Our meetings are held the first Wednesday of each month, September through June, from 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. We do not meet during the summer months of July and August.
Beginning September 2023, we will alternate meeting in-person (at our same location in Reston, VA) and meeting via Zoom to accommodate everyone as best we can. Zoom meetings offer the additional benefit of allowing us to invite guest speakers outside our geographic area. Zoom links will be sent out the day before each Zoom meeting.
We are excited about our guest speakers for 2023/2024. We have speaker commitments through February 2024 and will update this page when we receive confirmation for the remaining dates. Thanks for your recommendations and suggestions! We will continue to include Just-Us Share Time and add a new Member Spotlight to some of our meetings to connect with each other’s experiences and offer encouragement and support to one another in living the best life we can as Women with Parkinson’s Disease (AKA Women Warriors).
Feedback from one of our speakers, a movement disorder neurologist (posted with permission): “I enjoyed that presentation/talk/discussion about as much as any talk I can remember. It was such an honor to be invited to a group as well organized and established as yours is. I have heard so many wonderful things over the years about it and I’m so relieved to see that women with Parkinson’s disease have such a wonderful resource in our community.”
Our 2023/2024 Meeting Schedule:
September 6: ZOOM Meeting. Guest speaker. Speech Pathologist Susan I. Wranik, MS, MA, CCC-SLP, Speak Skill, LLC, will speak on “Vocal Strengthening,” specifically for women with Parkinson’s disease.
October 4: IN-PERSON Meeting. Just-Us Share Time. Our personal Parkinson’s journey, including the symptom that concerns us the most and our most concerning fear.
November 1: ZOOM Meeting. Guest speaker Dr. Aviva Ellenstein, M.D. Ph.D., Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Neurology at Washington Brain and Spine Institute, from 1:00-2:00 p.m. followed by Just-Us Share Time.
December 6: IN-PERSON Meeting. Holiday Lunch and Member Spotlight on one of our members and her work with the Davis Phinney Foundation for Parkinson’s.
January 3: ZOOM Meeting. Guest speaker Dr. Abigail Lawler, Board-Certified Neurologist and Autonomics Director and Movement Disorders Specialist at INOVA Parkinson’s and Movement Disorder Center, will speak on “Non-motor Symptoms and the Impact of Low and High Blood Pressure in Parkinson’s Disease.”
February 7: IN-PERSON Meeting. Guest speaker. Occupational Therapist Donna Jackson, Certified LSVT Big and Certified Aging-In-Place Specialist (CAPS), will speak on “How Occupational Therapy Can Help,” including some ‘hands-on” strengthening tips.
March 6: ZOOM Meeting. Speaker/Topic TBD.
April 3: IN-PERSON Meeting. Speaker/Topic TBD.
May 1: ZOOM Meeting. Just-Us Share Time.
June 5: IN-PERSON Meeting. Yearly review.
PREVIOUS 2022/2023 Meetings with links to Meeting Notes (where available):
September 6: Just-Us Share Time about fear.
October 12: Guest Speaker. Alec Langstein, Rock Steady Boxing, on The Who, What, Where, Why, and When of Rock Steady Boxing and How it Benefits Women With PD.
November 2: Just-Us Share Time about self-commitment, self-discipline, and self-motivation.
December 7: Holiday Lunch
January 4: Guest Speakers. Mary Beth Crosson and Joann McCarty, Independent You, on their home care and care management services.
February 1: Guest Speaker. Dr. Randolph Stephenson, Neurologist and Movement Disorder Specialist, joined us for a Q & A.
March 1: Just-Us Share Time about aging.
April 5: Just-Us Share Time about gratitude.
May 3: Just-Us Share Time — How Can This Group Best Serve You?
June 7: Just-Us luncheon.