March 23, 2007                                                

SIU Med School Sponsors Parkinson’s Disease Educational Forum

Parkinson’s disease is the topic of a public educational forum to be presented in April by the Center for Parkinson Disease and Movement Disorders at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine.   It will be held Saturday morning, April 14, 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, which is based in SIU’s neurology department.  The center staff is presenting most of the sessions.

The sessions begin at 9 a.m. with “Research Projects at SIU” by Dolly Kelley, R.N.  The next two sessions are “Non-Motor Complications of Parkinson Disease” by Charlene Young, R.N., and “Motor Complications of Parkinson Disease” by Dr. Rodger J. Elble, Ph.D., professor and chair of neurology and center director.   The final session, “Tips on Balance and Strengthening in Parkinson Disease,” will be presented by Sonali Bhole, a certified brain injury specialist and clinical coordinator of the stroke program at Memorial Medical Center.

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.

- 30 -