Newswise — Manhasset, NY – The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research today announced the agenda for the Merinoff Symposium 2013: Parkinson’s Disease, April 9 – 11, to discuss the opportunities and challenges for telemedicine to enhance care and access in Parkinson’s disease treatment. Participants will include leaders in research for the disease; neurology and movement disorder; allied care; healthcare administration; philanthropy; industry; policy-making and legislation; and telemedicine as well as people living with Parkinson’s.

“The Merinoff Symposium is a rare gathering of experts who can focus on Parkinson’s disease from a variety of perspectives and experience,” said Kevin J. Tracey, MD, president of the Feinstein Institute. “The technology of telemedicine is only as effective as it is informed by the stakeholders who have the most to gain from it. This Symposium allows facts and opinions to be shared in an open and collaborative forum resulting in a clear and concrete call to action to improve the lives of patients.” The agenda will include panels and speakers to address: How Telemedicine Success with Other Diseases May Apply to Parkinson’s Disease: Jonathan Linkous, CEO of American Telemedicine Association will moderate. Why Telemedicine Has Been Adopted By Some Healthcare Systems and How It Is Effective: Colonel (Ret.) Karl Friedl, US Army will moderate. The Perspective of People Living with Parkinson’s: How Telemedicine Can Improve Our Lives – a panel of people with Parkinson’s and care partners: Robin Elliott, executive director of Parkinson’s Disease Foundation will moderate. Telemedicine Can Expand the Reach of Physicians, Specialists and Allied Care: Dr. Pete Schmidt, vice president of programs for National Parkinson Foundation will moderate. Telemedicine and Efficacy in the Future: Dr. Matt Stern, Parker Family Professor of Neurology at University of Pennsylvania Health Systems will moderate. Telemedicine’s Current and Potential Role in Clinical Trials: Dr. Todd Sherer, CEO of The Michael J. Fox Foundation will moderate. Telemedicine and Policy: Amy Comstock Rick, CEO of Parkinson’s Action Network will moderate.

Pre-event registration is required. To register, visit www.merinoffsymposia.org. In addition, the Merinoff Symposium is available via webcast at: http://molmed.org/merinoffstream.

Co-hosts for the Merinoff Symposium include: American Telemedicine Association; The Michael J. Fox Foundation; National Parkinson Foundation; Parkinson’s Action Network; The Parkinson Alliance; Parkinson’s Disease Foundation; and the US Army’s Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC). The Movement Disorder Society endorses the program.

The Merinoff Symposia series is named in honor of Herman Merinoff who was a chairman of the board for Feinstein Institute. The Feinstein Institute is part of the North Shore-LIJ Health System and ranks in the top five percentile of all National Institutes of Health grants awarded to research centers.

More information can be learned at www.merinoffsymposia.org.

About The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research

Headquartered in Manhasset, NY, The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research is home to international scientific leaders in many areas including Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer’s disease, psychiatric disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, sepsis, human genetics, pulmonary hypertension, leukemia, neuroimmunology, and medicinal chemistry. The Feinstein Institute, part of the North Shore-LIJ Health System, ranks in the top 5th percentile of all National Institutes of Health grants awarded to research centers. For more information visit www.FeinsteinInstitute.org.

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