This episode kicks off our 4-part series featuring people with Parkinson’s who found one form of the arts to be helpful with managing symptoms and gaining perspective. We will explore four different art disciplines – photography, dance, writing and music. We wanted to hear directly from the person with Parkinson’s rather than an expert on the research on why the arts can be an important part of your Parkinson’s therapy. So, each episode will be a personal story about that person’s challenges and struggles with their PD journey and how each used a different art to find understanding, insights and joy.

Up first is an accomplished photographer whose work is in galleries and books. She will tell us how her perspective of herself changes after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s. This lead her to publish a book with photos which draw connections to her experience with PD.

This is a fascinating and interesting conversation about how you can use art to help in so many ways. For example, the art of photography in this case being used to visually confront the disease and learn to find calm and joy in the final product and the work to get there.

We hope you consider picking up a forgotten art interest or learn something new. It could bring you joy and help with your symptoms.

For information on the book, Semaphore, click here.

For more information on Torrance York Photography, click here.

To purchase Semaphore, click here to purchase from Amazon

For more information about Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS), click here.

Last episode we spoke with a MDS and Assistant Professor at Vanderbilt University about integrative medicine. This episode is a great follow up to the previous one. This time it is student at the University of Cincinnati leading the charge to bring an integrated approach to Parkinson’s care. She formed a not-for profit organization called Parkinson’s Together. It brings students from multiple disciplines to help with patient care. That may include law students, engineers, finance but mainly students interested in the medical field and with interest in helping others.

I had a delightful conversation with Mallika Desai about her efforts. She is a very dedicated, inspiring, smart young woman determined to make a difference in the quality of life for people with Parkinson's disease. We need more like her and her colleagues in our world. Enjpy the discussion.

https://parkinsonstogether.us/

https://www.dbsandme.com/en.html

What is integrative medicine and how is it different than what we are used to which is mostly silos of care and mostly Western medicine? My guest today will offer an alternative to this, a better way to treat a patient with a condition or disease.

Dr. Britt Stone, an Assistant Clinical Professor at Vanderbilt Medical Center, spent her pandemic time pursuing a fellowship in Integrative Medicine at University of Arizona. She will describe how clinicians can work together with the families of people with Parkinson’s to make for a better experience and a healthier outcome. She believes treatment should include prescribed exercise, a healthy diet and, possibly complimentary medicines.

We had a great discussion. She opened my eyes to possibilities and the team approach to a better quality of life. If you like what you hear, let’s see if we can change the healthcare system together.

https://www.vumc.org/neurology/person/britt-stone-md

https://www.herbsociety.org/

https://integrativemedicine.arizona.edu/health_hub/awcimagazine/what_is_integrative_medicine.html

https://www.dbsandme.com/en.html