Welcome to the Parkinson Disease and Movement Disorders Center at the University of Pennsylvania
For our patients with Parkinson's and their loved ones
Living Well at Home Part XIX
Sponsored by Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Program at Penn a Parkinson Foundation Center of Excellence
September 8-December 12, 2025
A variety of programs to keep the PD community connected. In this series we will focus on the role of family in navigating life with PD. Topics include the genetics of PD, the dynamics of the family system, supportive caregiving as well as the importance of support for care partners.
Mondays 11:00am-12:00pm Support Group
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/5874950878?pwd=dkpNbWdRVGk4K01RZHJtTXQwaFVtUT09
A different group meeting will be held each week.
- Women’s Group 9/8, 10/13, 11/10, 12/8 (for Women with PD)
- DBS 9/15, 11/3 (for those who have DBS or are planning on it)
- Newly Diagnosed 9/22, 10/20, 11/17 (for those within two-three years of diagnosis)
- Living Well with PD 9/29, 10/27, 11/24 (open to all)
- Men’s Group 10/6, 12/1 (new)
Other groups:
ParKIN (for people of color) 4th Saturday of every other month 10:30am at 330 S 9th Street Contact Gloria.williams@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
Help Yourself (For people who live alone) 2nd Tuesday at 2:00 pm (remote)
Contact sreichwein@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
Early Onset Women’s group (for women diagnosed age 50 or younger) (Remote)
Contact PHLWwPD@gmail.com
Long Timers (for those diagnosed about 14 years or more) (Remote) 4th Wednesday at 7:00pm
Contact kathskyblue@gmail.com
Living Well at Home Care Partner Series
Support groups and educational programs to support care partners.
Contact Lauren Zelouf, LCSW, MSW for more info. Lauren.zelouf@pennmedicine.upenn.edu 215 829 -3038
New Group starting:
Newly Diagnosed Young Men’s Group: For men newly diagnosed with PD under the age of 50. Contact Sue Reichwein for more information sreichwein@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
Tuesdays 11:00am-12:00pm Breathe, Balance and Gait with Judith Sachs
“Learn to balance, seated and standing, and feel secure as you breathe, shift weight and experiment safely with movement in all directions. This class will help you align your body and mind for better balance, then take you across the floor with a variety of options for slow, quick, turning, and pivoting gait. You can take class in the chair and still benefit. Bring a tennis ball and a Kleenex box or water bottle (any object about 8” high) and learn to redefine what it means to take a breath and stand on your own two feet."
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83417057327?pwd=NmVOQmIwdWdHL2lYZjVBWVRTVjMrUT09
Meeting ID: 834 1705 7327
Passcode: 070703
Fridays 11:00am-12:00pm Get Fit Friday with Melissa Bandock
Chair Yoga for PD. This class will address stiffness, mobility, balance & breath.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9280577655
Wednesdays 11:00am-12:00pm Take pART in Parkinson’s a series of workshops creating projects, community and education with Emily Stordahl.
Roadmap to Resources (September 17-October 1) (register by Sept 8)
Exploring Emotions in Words and Images, (October 8 - 22nd) Postponed until January
T-Shirt Logo Design on 11/5 and 11/19.
Descriptions for all of these projects are available. You do not need to sign up for the whole series but please commit to attending each session in each individual series.
There will also be studios open on 10/15 (Wed) and 11/10 (Mon) 7:00pm-8:00pm to showcase work and chat. Also, may have a holiday get together…tbd
Enrollment is limited so please sign up.
Tuesday Night Talks 6:30pm-7:30pm with the PDMDC Fellows and our Sponsor.
Join us Tuesday night at 6:30pm-7:30pm with expert talks on different topics.
10/28 Sara Berman, MD “Exploring the vast landscape of treatment options for Parkinson's Disease."
11/4 ONAPGO Update, Supernus
11/11 Megan Super, MD “Parkinson’s Disease versus Atypical Parkinsonian Disorders”
12/2 Esteban Luna, MD "The History and Promising Future of Stem Cell Based Therapies in Parkinson’s Disease"
Call Sue Reichwein 215-829-7273 or e-mail sreichwein@pennmedicine.upenn.edu with questions or to be added to the e-mail list
Thanks to our sponsor of LIVING WELL AT HOME Series XIX:
The University of Pennsylvania's Department of Neurology provides comprehensive evaluation, diagnosis, treatment and management for all types of movement disorders. Movement disorders are complex neurological disorders that affect your ability to produce and control bodily movements. Movement disorders occur when changes in the brain cause either abnormal, excessive, involuntary movements or slower, delayed movements.
Recognized by the Parkinson Foundation as one of 45 worldwide Centers of Excellence, the Parkinson Disease and Movement Disorders Center (PD&MDC) is one of the largest of its kind in the country and the most pre-eminent in the Philadelphia region, providing care to thousands of patients each year.
We are located on the northwest corner of 9th and Pine streets, and valet parking is available from 8am to 5pm. Parking is also available on the corner of 8th and Delancey streets. A picture of our main entrance is shown below:
Types of Movement Disorders
- Dystonia (including spasmodic torticollis)
- Essential tremor
- Huntington's disease
- Myoclonus
- Parkinson Disease
- Atypical parkinsonisms
- Spinocerebellar ataxia and other ataxia disorders
- Tardive dyskinesia
- Tourette syndrome and other tic disorders
To learn more about Parkinson Disease and other resources click here, or open one of the Parkinson information booklets below:
- 10 Early Signs of Parkinson Disease
- Action plan for hiring in-home caregivers
- Adding Family, Friends and Volunteers to Your Caregiving
- Deep Brain Stimulation Guide
- Focused ultrasound for the treatment of tremor
- Fitness Counts
- Managing PD Mid-Stride
- Mood
- Psychosis
- Sleep
- What you and your family should know
A brief history of PD&MDC
The PD&MDC was founded at the late, great Graduate Hospital in 1982 by Drs. Howard Hurtig and Matthew Stern, and Nurse Gwyn Vernon, as a center to provide comprehensive care and education to patients and families, and to conduct clinical and basic research in collaboration with basic scientists at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine (now the Perelman SOM). After 15 years of steady and expanded growth of its fundamental mission, the PD&MDC moved in 1997 to the Penn Neurological Institute at Pennsylvania Hospital, where patient services and program development accelerated to achieve its current status as one of premier facilities of its kind in the US and a Parkinson Foundation Center of Excellence. PD&MDC is also a Huntington's Disease Society of America Center of Excellence, a Lewy Body Dementia Association Research Center of Excellence, a Multiple Systems Atrophy Coalition's Center of Excellence and a CurePSP Center of Care.
DR. HURTIG AND DR. STERN, CO-FOUNDERS PD&MDC
PD&MDC is now directed by Dr. Andrew Siderowf, MD, a Movement Disorders Specialist whose research focuses on the organization and conduct of clinical trials. Dr. Siderowf is the national Co-PI for the Parkinson Progression Marker Initiative (PPMI) study, and the Co-PI for the UPenn NeuroNEXT clinical site. He also serves on the steering committee or safety monitoring boards of several other ongoing multi-center clinical trials.
DR. ANDREW SIDEROWF, DIRECTOR OF PD&MDC
The scope of the Center’s portfolio now includes the most advanced medical therapies provided by highly trained specialists, opportunities for patients and families to participate in clinical research, expert physical rehabilitation at the Dan Aaron Rehab Program, psychological counseling, and access to educational programs and a network of support groups. As a key division of the Perelman SOM’s Department of Neurology, the PD&MDC educates medical students, residents in Neurology and post-residency neurologists planning a specialized career in movement disorders.