In this final episode of season 6, Brian Grant and his mother, Dorella Grant talk about their time at Camp Lejeune, a U.S. Marine Corps base. And the ongoing battle for accountability and justice for those affected by military environmental exposures. Then, Ted Thompson with the Michael J. Fox Foundation discusses major policy advancements and the role of advocacy in driving legislative change.

In this episode we hear from Dr. Sara Whittingham, a USAF Veteran, physician, Ironman triathlete, wife and mother.  In 2020, she was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. She has become a vocal advocate for Veterans who have been denied benefits despite known exposure to chemicals linked to Parkinson's disease. 

About Dr. Sara Whittingham

Sara Whittingham is a USAF Veteran, physician, Ironman triathlete, wife and mother.  In 2020, she was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Since her diagnosis, Sara has been on a wild journey that has taken her from dealing with anxiety and depression in the year following the diagnosis to the finish lines of the 2023 Ironman Hawaii World Championships, the 2024 Boston marathon and the 2024 US Paralympic track and field trials.   

Sara is passionate about educating and inspiring others about the power and importance of exercise in managing Parkinson's disease. She has also become a vocal advocate for the 5000+ Post 9/11 Veterans who have applied for VA disability benefits for Parkinson's disease, thousands of whom have been denied benefits despite having served in Iraq and Afghanistan near active burn pits, living and working on military bases with known contaminated water supplies and working in industrial shops using toxic solvents and chemicals known to be linked to Parkinson's disease.  She is on a mission to ensure these veterans get the care and benefits they deserve.

Parkinsonz: PD with Zest and Zeal - A site by Sara Whittingham MD to inspire and educate those affected by Parkinson's Disease.

In this episode we get the historical context and regulatory challenges surrounding pesticide use with researcher Dr. Caroline Tanner, Director of the Parkinson’s Disease Research, Education and Clinical Center.  Then, retired lawyer, Dan Kinel, shares his journey with Parkinson’s, his story of Trichloroethylene (TCE) exposure working for years in downtown New York, and his work in patient advocacy.

About Dr. Caroline Tanner

Dr. Tanner is the Director of the Parkinson’s Disease Research, Education and Clinical Center (PADRECC) at the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center. For more than 25 years, her research and clinical practice have been directed toward understanding the causes of Parkinson’s disease and to developing better treatments. Her many studies include military service-related exposures and PD risk in Camp Lejeune.

About Dan Kinel

Dan Kinel is a retired partner at a law firm that was located next to a contaminated site where an environmental assessment found that the surrounding soil was contaminated with TCE, PCE, and other chemicals. Since being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2013, he has become deeply involved in patient advocacy and believes in the power of personal face-to-face connections in fighting PD.

In season 6 of On-Time: A Parkinson's Podcast, host Larry Gifford explores the environmental toxins linked to Parkinson's disease in a four-part series.

In this opening episode, guest Dr. Ray Dorsey, Neurologist and Author of "Ending Parkinson’s Disease," explores how chemicals in our daily environment, from pesticides in food to industrial pollutants in the air, may be linked to the rise of Parkinson's disease. Despite mounting scientific evidence, we discuss why these chemicals remain in use, the implications for public health, and steps we can take to avoid these toxins.

About Dr. Ray Dorsey
Dr. Dorsey is a neurologist at the University of Rochester Medical Center, the coauthor of the book Ending Parkinson's Disease, and a leading voice in the fight to end Parkinson's disease. He is a tireless advocate for putting many more resources into prevention — both in researching how environmental toxins like pesticides contribute to the development of Parkinson's and in reducing and ultimately eliminating the use of these harmful chemicals.

Special Bonus Episode: Conversation with CND Life Sciences

In this special bonus episode, BGF Executive Director Katrina Kahl talks with CND Life Science's Chief Medical Officer and Co-Founder Todd Levine, MD about the benefits of the company's evidence-based test to help diagnose synucleinopathies, which includes Parkinson's disease.

