Looking forward to seeing everyone at our November meeting.
- Date: Wednesday November 3
- Time: 1:00-3:00 pm
- Guest Speakers: Dr. Drew Falconer and Dr. David Whitney, Inova Parkinson’s and Movement Disorders Center
- Topic: Movement, Motivation, Medication, and More. Living Our Best With Parkinson’s–Back to Basics
For Meeting Attendance—everyone meeting in-person shall be MASKED throughout the meeting, FULLY VACCINATED, and not attend if feeling ill or been in close contact with someone with COVID-19.
Our theme this year is Back to Basics, which can be interpreted in so many ways. We are all at different places in this Parkinson’s journey we share. What does getting Back to Basics mean to you?
For me, it is the optimism and determination that arose once the numbness of the initial diagnosis wore off. A time when I read everything, exercised religiously, took up yoga, learned to meditate, swore off gluten and sugar, and joined this support group.
I’m sure I’m not the only one whose exuberance at times collides with reality. We take a much-needed nap and when we wake up, can’t locate our resolve. Lack of energy zaps our determination. Medication side effects erode our optimism. And as if moving as slowly as we do wasn’t enough, along came Covid, stopping us in our tracks. I don’t know about you, but I need some motivation!
Our guest speakers this month, Dr. Falconer and Dr. Whitney, bring their expertise, knowledge, and experience to bolster our efforts and boost our motivation. What are the most important things we should be doing to get us back to basics and living a good life, no matter where we are on our Parkinson’s journey?
One of those basics is working as a team with our doctors. How can we best optimize our appointment times and communicate between visits? How do we use medications wisely to keep us moving freely and able to exercise? There are so many resources available—physical, occupational, and speech therapy; PFNCA-sponsored classes and activities. How do we prioritize them? And how do we prepare for the next stage of Parkinson’s disease?
What do you need? Bring your thoughts and your questions. Our guest speakers are here to listen and to answer them!
About Our Guest Speakers:
Dr. Drew Falconer has visited our group numerous times and is always an interesting and informative speaker. Dr. Falconer is board certified in neurology and is a fellowship-trained movement disorders specialist. He joined Inova Neurology in 2015 with the launch of the Inova Parkinson’s and Movement Disorders Center, where he serves as Medical Director. He specializes in advanced care of patients with Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor, dystonia, Huntington’s disease, tic disorders and other movement disorders. Dr. Falconer speaks nationally on various topics in Movement Disorders and is a respected national educator in Parkinson’s Disease and DBS. He serves as Associate Professor of Neurology at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, Inova Campus.
Dr. Falconer became interested in neurology and movement disorders after seeing the impact that quality, compassionate care combined with cutting-edge pharmacology and technology could have on a patient’s condition. His goal is to work with his patients to restore the quality of life they deserve. He is additionally qualified in deep brain stimulation and botulinum toxin injections.
Dr. David Whitney is a board-certified neurologist and fellowship-trained movement disorders specialist. He joined the Inova Movement Disorders Center in 2019 with more than six years of clinical experience in neurology and movement disorders. Dr. Whitney specializes in the management of Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, essential tremor, dystonia, ataxia, tic disorders and other movement disorders. He has specialized training in the use of botulinum toxin injections and deep brain stimulation (DBS) for movement disorders.
After seeing firsthand the profound impact that quality care combined with the latest in pharmacologic and technologic interventions can have on patients with neurologic disorders, Dr. Whitney became interested in neurology and movement disorders as his chief medical interest. His goal is to work alongside his patients and their families to restore and maintain quality of life and stay at the forefront of developments in the field.