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MSUCOM Integral to New Statewide Parkinson's Initiative
October 25, 2000
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Michigan Department of Community Health Director James K. Haveman announces the Michigan Parkinson Initiative at the Kellogg Center. |
MSUCOM continues to be on the forefront of public health research. In an October 25th press conference at MSU’s Kellogg Center, Michigan Department of Community Health Director James K. Haveman and Susan Titus, the executive director of the Michigan Parkinson Initiative, unveiled a new, statewide collaborative effort to fight Parkinson’s disease: the Michigan Parkinson Initiative (MPI).
Funded by a $200,000 grant by the Michigan Department of Community Health, the MPI brings together state experts on Parkinson’s disease from MSU, the University of Michigan, Wayne State University, the Henry Ford Health System and the Michigan Parkinson Foundation.
MSU plays a vital role in this partnership because of the strength of MSUCOM’s Department of Neurology and Ophthalmology and its specialty Neurology Clinics, as well as MSU’s excellent geriatric neurology program and strong clinical research in the areas of multiple sclerosis and demyelinating disease.
The Michigan Parkinson Initiative will integrate treatment and research on a statewide level. Its stated goal is to better serve the needs of the state’s Parkinson's patients by improving care, fostering collaborative research, and raising the levels of awareness of the disease among the state's general population and its health care providers.
David I. Kaufman, chairperson of MSUCOM’s Department of Neurology and Ophthalmology, is excited that the best minds in the state are being brought together under this program. "We hope this initiative will be the start of many such joint projects among the clinical research neurologists of this state."
One of the highlights of the initiative will be a series of comprehensive, "second opinion" clinics that will be scheduled throughout the state. These clinics will be staffed by a multidisciplinary team of health professionals, including university-affiliated specialists who will help evaluate patients and help the primary care physician plan the patient's care.
Parkinson's disease can affect people of all ages, but is more common among those age 50 and older. According to Michigan Department of Community Health Director James K. Haveman, "Parkinson’s Disease affects 50,000 Michigan citizens and many times patients are not treated in a timely and effective way because of the complexity of the disease. The Michigan Parkinson Initiative will bring the experts in Parkinson’s treatment to local communities to help physicians provide the latest in Parkinson’s care to their patients."