PD Care Connection Experience 2025

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Debbie Polisky MBA, MS Nutrition

Bilingual Brain Health Nutritionist

Debbie has a 30-year career (bilingual, multicultural and international) in nutrition and wellness, emphasizing a mind and body approach to healthcare. Originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina, she has been a pioneer with her innovative nutrition and wellness programs, using both Science/Healthcare with the Arts, known as NeuroArts Programs. Since the pandemic, she has been actively involved with the Parkinson's community, through community programs, conferences, writing and dancing. Her unique program, Join your Brain Health Party! More Nutrition, Less Stress for PD, caregivers, and healthcare professionals, continues to be offered as a bilingual virtual and in person program, with emphasis on her 5ME Model: Mindset, Mindfulness, Meals (Nutrition and Recipes), Movement (emphasis on Argentine Social Tango) and Magical Moments

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Dr. Sara Dhanani, MD

Movement Disorders Neurologist

Dr. Sara S. Dhanani is a neurologist in Sun City, Arizona and is affiliated with multiple hospitals in the area, including Banner Thunderbird Medical Center and Banner-University Medical Center Phoenix. She received her medical degree from Dow University of Health Sciences and has been in practice for more than 20 years. Dr. Sara S. Dhanani has expertise in treating non-Alzheimer's dementia, Parkinson's disease, among other conditions.

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Dr. Francisco A. Ponce, MD

Chief Neurosurgeon, Functional/Cranial Neurosurgery

Francisco Ponce, MD, is a neurosurgeon and the chief of stereotactic and functional neurosurgery at Barrow Neurological Institute. He serves as director of both the Center for Neuromodulation and the Neurosurgery Residency Program. He is board certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery. Dr. Ponce's expertise includes deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery for Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, and dystonia, as well as focused ultrasound for essential tremor and tremor-dominant Parkinson's. DBS is the most common form of neuromodulation therapy, which aims to eliminate or improve symptoms of neurological disorders by negating abnormal electrical activity in the brain. He is also active in the operative management of cranial and spinal trauma. Dr. Ponce earned his undergraduate degree in physics at Harvard University and attended graduate school at Oxford University. He earned his medical degree from the University of Chicago. Dr. Ponce completed his neurosurgery residency at Barrow and a fellowship in stereotactic and functional neurosurgery at the University of Toronto in Ontario, Canada. Dr. Ponce has published extensively on DBS and other neurosurgical procedures in peer-reviewed journals. He presents regularly at national and international conferences.

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Dr. Holly Shill, MD

Neurologist, director of Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center

Dr. Shill's expertise includes the diagnosis and treatment of involuntary movements, essential tremor, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, dystonia, and ataxia. She is a member of the Arizona Neurological Society, the American Academy of Neurology, the Movement Disorder Society, and the International Neurotoxin Association. Dr. Shill received her medical degree from the University of Arizona College of Medicine in Tucson. She completed her internship at Dignity Health St. Joseph's in internal medicine. Dr. Shill completed her residency in neurology at Barrow Neurological Institute and a fellowship in movement disorders at the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Shill's research studies include risk factors for the development and progression of Parkinson's disease and innovative treatments for Parkinson's. She also studies pathogenesis of essential tremor.

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Dr. Padma Mahant, MD

Board Certified Neurologist specializing in Movement Disorders

Dr Mahant is a board-certified neurologist specializing in movement disorders at Foothills Neurology, PC, in Phoenix, Arizona. She is also the Director of Medical Affairs at CND Life Sciences in Scottsdale, Arizona, providing education and guidance for clinicians and patients regarding CND’s diagnostic technologies for Parkinson’s disease and related disorders. Dr Mahant graduated from the Medical College of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and completed her residency in neurology at the University of Rochester, Rochester, New York. She then completed a fellowship in movement disorders at Barrow Neurological Institute at St Joseph’s Medical Center in Phoenix. Dr Mahant has contributed to research in former roles with the Parkinson’s Study Group, the Arizona Parkinson’s Disease Consortium, and the Center for Adaptive Neural Systems at Arizona State University, Tempe. Her clinical interests include blepharospasm, exercise, and deep brain stimulation for Parkinson’s, and she regularly speaks for patient and physician groups on related topics. Dr. Mahant actively contributes to the education of the next generation of physicians as Assistant Clinical Professor in Neurology, University of Arizona, where she serves as preceptor for medical students in clinical rotations and in research related to neurology and movement disorders.

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Dr. Maria Ospina

Movement Disorders Neurologist

During her medical career Dr. Ospina has been active in medical research, participating in several NIH and pharmaceutical sponsored clinical trails. She has served as an investigator in the Parkinson Study Group as well as an invited speaker on a variety of topics related to movement disorders. She is trained in both the administration of botulinum toxin for dystonia, and the use of Deep Brain Stimulation. She believes in utilizing complementary modalities in Parkinson care and is an advocate for exercise to improve gait, flexibility and mood.

