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PMDC named Virginia’s first Ataxia Center of Excellence

Logo for the National Ataxia Foundation (NAF) Ataxia Centers of Excellence. The design features the acronym “NAF” in blue with a stylized orange arc above the letter “A.” To the right, blue and gray text reads “ATAXIA Centers of EXCELLENCE,” with “Experts in Care & Collaboration” displayed below in smaller blue text.

By John Battiston 

In early 2026, the VCU Parkinson’s and Movement Disorders Center (PMDC) was formally recognized by the National Ataxia Foundation (NAF) as one of only 26 Ataxia Centers of Excellence (ACEs) in the United States — and Virginia’s first. 

The designation reflects years of work building a comprehensive, genetics-driven approach to care for people with these rare and often misunderstood disorders. Leading that work is Stephanie Bissonnette, D.O., MPH, a PMDC movement disorders neurologist who co-directs the ACE alongside certified genetic counselor and clinical research coordinator Ginger Norris, MGC. 

For Bissonnette, the designation sends an important message to patients who may have been searching for answers for far too long. “There is a home for them that understands what these symptoms are, what is coming, and is trying really hard to move the needle forward in terms of cure and treatment options for people,” she said. 

Ataxia is not a single diagnosis but an umbrella term encompassing more than 100 genetic subtypes, along with autoimmune and acquired causes. Symptoms include balance problems, gait impairment and swallowing issues. Because these can overlap with other neurologic conditions, patients are frequently misdiagnosed or dismissed before reaching a specialized center. 

PMDC’s Ataxia Center offers patients coordinated evaluations that integrate neurologic expertise and targeted testing, helping them understand not only what they are experiencing but why. For many, simply having a name for their condition can be profound, opening the door to informed care and realistic planning. 

The ACE designation also strengthens PMDC’s role within a growing network of national Centers of Excellence. In addition to ataxia, PMDC holds Centers of Excellence designations in several other movement disorders including Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, Lewy body dementia, multiple system atrophy and progressive supranuclear palsy. 

Rather than siloing care by diagnosis, PMDC leverages shared knowledge across conditions, particularly in the rapidly advancing field of neurogenetics. Insights gained from Huntington’s disease research, for example, can directly inform emerging treatments for ataxia, especially as gene-targeted therapies move from theory to clinical trials. 

Even when no cure for ataxia exists, the center focuses on what can be done now — fall prevention, swallowing safety, rehabilitation therapies and long-term planning — while preparing patients for potential advances on the horizon. Ongoing research, expanding clinical trials and standardized assessment tools are all part of that commitment. 

“While we care for patients at an often sad and uncertain time in their lives, there’s also hope for the future and excitement that comes with this work,” Bissonnette said. “We can really make a difference here and change the world by learning more about these diseases and giving people answers.” 

As the only NAF–recognized center in Virginia, PMDC serves patients from across the state and beyond, reducing the need for long-distance travel to access specialized care. For families navigating a rare diagnosis, that accessibility can be life-changing. 

“Our team does extraordinary work every day to ensure patients with complex movement disorders receive compassionate and forward-thinking care,” says Brian Berman, M.D., M.S., Bemiss Endowed Chair and director of the PMDC. “Being named an ACE affirms and reinforces our commitment to meet patients where they are today while advancing the research and treatments that will shape their futures.”