbances are part of PD. Sleep Apnea and REM Sleep Disorders (RBD) will be presented by Dr. Ernesto Eusebio, Sleep Medicine specialist from Lee Health. Untreated, Sleep Apnea will cause excessive daytime somnolence and tiredness, tends to worsen depression and most important it will accelerate cognitive decline leading to dementia. RBD (acting your dreams) is associated with injuries sometimes not just to you, but to your bedpartner.
We are delighted to have Dr. Jean Hubble with us. At this point she is a medical consultant, and she is a former medical director of the Parkinson’s Disease Center of Excellence & Movement Disorders Clinic at the Ohio State University Medical Center. She has a vast experience in the pharmaceutical industry, since upon retirement from medical practice, she worked in the medical divisions of several companies, participating in the development of new drugs in the field of Neurology, particularly in movement disorders. She will review for us the history of treating PD, highlighting the great progress achieved over the past 5 decades.
Finally, Dr. Adolfo Ramirez Zamora, Associate Professor of Neurology, Program Director and Division Chief of Movement Disorders at the Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases at the University of Florida in Gainesville will present the surgical treatment of PD, illustrating who, why and when patients should consider surgery (deep brain stimulation) as part of the treatment of PD.
Let’s celebrate the special birthday, let’s all learn together. Let’s quote Dr. Rana in our final line: “Those who fight Parkinson’s with knowledge always find solutions.”
Parkinson’s Disease Treatment Center of SWFL
For more info or to register contact Jennifer at Dr. Gil’s Office:
Phone (941) 743-4987 | Fax (941) 743-4486
office@parkinsonsfl.com
4235 Kings Hwy Unit 102, Port Charlotte, FL 33980
415 Commercial Ct., Suite E, Venice, FL 34292
5272 Summerlin Commons Way, Suite 603
Fort Myers, FL 33907