News

Meet the 2009 Silverstein award winners

Wednesday, June 17, Struthers Parkinson's Center honored three 2009 Paul M. Silverstein, MD, Community Service Award winners. The Silverstein awards recognize those who have provided outstanding service to the Parkinson's community throughout the Upper Midwest. Honorees are chosen by a committee of medical professionals, philanthropists and community members. The awards are named in honor of Paul M. Silverstein, MD, founding medical director of Struthers Parkinson's Center.

Here are the 2009 honorees.

Lorna Breiter

Lorna Breiter has served three terms on the Struthers Parkinson's Center Community Advisory Board, and has been the board's chairwoman for the past four years. Lorna first became involved with the center as a family caregiver for her husband, John, who received medical care at the clinic and services through the Cub CREATE day program. Lorna was instrumental in forming a Parkinson’s caregiver support group in Maplewood, Minnesota, and continues to serve as the volunteer facilitator of that group. Most recently she offered her assistance and support to develop bereavement services at the center. Lorna has been a past member of several committees for center fundraising events, including the Silverstein awards.

Joan Gardner

Joan Gardner, clinic supervisor at Struthers Parkinson's Center, has worked there for the past 15 years. She serves as site coordinator of National Parkinson Foundation (NPF) Center of Excellence, and is the voice of NPF's "Ask the Nurse" national phone line. Joan is a nursing advocate, a frequent speaker throughout the service area, and a member of the faculty for NPF's Allied Team Training for Parkinson program. Joan partnered with Rose Wichmann, center manager, to write the nationally distributed NPF book "Caring for Advanced-Stage Parkinson" and the TULIPS program, an education and awareness program for senior residential facilities. She is currently a Parkinson Association of Minnesota board member.

Kristin Kemper

Kristin Kemper is the originator and guiding force behind the popular, annual "Awakenings" concerts benefiting Struthers Parkinson's Center. As a violinist with the Minnesota Orchestra and a person living with Parkinson's, Kristin has worked hard to raise Parkinson's disease awareness, participating in newspaper and radio interviews with her neurologist Martha Nance, MD, on several occasions. She has used her influence and connections in the musical community to coordinate outstanding talent for the Awakenings concerts each year, and has generously donated her own time and talents on behalf of the center.

Comprehensive tremor evaluation, treatment now available

A variety of neurological conditions can cause tremor, including benign essential tremor, Parkinson's disease and other diagnoses. Patients with all kinds of tremor can receive multidisciplinary evaluation, treatment and education from our new, comprehensive tremor services. Patients receive evaluation and treatment recommendations from a neurologist specializing in movement disorders, with same-day, on-site referrals to other interdisciplinary team members, as appropriate. In one visit, patients can receive a clarifying diagnosis, medication recommendations, compensating strategies, adaptive equipment and support resources. To make a referral or schedule an appointment, call 952-993-5495.

Moving BIG program catches symptoms early

Early participation in rehab therapies can help people with Parkinson's disease function and perform daily activities. Struthers Parkinson's Center's rehab team members are clinical experts, with years of specialized experience in Parkinson's and related movement disorders. Our therapists now are certified in a new, specialized protocol for improving movement in people with Parkinson's. The program, called LSVT BIG, focuses on large, full movements. This helps improve flexibility, strength and balance. Most rehab therapies are eligible for insurance reimbursement with a doctor referral. To learn more or schedule an appointment, call 952-993-5495.

Intensive, attention training program helps with thinking, memory

We are excited to announce a new cognitive rehabilitation program for people with Parkinson's disease who experience mild difficulties with attention, concentration, thinking and memory. The intensive, attention training program helps improve your ability to attend to what you hear and what you see, which helps with thinking and memory.

After a doctor referral, an initial assessment is done by a speech-language pathologist and occupational therapist. If the program is right for you, you then will be seen for two hour blocks of time, four days a week for four weeks. When the 16 sessions are complete, you will be reassessed by the speech-language pathologist and occupational therapist. To find out if this might be a helpful program for you, call 952-993-5495.