VCU Parkinson's and Movement Disorders 2024 by the Numbers
From the Director
Fostering community, innovation and discovery to transform the future of movement disorders care
Brian D. Berman, M.D., M.S., PMDC Director and Movement Disorders Division Chief, VCU Department of Neurology
As we look back on a year marked by collaborative growth and innovation at the VCU Parkinson’s and Movement Disorders Center (PMDC), we are excited to share some of the remarkable strides made possible by our patients, partners and care teams. This edition showcases the power of a shared commitment to advancing care, research and education — demonstrating what can be accomplished when we work together toward a common goal.
Our partnerships outside the walls of the hospital and clinic are central to this mission. One impactful example is Gary Rogliano and his daughter, Margaret Preston, who co-founded Power Over Parkinson’s (POP) after Gary’s Parkinson’s disease (PD) diagnosis. Rogliano, a lifelong hard worker, and his family have turned their experience into action, supporting others through POP by providing financial assistance and resource connections for people with PD across central Virginia. Their partnership has been instrumental to the PMDC, most recently contributing to the development of a state-of-the-art gait lab that will enable us to explore new treatments for some of the most disabling and treatment-resistant symptoms that PD can cause.
This year’s PMDC Pilot Grants have continued to support essential research, including innovative studies like the use of Wi-Fi sensing for home-based patient monitoring. The 2nd Annual Research Symposium held in June provided a platform for pilot grant recipients and other investigators across VCU and beyond to showcase their research in PD, Alzheimer’s disease, and other neurological conditions relevant to movement disorders. In this newsletter, you’ll also hear more about investigator-initiated trials and their importance to researchers to pursue ideas that advance our understanding of and ability to treat movement disorders.
Our center’s commitment to clinical trials continues to expand. Jeff Strano, one of our patients, is a participant in the ORION trial, which is one of the first trials of its kind and seeks to determine the effectiveness of a novel treatment for Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP). This trial exemplifies the PMDC’s dedication to providing patients across the spectrum of conditions we treat with access to potential treatments and to advancing the science that will shape future care.
Our outreach work has also brought the movement disorder community together as highlighted through events like the Huntington’s Disease Education Day, which included sessions on mindfulness, music therapy and self-care. Additionally, PMDC staff have expanded support groups, doubling the number of meetings held this year and reaching more individuals across a variety of movement disorder communities — from Multiple System Atrophy to Lewy body dementia. Such gatherings provide patients and their families with crucial opportunities to connect, share and learn from each other. These serve as part of a number of data milestones that articulate the hard work of our dedicated clinical teams — who collectively played roles in supporting more than 6,000 outpatient visits this year.
Through efforts like these, we are building a more connected and empowered community for individuals affected by movement disorders. This work is only possible through the support of dedicated partners, committed researchers and engaged patients like those featured here.
Lastly, this edition includes a remembrance for Dr. Danielle Noreika, whose compassion and leadership in palliative medicine continues to inspire us. Her memory is a testament to the profound impact individuals can have in advancing care and supporting others in their most vulnerable moments.
It is this shared dedication to care, research and collaboration that continues to shape the future of movement disorder treatment and support. Thank you for being an integral part of this journey.