Each April, Parkinson’s Awareness Month reminds us of a growing truth: more than one million people in the U.S. are living with Parkinson’s disease—and that number is rising. In the Greater Richmond region alone, the impact is tangible. But thanks to the work of the VCU Parkinson’s and Movement Disorders Center (PMDC), so is the progress.
Established in 2011 through the advocacy and generosity of the local “Movers and Shakers” community group, the PMDC was envisioned as a center where science and humanity could meet—where research didn’t just live in the lab but translated directly into compassionate, real-world care. Fourteen years later, that vision is growing and fully in action.
Today, the PMDC is recognized as a Parkinson’s Foundation Center of Excellence—one of only 40 in the U.S., and the only one in Virginia. It’s home to a high-caliber interdisciplinary team including neurologists, neurosurgeons, neuropsychologists, genetic counselors, speech-language pathologists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and more. These professionals aren’t just treating patients—they’re redefining how we care for people living with movement disorders.
The mission of the Center is clear: to improve the lives of individuals with Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders through comprehensive care, pioneering research, and meaningful outreach. With three locations—VCU Health downtown campus, Short Pump, and Stony Point—the PMDC makes its services accessible to a wide swath of the Commonwealth.
But the Center’s impact extends well beyond the clinic. Its education and outreach arm partners with community organizations to provide programming, research access, and direct support to patients and families alike. This includes initiatives like patient and caregiver support groups, exercise classes, and educational forums designed to help people better understand the progression of Parkinson’s and related diseases.
One such event is coming up this month: Virginia Parkinson’s Education and Empowerment Day, hosted in partnership with Power Over Parkinson’s. On Saturday, April 12, at the Larrick Student Center (900 Turpin Street), community members are invited to join a powerful day of learning and inspiration. Special guest Dr. Daniel Corcos, a nationally renowned researcher in Parkinson’s exercise science, will deliver a keynote titled, “The Therapeutic Benefits of Exercise.” Additional sessions will be led by Dr. Leslie Cloud, the Rogliano Family Endowed Chair at VCU Neurology and Program Director of the VCU Parkinson’s and Movement Disorders Center, who will present “Your Guide to Good Education and Information on PD.” Dr. Antonio Abbate of UVA Health will also lead a session titled “Demystifying Clinical Trials.”
In addition to Virginia Parkinson’s Education and Empowerment Day, the PMDC actively seeks feedback from individuals with Parkinson’s disease as well as their family caregivers. A recent initiative focuses on the challenges caregivers face when supporting a loved one with Parkinson’s disease. The goal is to gather valuable insights through a short survey to better understand the caregiver experience and help expand available PD caregiver resources. Caregivers can access the survey here.
For those living with Parkinson’s in Richmond and beyond, the month of April is more than just a chance to raise awareness. It’s an opportunity to connect, take action, and remember what’s possible. Because at the PMDC, the focus isn’t on what patients are fighting against—it’s on what they’re fighting for: connection, clarity, movement, and joy.
As the PMDC puts it, they’re modernizing care, advancing research, and building community—together. This month and every month, that mission is worth celebrating.