We’re going to look at a disease that affects over ten million people worldwide and over 100,000 in Canada, Parkinson’s Disease. The movement disorder has been known for centuries and while we know the cause, we still have no cure.     

We first talk with someone who has Parkinson’s to learn more about the disease and how it affects those who suffer. He is Larry Gifford, the Program Director at CKNW in Vancouver. He’s also the host of the podcast, When Life Gives You Parkinson’s. We learn about his journey with the disease and find out how he manages to cope both physically and emotionally. His story is both compelling and also inspiring and will reveal why his podcast has been designated at one of Apple Podcast’s best of 2018.  

In our SASS class, we’re going to explore the efforts to find answers to help those with Parkinson’s Disease. We speak with Rachel Dolhun, the Vice-President of Medical Communications with the Michael J. Fox Foundation. She reveals how the foundation is working to improve awareness and research into this disease. We also learn of her personal story as both a researcher in movement disorders and also as a communicator at the Foundation. She reveals that working to help those with Parkinson’s is truly a vocation.     

If you enjoy The Super Awesome Science Show, please take a minute to rate it on Apple Podcasts and be sure to tell a friend about the show. Thanks to you, we’ve been nominated for a Canadian Podcast Award as Outstanding Science and Medicine Series. Let’s keep the awesome momentum going together!  

Twitter: @JATetro

Email: [email protected]

Guests:

Larry Gifford, Program Director, CKNW & Host of When Life Gives You Parkinson’s
Web: https://curiouscast.ca/podcast/160/when-life-gives-you-parkinsons/
Twitter: @Giffordtweet

Rachel Dolhun, VP Medical Communications, The Michael J. Fox Foundation
Web: https://www.michaeljfox.org/foundation/leaders.html?communications
Twitter: @RachelDolhunMD

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices