Newswise — CHICAGO— The Movement Disorders Center at Rush University Medical Center has been chosen by The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF) as one of six academic medical centers in the world to host the second class of the Edmond J. Safra Fellowship in Movement Disorders for 2017-2019. By increasing resources for specialized training for clinician-researcher neurologists, the program — made possible by the Edmond J. Safra Foundation — aims to grow the global base of movement disorder specialists treating people with Parkinson’s and contributing to research toward breakthrough treatments for the disease.
“There is a growing need for neurologists with additional training in movement disorders,” said Dr. Katie Kompoliti, neurologist in the Movement Disorders Center at Rush and fellowship director. “We are honored to have been selected by The Michael J. Fox Foundation to grow the number of clinician-researchers equipped to provide optimal care to Parkinson’s patients and conduct the urgent work to learn more about this disease and to develop new therapies.”
Rush will recruit a neurology resident for the 2017-2019 Edmond J. Safra Fellowship in Movement Disorders class.
A committee of advisors selected by MJFF named the six centers.
The five other sites besides Rush include, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; University of California, San Francisco; University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia; University of Rochester in Rochester, New York; and University of Tübingen in Germany.
“This program is designed to give people with Parkinson’s the best possible care,” said Mrs. Lily Safra, chairwoman of the Edmond J. Safra Foundation. “These prestigious institutions provide fellows with expert training in the field of movement disorders, thus increasing the number of specialty physicians available to people with Parkinson’s disease.”
MJFF and the Edmond J. Safra Foundation launched the program in late 2014 with the goal of improving the landscape of Parkinson’s care at both an individual and a population level. The clinicians trained through the Edmond J. Safra Fellowship in Movement Disorders will design and conduct studies with their patients’ unmet needs in mind. From the front lines, they are poised to observe trends and nuances of the patient experience that can lead to investigations toward greater understanding of disease and open new avenues to better therapies.
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About Rush University Medical Center Rush University Medical Center is part of Rush, a not-for-profit enterprise that also includes Rush University, Rush Oak Park Hospital and Rush Health. The mission of Rush is to provide the best health care for the individuals and diverse communities we serve through the integration of outstanding patient care, education, research, and community partnerships.
Rush University Medical Center encompasses a 664-bed hospital serving adults and children. Rush has more than 9,300 employees and faculty. Rush University, with more than 2,500 students is a health sciences university and is comprised of Rush Medical College, the College of Nursing, the College of Health Sciences, and the Graduate College.
About The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s ResearchAs the world’s largest nonprofit funder of Parkinson’s research, The Michael J. Fox Foundation is dedicated to accelerating a cure for Parkinson’s disease and improved therapies for those living with the condition today. The Foundation pursues its goals through an aggressively funded, highly targeted research program coupled with active global engagement of scientists, Parkinson’s patients, business leaders, clinical trial participants, donors and volunteers. In addition to funding more than $600 million in research to date, the Foundation has fundamentally altered the trajectory of progress toward a cure. Operating at the hub of worldwide Parkinson’s research, the Foundation forges groundbreaking collaborations with industry leaders, academic scientists and government research funders; increases the flow of participants into Parkinson’s disease clinical trials with its online tool, Fox Trial Finder; promotes Parkinson’s awareness through high-profile advocacy, events and outreach; and coordinates the grassroots involvement of thousands of Team Fox members around the world.
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About the Edmond J. Safra Philanthropic FoundationEdmond J. Safra, one of the 20th century’s most accomplished bankers and a devoted philanthropist, established a major philanthropic foundation to ensure that individuals and organizations would continue to receive his assistance and encouragement for many years to come. Under the chairmanship of his beloved wife Lily, the Edmond J. Safra Philanthropic Foundation draws continuing inspiration from its founder’s life and values, and supports hundreds of organizations in more than 40 countries around the world. Its work encompasses four areas: Education; Science and Medicine; Religion; and Humanitarian Assistance, Culture and Social Welfare. The Foundation has provided significant funding for Parkinson’s disease research and patient care at dozens of hospitals and institutes in places as varied as Natal (Brazil), Toronto, New York, Grenoble, Paris, London and Jerusalem. For more information, visit http://www.edmondjsafra.org.
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