March 21, 2005

SIU Med School Sponsors Parkinson's Disease Educational Forum

Parkinson's disease is the topic of a public educational forum to be presented next month by the Center for Parkinson Disease at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. It will be held Saturday morning, April 2, in the Wedeberg Conference Center at Memorial Medical Center, First and Miller Streets in Springfield.

The program will provide general information about the disease as well as information on services available through SIU's center.

The sessions begin at 9 a.m. with "Parkinson Disease: Improving the Treatment While Finding a Cure" by Dr. Rodger J. Elble, professor and chairman of neurology and director of SIU's center. The remaining sessions are "Practical Aspects of Parkinson Disease Management" by Charlene Young, R.N., nurse practitioner and nurse administrator for SIU's center, and "Maximizing Communication in Parkinson Disease" by Marjorie L. Johnson, senior speech language pathologist, Struthers Parkinson's Center, Golden Valley, Minn.

The forum is free to the public and refreshments will be served. Parking is available in the visitor lots located east and south of the hospital's main entrance.

Reservations are requested and can be made by contacting Leslie Randolph, SIU's Center for Parkinson Disease, at 217-545-7181 weekdays.

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