The “We” in PD Series

Working together to plan, prepare, and partner through a neurological disorder.

Join us to hear from experts from around the country who will help you create your own tailored plan for fighting Parkinson’s Disease.  

This 5-week virtual series is offered at NO CHARGE and will discuss medical, lifestyle, financial and other strategies to help people with Parkinson’s and their caregivers maximize well being, reduce stress and work together effectively. You will learn about the array of resources and support services available and receive a takeaway from each session! 

 All registered households will receive a care package sponsored by Supernus Pharmaceuticals.

You must register for each session you would like to attend. 
Pre-registration is recommended.

THIS INFORMATIVE 5-WEEK SERIES WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE PLANNING AND DEDICATION OF SEVERAL NEURO CHALLENGE CARE PARTNERS WHO COLLECTIVELY HAVE OVER 225 YEARS OF CAREGIVING EXPERIENCE.

Sessions Include:

January 15th @ 11:00am

“A Doctor’s Prescription for the Parkinson’s Journey” a conversation with Dr. Peter LeWitt, Director, Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Program at Henry Ford Hospital
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January 22nd @ 11:00am

“Staying As Fit As Possible For As Long as Possible” presented by Dr. Terry Ellis, Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Physical Therapy & Athletic Training, Boston University 

REGISTER HERE
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January 29th @ 11:00am

“Financial Planning for a Long-Term Illness” presented by Leo Boisvert, Chief Financial Strategist and Senior Managing Partner at Private Wealth Consultants, LLC

REGISTER HERE
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February 5th @ 11:00am

“Legal Planning For a Long-Term Illness” presented by Attorney Martin Shenkman, Shenkman Law

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February 12th @ 11:00am

“Understanding Your VA Benefits” presented by Renee Medina, Senior Veterans Service Counselor and Michael P. Swonger, Veterans Service Officer

REGISTER HERE
LEARN ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Sessions Include:

Peter A. LeWitt MD

Professor of Neurology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Sastry Foundation Endowed Chair in Neurology, Author, “Parkinson’s Disease Guide for the Newly Diagnosed”
Dr. LeWitt directs the Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Program at Henry Ford Hospital in West Bloomfield, Michigan. In 1989, he was appointed Professor of Neurology at Wayne State University School of Medicine. Together with extensive experience in designing and conducting clinical trials for Parkinson’s disease and other neurological disorders, his research interests have included animal models and biomarkers of neurological disease, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic analysis of neurological drugs, and gene therapy. He is the author of more than 300 publications in basic and clinical neuroscience, including 2 books.

He attended Brown University and its medical school and completed post-graduate medical training at the University of Pennsylvania and Stanford University School of Medicine. Dr. LeWitt is Board-certified in neurology. At the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (National Institutes of Health), he served as a research fellow in the Experimental Therapeutics Branch and had an appointment as Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Public Health Service. 

Dr. LeWitt was a founding member of the Parkinson Study Group and is Co-Chair of its Scientific Review Committee and an Executive Committee member. In 1998, he was elected as an officer of the Movement Disorder Society (now the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society), for which he serves as a member of that organization’s Task Force for the Development of Rating Scales for Parkinson’s Disease. Dr. LeWitt has received research grants from the National Institutes of Health, the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, The Harris Foundation Neuroscience Program, the National Parkinson Foundation, the KiMe Foundation, and other organizations. Since 2003, he has been editor-in-chief of Clinical Neuropharmacology and he has served on the editorial boards of Movement Disorders, Journal of Neural Transmission, Journal of Parkinson’s Disease, and Translational Neurodegeneration.

Dr. LeWitt has been a mentor for several movement disorder fellowship trainees and has been active in educational programs conducted by the Movement Disorder Society, the American Academy of Neurology, the European Federation of Neurological Sciences, and other professional organizations. He has served as a visiting professor nationally and internationally as well as a clinical trial and neuropharmacology consultant in the development of therapies for neurological disorders.

Terry Ellis, PhD, PT, NCS

Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Physical Therapy & Athletic Training Director, Center for Neurorehabilitation, Director, Neurologic Physical Therapy Residency Program, Boston University
Terry Ellis, PhD, PT is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Physical Therapy & Athletic Training, College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences, Boston University. Dr. Ellis is also the Director of the Center for Neurorehabilitation at Boston University and the Director of the American Parkinson Disease Association National Rehabilitation Resource Center housed at Boston University.
Her research focuses on investigating the impact of exercise and rehabilitation on physical capacity and community mobility in individuals with neurological conditions, including Parkinson disease and stroke. She also has expertise in using mobile health technology to help persons with Parkinson disease to engage in lifelong exercise with the goal of improving overall mobility, community engagement and quality of life. Dr. Ellis has a Ph.D. in Behavioral Neurosciences from Boston University School of Medicine and is a licensed physical therapist with board certification in Neurologic Physical Therapy. She has published numerous articles and lectures internationally on topics related to rehabilitation, exercise and mobile health technologies in persons with Parkinson disease.

Leo D. Boisvert, MBA, CDFA™, CIMA®

Senior Managing Partner and Chief Financial Strategist, Private Wealth Consultants, LLC.
Leo D. Boisvert is Senior Managing Partner and Chief Financial Strategist of Private Wealth Consultants, LLC. He is responsible for wealth preservation strategies, strategic investment development, liability management and charitable planning strategies for estate, corporate, personal and foundation groups.