More about Dr. Levine:

Dr. Todd Levine is one of the three founders of CND Life Sciences and serves as its Chief Medical Officer, playing a key role in the delivery of diagnostic services and ongoing technology development. Dr. Levine also serves as the Director of Neuroscience Research at HonorHealth Research Institute and has over 25 years of experience as a clinical neurologist with a sub-specialty in disorders of the peripheral nervous system. In 2010, he founded his first medical diagnostics company called Corinthian Reference Lab (CRL). Based in Fort Worth, Texas, CRL has processed over 50,000 skin biopsies, receiving specimens from over 4,000 different neurologists across the US and Canada. He received his medical degree from Duke University and did his residency and fellowship at Washington University in St Louis. He has served as the Chairman of the Neuromuscular Division of the American Academy of Neurology and has served as the Medical Director of Neurology for HonorHealth in Phoenix, Arizona.

https://cndlifesciences.com/syn-one-test/

Host Larry Gifford closes our four-part series on stigma and Parkinson's with a conversation with Brian Grant about his personal experiences with stigma and his thoughts on the stereotypes of people with Parkinson's disease.

More about Brian Grant:

Brian Grant was an NBA idol, known for tenacious rebounding and a fearless attitude on the court. During his 12‐year career, he played for five teams and became a strong contributor to his surrounding communities. In 2006, Brian retired from professional basketball. Only two years later, he was diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson’s disease at age 36. He started the Brian Grant Foundation to help people with Parkinson’s lead fulfilling lives.

Stigma for people with Parkinson's disease is a global issue, and its manifestations can vary across different countries and cultures. In this episode, host Larry Gifford speaks with Nduta M'mbogori about her experience being diagnosed and living with Parkinson's in Nairobi, Kenya.

Societal expectations and assumptions about how Parkinson’s presents for women can lead to women being overlooked in terms of their own needs and experiences. In this episode, host Larry Gifford talks to Sree Sripathy and Richelle Flanagan, co-founders of the Women's Parkinson's Project, about Parkinson’s Stigma for Women.

More about our guests:

Richelle Flanagan
Richelle is a CORU state registered dietitian who has been practicing for 20 years. She was president and CEO of the of the Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute (INDI), the professional body for Dietitians in Ireland. She was diagnosed with young onset Parkinson’s Disease shortly after the birth of her second child. She is a World Parkinson Congress Ambassador and a member of the Dublin Committee of the Parkinson’s Association of Ireland. She is particularly passionate about two areas (1) the importance of diet for PD and (2) the unmet needs of women with PD. She is a co-founder of the Women’s Parkinson’s Project  and co-founder of a digital health start-up, My Moves Matter, a digital self-care companion to empower people with Parkinson’s to live better lives.

Sree Sripathy
Sree is a photographer and writer. She is an Ambassador for the Davis Phinney Foundation and a co-Founder of the Women's Parkinson's Project. She was diagnosed with Young Onset Parkinson's Disease in 2015 and currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Women with PD Hormone Study links referenced in the podcast:

• "Tracking Parkinson’s Disease (PD) symptoms, medications, and menstruation"
• Take the survey.
• News story - World's First Hormone Study in Women with Parkinson's Launches.

Host Larry Gifford opens our four-part series defining stigma and exploring what stigma looks like for people with PD with his first guest, Kimball Magoni, PhD.

Dr. Magoni is a licensed psychologist in private practice for more than 35 years. His perspective as a person with Parkinson's makes for a conversation filled with understanding and thoughtful strategies for anyone experiencing internal or external stigma.

More about Dr. Magoni: 

Kimball Magoni, PhD, is a Licensed Psychologist and a Nationally Certified Health Service Provider in Psychology. Dr. Magoni has over 35 years of experience in private practice treating adolescents, adults, and families. He has a specialty in resolving treatment resistant conditions. He empowers his patients to discover and integrate effective coping strategies to address physical and emotional challenges. 

Dr. Magoni received his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology at Temple University. He completed a four-year post-doctoral program at The Philadelphia School of Psychoanalysis, Structural Family Therapy training at The Philadelphia Child Guidance Clinic, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy training at The Beck Institute.

Dr. Magoni provides consultation, workshop training and supervision to therapists, university professionals and hospital staff on a variety of clinical topics.

People living with Parkinson’s have different comfort levels when talking to others about symptoms they experience. In this episode, Amber wraps up our series with founder Brian Grant covering topics from cringe-worthy social moments to declines in abilities that are tough to face.