Diane B. Breslow, MSW, LCSW

Coordinator

As Coordinator of the Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Center at Northwestern, Diane provides direct clinical service to patients and families, and develops and conducts educational programs for professionals and the general public as well as for people affected by Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders.

Diane received her BA in psychology with Honors from the University of Missouri. In 1972 she earned a Master's Degree in clinical social work with a specialty in Family Therapy, from the University of Maryland. She has been a licensed and certified social worker in the Chicago area since 1972. She is a member of the National Association of Social Workers and the Gerontological Society of America.

As consultant to many retirement, assisted living and skilled care facilities, and home health agencies, Diane has developed Parkinson's disease programs and has educated staffs about movement disorders. She has also been a private practitioner in individual, group, and family therapy as well as geriatric evaluation and counseling.

Diane has taught psychology, social work, and healthcare courses at several universities and is a frequent speaker at PD support groups, professional conferences, and community symposia. As researcher, Diane worked for the Illinois Department on Aging and the National Institute of Mental Health. She is a published author and has written a book on a multidisciplinary, humanistic approach to assisted living.

A specialist in Parkinson's disease and movement disorders, Diane understands how illness and disability impact not only the patient, but also the entire family system. Having counseled Parkinson's disease patient sand their families in every type of setting and level of care, Diane has a unique knowledge of, and perspective on, all aspects of PD. As one caregiver-spouse noted, “Diane knows about our concerns and our cares, and makes it comfortable for us to talk about our feelings.”