Along with his duties at Private Wealth Consultants, LLC, Leo, is a national speaker and lecturer on wealth strategies for lifetime security, retirement planning, charitable giving and personal financial management. Leo was awarded the designation of CERTIFIED INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT ANALYST® (C.I.M.A.) from the University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School of Business, in association with the Investment Management Consultants Association. The CIMA® designation is held by only 5000 financial professional worldwide. In addition to the C.I.M.A. designation, Mr. Boisvert also is a CERTIFIED DIVORCE FINANCIAL ANALYST™ (C.D.F.A.) where he works with lawyers and couples to determine financial needs and outcomes after divorce. He holds the NASD Series 7- (General Securities Representative), 8- (Securities Management and Supervision), 31- (Managed Futures), 63- (State Blue Sky Laws), and 65- ( Investment Advisor Law) registrations as a Registered Representative of Commonwealth and is also a licensed insurance representative in life and annuities. 

Leo has been recognized as a community role model helping local non-profit and religious organizations raise over 25 million dollars through his workshops and personalized meetings. Through the donation of his time and expertise, Leo has helped develop plans that benefit not only the contributor but also the works of community non-profit and religious groups.

Martin M. Shenkman, CPA, MBA, PFS, AEP , JD

Attorney in private practice in Fort Lee, New Jersey and New York City, New York with Shenkman Law.
Practice: Estate and tax planning, planning for closely held businesses, estate administration. Publications: Author of 43 books and more than l,275 articles. Editorial Board Member of Trusts & Estates Magazine, CCH (Wolter’ s Kluwer) Co-Chair of Professional Advisory Board, CPA Journal, and the Matrimonial Strategist (through 2018). Has previously served on the editorial board of many other tax, estate, and real estate publications.

Awards :

  • The 1994 Probate and Property Excellence in Writing Award.
  • Alfred C. Clapp Award presented in 2007 by the New Jersey Bar Association and the Institute for Continuing Legal Education for excellence in continuing legal education.
  • Worth Magazine’s Top 100 Attorneys (2008).
  • CPA Magazine Top 50 IRS Tax Practitioners (April/May 2008).
  • Article “Estate Planning for Clients with Parkinson’s,” received the “Editor’s Choice Award” in 2008 from Practical Estate Planning Magazine.
  • Article “Integrating Religious Considerations into Estate and Real Estate Planning,” awarded the 2008 “The Best Articles Published by the ABA .”
  • New Jersey Super Lawyers, (20l0-20).

Media: Frequent source for numerous national publications, guest expert appearances on major financial and other television and radio shows.

Charity/Community:

  • Active in many charitable and community causes and organizations.
  • Founded ChronicIllnessPlanning.org which educates professional advisers on planning for clients with chronic illness and disability and which has been the subject of more than a score of articles.
  • Written books for the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and the COPD Foundation. 

Presented more than 60 lectures around the country on this topic for professional organizations, charities, and others. More than 50 of the articles he has published have addressed planning for those facing the challenges of chronic illness and disability.

  • American Brain Foundation – Board of Directors, Strategic Planning Committee, and Investment Committee.

Education:

  • Bachelor of Science degree from Wharton School, concentration in accounting and economics.
  • MBA from the University of Michigan, concentration in tax and finance .
  • Law degree from Fordham University School of Law .
  • Admitted to the bar in New York , New Jersey, and Washington, D.C.
  • CPA in New Jersey, Michigan, and New York.
  • Registered Investment Adviser in New York and New Jersey.

Websites/Social Media:

  • www.shenkmanlaw.com
  • www.laweasy.com
  • www.chronicillnessplanning.org [under construction]
  • Twitter: http://twitter.com/martinshenkman
  • Linkedin : https://www.linkedin.com/in/martinshenkman/

Renée Medina

Senior Veterans Service Counselor, Manatee County Veteran Services
Renée’s Military and Civilian Government service spans over 22 years. She served four years active duty with the US Coast Guard and 4 years as a reservist with a several months return to active duty after being recalled in support of the 9/11 attacks on the United States.

Her civilian government experience includes her current position with Manatee County Veteran Services as the Senior Veteran Services Counselor for the past 5 years, several years as a 911 dispatcher and Intelligence Analyst on a Money Laundering Task Force for a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area office run by the Department of Justice and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office. She was also employed for 2.5 years with the Manatee County Tax Collectors Office. 

Renée is proud to be a 3rd generation Sailor and Coast Guardsman as her father retired Vietnam Navy Veteran and Grandfather a Korean Navy War Veteran. Her spouse is a retired disabled US Coast Guard Veteran. She is proud to serve the veterans and their families of Manatee County obtaining the benefits that they have earned through their service to their country.

Michael P. Swonger

Veterans Service Officer, Pinellas County Veterans Services
Michael Swonger is Veterans Service Officer for Pinellas County Veterans Services. He has been working with and assisting Veterans and their dependents since 2015. Michael is a Florida Native who graduated from Palm Harbor University High, and holds a bachelors in Public Policy and Administration from St. Petersburg College.
In 2003 he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps as an Infantryman serving with 1st Bn 8th Marines and made deployments to Iraq, Beirut, and Katrina. He now lives in Dunedin with his wife and children, with his oldest son serving in the US Army at Fort Gordon.
For the zoom meeting registration link for each program visit our Programs Calendar or click on Register Here button under each session.

This series is sponsored by

supernus