Centers of Excellence
The VCU PMDC has been a Parkinson's Foundation Center of Excellence since 2022. It is one of 42 Parkinson’s Foundation Centers of Excellence in the United States, one of 55 medical centers worldwide, and the only one in Virginia. These designated Centers of Excellence must meet and maintain rigorous care, clinical research, professional training, community education and outreach criteria. The Center team is led by a movement disorders neurologist, who works closely with a variety of other health care professionals who are up to date on the latest research, PD medications, and therapies.
The VCU PMDC is one of 60 Huntington’s Disease Society Association Centers of Excellence in the United States. HDSA Centers of Excellence provide a multidisciplinary team approach to Huntington’s disease care. Patients benefit from expert neurologists, psychiatrists, social workers, therapists, counselors and other professionals who have extensive experience working with families affected by HD and who work collaboratively to help families plan the best HD care program throughout the course of the disease. Applications to become an HDSA Center of Excellence are open to all clinics in the United States who share HDSA’s commitment to high-quality, comprehensive care and access to clinical research.
The VCU PMDC became a National Ataxia Foundation Center of Excellence in 2025. It is one of 26 Ataxia Centers of Excellence in the United States, and the only one in Virginia. NAF’s Ataxia Centers of Excellence (ACE) program is to designate exceptional regional centers providing comprehensive care and services for individuals affected by Ataxia and their families. In addition to providing expert clinical care for a variety of Ataxias and Ataxia-related disorders, the Centers should be engaged in clinical research and/or clinical trials, provide professional and lay education to patients and their families in the areas they serve, and work with NAF locally and nationally in its efforts to continually improve the lives of those affected by Ataxia.
The VCU PMDC has been a CURE CSP Center of Care since 2020. It is one of 38 CurePSP Centers of Care and is the only one in Virginia. CurePSP Centers of Care are recognized for providing exceptional, specialized care for patients with PSP, CBD, and MSA, while fostering collaboration, advancing research, and supporting patients, families, and healthcare professionals through education, outreach, and comprehensive resources.
The VCU PMDC has been a LBDA Research Center of Excellence since 2024. It is one of 27 Lewy Body Dementia Association Research Centers of Excellence in the United States and the only one in Virginia. LBDA Research Centers of Excellence are recognized for their expertise in the diagnosis and treatment for Lewy body dementia. These centers form a collaborative network dedicated to conducting LBD research and contributing to advances in the field.
The VCU PMDC has been a Mission MSA Center of Excellence since 2023. It is one of 25 Mission MSA Centers of Excellence in the United States, and 30 globally. The goal of the MSA Centers of Excellence program is to provide access to the best possible and easily accessible multi-disciplinary clinical care and supporting services for individuals affected by Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) and their families through a geographically diverse network of local and/or regional clinical centers.