Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Center, Feinberg School, Northwestern University

Introduction

The Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Center at Northwestern has an experienced multidisciplinary team dedicated to fulfilling our three-fold mission—education, patient care, research—and upholding Northwestern’s position of leadership in medical teaching, practice, and research. Our Center is directed by Dr. Tanya Simuni, movement disorders specialist and Neurology Residency Program Director. Dr. Simuni sees patients in Northwestern offices at 675 N. St. Clair, Chicago.

Patients undergo a comprehensive evaluation. In addition to a thorough medical assessment, patients receive assessments, and follow-up, in functional mobility, cognitive ability, and emotional, social, and family well-being. Patients and families are encouraged to attend support groups, led by Center Coordinator, Diane Breslow, MSW, LCSW. Our staff works closely with neurosurgeon Dr. Joshua Rosenow in evaluating and preparing patients for Deep Brain Stimulation surgery. The Center offers annual lectures and educational symposia. We actively reach out to, and educate, underserved and limited-English-speaking populations. To that end, we employ a part-time Russian-speaking community liaison.

Northwestern Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Center National Parkinson Foundation Center of Excellence is part of the Department of Neurology of the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University. The Center’s physicians are leading faculty and researchers in their field.

Northwestern Medical Faculty Foundation is a multi-specialty group practice of 600 physician members assisted by more than 1,000 other healthcare professionals.. The neurologists of the Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Center comprise one of the 48 specialties. The Parkinson’s disease and movement disorders specialists are attending physicians at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

Northwestern Memorial Hospital is a premier, 744-bed medical center and teaching hospital, ranked annually in the top 50 hospitals in America. NMH is recognized for its outstanding clinical and surgical advancements in many areas, among them, neurology and neurosurgery.

For information, educational materials, resources, support groups: 312-503-4397

Center of Excellence

The National Parkinson Foundation, Inc. (NPF), founded in 1957 and located in Miami, Florida, is a premier, international organization that funds research and provides support services, education, outreach, and advocacy for persons with Parkinson disease and their loved ones. Centers of Excellence (COEs) are a core component of the NPF research and care-delivery system. NPF expects COEs to be the regional “hub” and “gold standard” for Parkinson’s disease care and research. The NPF Board of Directors, along with the COE Review Board, grants the designation "Center of Excellence" when a Center has demonstrated the following:

The highest quality in patient care
Implementation of “best practices”
Leadership in developing targeted research to extend the knowledge of PD
Innovative models of education, services, and outreach.

Institutions awarded the COE designation must apply annually for re-approval of their designation. All NPF Centers of Excellence collaborate, network, share ideas, and learn from one another. This type of exciting professional interchange builds partnerships, practice models, professional growth, and ultimately, enhanced patient care.

Biographies