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Julie G. Pilitsis, MD, PhD, MBA

Professor, Department Chair of Neurosurgery at University of Arizona

Julie G. Pilitsis, MD, PhD, MBA, is Chair of the Department of Neurosurgery at University of Arizona Tucson and the Physician Executive for Functional Neurosurgery for Banner Health System. Prior to this role, she served as Dean of the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine and Vice President for Medical Affairs Strategic Initiatives at Florida Atlantic University where she led the FAU Health Network initiative. Under her stewardship, FAU began the transition from a community based medical school to an integrated system by partnering with a public hospital for creation of an academic medical center and faculty practice. Dr. Pilitsis previously served as division chief of functional neurosurgery and chair and professor of the neuroscience department at Albany Medical College in New York. This straddled position with leadership roles in both the clinical and basic sciences gave her unique perspective and opportunities to develop many synergies. During her time at Albany, she completed her BMA and graduated from ELAM. Over these roles, Dr. Pilitsis has maintained a busy functional neurosurgery practice and built a program from the ground up at each institution where she worked. She maintains an NIH sponsored research program focused on device optimization for neuromodulation with three active grants and has published over 250 journal articles, five textbooks, and numerous chapters. She was the president of the North American Neuromodulation Society (NANS), a 2000-member organization in 2023. She will be president of the American Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery (ASSFN) from 2024 - 2026. She was previous chair of the AANS/CNS Section on WIN and on Pain.

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Samantha Elandary, MA, CCC-SLP

Founder and CEO, Parkinson Voice Project

Samantha Elandary, a speech-language pathologist, has dedicated her career to helping individuals with Parkinson's disease regain and maintain their speech and swallowing abilities. Recognizing the importance of consistent speech exercises, she founded Parkinson Voice Project, a nonprofit organization that provides comprehensive therapy and support. Through her work, Elandary has made a significant impact on the lives of countless individuals with Parkinson's, empowering them to communicate effectively and improve their overall quality of life.

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Dr. Alexander Tröster, PhD, ABPP

Clinical Neuropsychologist, Department Chair of Neuropsychology at Barrow Neurological Institute

Dr. Tröster is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Clinical Neuropsychology at Barrow Neurological Institute. Dr. Tröster's expertise includes the neuropsychological evaluation of persons with movement disorders and especially those persons undergoing neuromodulation (deep brain stimulation) and other stereotactic and functional neurosurgical procedures. Research interest is primarily in neuropsychological and quality of life outcomes after neuromodulation and prediction of these outcomes. His contributions to the field have been widely recognized and honored: He is a fellow of the American Psychological Association and the National Academy of Neuropsychology, former President of the National Academy of Neuropsychology, and a recipient of that academy's distinguished scientific contributions and early career achievement awards. Dr. Tröster has authored or co-authored more than 220 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters. He has edited two books and been the guest editor of 5 special (thematic) issues of neuropsychology journals. He serves as the associate editor of two scientific journals and on the editorial board of three other journals. He has been an NIH grant reviewer and served on numerous professional society advisory panels, including for the MJFF.

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Dr. Becky Farley, PhD, MS, PT

Chief Scientific Officer and Founder, Parkinson Wellness Recovery (PWR!)

Dr. Becky Farley received a PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Arizona, a Master of Science in Physical Therapy from the University of North Carolina, and a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy from the University of Oklahoma. During her postdoc, she co-created the LSVT® BIG therapy program and completed the initial NIH research on its short-term benefits. She has now created a comprehensive motor-cognitive approach to PD-specific functional skill training called the PWR!Moves®. In 2010, she founded the non- profit Parkinson Wellness Recover | PWR and launched the PWR!Gym in Tucson, AZ - a model community facility that implements early and ongoing access to exercise as medicine. Globally, Dr. Farley has trained over 7000 physical and occupational therapists and exercise professionals to work together to provide PD-specific rehabilitation and exercise programming.

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John Perry, PT, FAFS

Physical Therapist, Educator, Author

John B. Perry, PT, CSCS, FAFS, CAFS, 3D MAPS, is an APTA Licensed Physical Therapist with over 20 years of experience in sports/fit out patient, hospital, home and skilled settings. The author of 'Hip To Be Fit', Mr. Perry has developed and presented programs nationally and internationally on lower extremity injuries, proprioception, movement awareness and Applied Functional Science principals for patients and clients of all types and purposes. An NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, Fellow of Applied Functional Science and Certified in AFS as well as 3D MAPS functional testing system, Mr. Perry utilizes his background in orthopedic injury rehab, functional lower extremity anatomy, and movement awareness to bring a unique and comprehensive approach to gait analysis.

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PD Care Connection Experience 2025

Pre-conference education opportunity

Friday, March 14, 2025

Keynote Speaker:

Jeffrey H. Kordower, Ph.D.

Founding Director of ASU-Banner Neurodegenerative Disease Research Center (NDRC)

Other Speakers (and more TBA):

Debbie Polisky MBA, MS Nutrition

Bilingual Brain Health Nutritionist

Dr. Sara Dhanani, MD

Movement Disorders Neurologist

Dr. Francisco A. Ponce, MD

Chief Neurosurgeon, Functional/Cranial Neurosurgery

Dr. Holly Shill, MD

Neurologist, director of Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center

Dr. Padma Mahant, MD

Board Certified Neurologist specializing in Movement Disorders

Dr. Maria Ospina

Movement Disorders Neurologist

Julie G. Pilitsis, MD, PhD, MBA

Professor, Department Chair of Neurosurgery at University of Arizona

Samantha Elandary, MA, CCC-SLP

Founder and CEO, Parkinson Voice Project

Dr. Alexander Tröster, PhD, ABPP

Clinical Neuropsychologist, Department Chair of Neuropsychology at Barrow Neurological Institute

Dr. Becky Farley, PhD, MS, PT

Chief Scientific Officer and Founder, Parkinson Wellness Recovery (PWR!)

John Perry, PT, FAFS

Physical Therapist, Educator, Author

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