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Foundation Leadership

Patient Council

Lynn Hagerbrant Headshot

Lynn Hagerbrant

Co-Chair, MJFF Patient Council

Greenwich, Connecticut

"My mother and I both have Parkinson's disease, so I am both a caregiver and a woman who faces PD. I share the research updates and other valuable news from the Foundation with my local support group and others who have Parkinson's to help instill hope and optimism."
Bret Parker, Patient Council Co-Chair.

Bret Parker

Co-Chair, MJFF Patient Council

New York, New York

"Always remember that PD is different for each person, what works for others may not work for you. Stay mentally and physically active. Keep a sense of humor. And while Parkinson’s is an important part of your life, it doesn’t define you."
Matt Ackerman, Patient Council member.

Matt Ackerman

Palo Alto, California

Matt Ackerman attended the University of California at Berkeley where he graduated with a degree in Accounting and earned an MBA in Finance from Cornell University.
Carl Bolch Jr, Patient Council Member.

Carl Bolch, Jr.

Atlanta, Georgia

"My participation in MJFF's Patient Council was inspired by my desire to take control, as much as possible, of my own destiny in confronting this disease. Any contribution I might add in advancing a cure is hopefully additive to the talented, diverse members of this important group."
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Eugenia Brin

Los Altos Hills, California

Eugenia (Genia) Brin is a retired research scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. She and her family immigrated to the United States from the former Soviet Union in 1979.
Bill Bucklew Profile

Bill Bucklew

Wilmette, Illinois

Bill retired from his role as Chief Innovation Officer for Berkshire Hathaway’s The Pampered Chef in 2020 after a successful career running large global operations designing and developing solutions to consumer problems. Bill also is an inventor holding dozens of Patents from his work in a myriad of industries from space technology & industrial equipment to housewares.
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Ken Cater

Birmingham, Alabama

Ken is an engineer and former president and managing partner of CRS Engineering and Design Consultants. In 2005, at the age of 42, he received a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease and immediately became interested in research efforts, particularly those taking place at University of Alabama, Birmingham.
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Leonard Chandler

Helena, Alabama

Leonard Chandler is actively involved in helping advance progress for those living with Parkinson’s disease. After being diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2014, he began participating in Parkinson’s research.
Jimmy Choi, Patient Council Member.

Jimmy Choi

Bolingbrook, Illinois

Jimmy Choi serves as the Chief Technology Officer for Moravia. In 2003, Jimmy was diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson's disease at age 27.
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Denise Coley

Morgan Hill, California

Anne Cohn Donnelly, Patient Council Member.

Anne Cohn Donnelly, D.P.H.

Winnetka, Illinois

"A Parkinson's diagnosis is shocking. It can take time to accept it. Give yourself the time."
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Quentin Dastugue

Covington, Louisiana

Quentin Dastugue is chief executive officer and one of the founding partners of Property One, Inc. His over thirty-five years in commercial real estate have included property management, leasing, investment sales, development, construction project management and consulting. Quentin was diagnosed with PD in the fall of 2009 and quickly decided to engage with The Michael J. Fox Foundation to assist in finding a cure.
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Fiona Davis

New York, New York

“I’ve found connecting with others with the disease to be a valuable resource when it comes to support and advice, as well as keeping up my sense of humor. Our power is in our collective voice, which is why I’m excited to be a member of the Patient Council.”
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María L. De León, MD

Nacogdoches, Texas

María L. De León, MD, is a fellowship trained movement disorder specialist as well as an avid research advocate.
Steve DeWitte, Patient Council member.

Steven D. DeWitte

New Preston, Connecticut

"Parkinson's is what we have, it is not who we are."
Peter DiBiaso Profile

Peter DiBiaso

Paris, France, Boston, Massachusetts

“It comes down to patient centricity – putting patients at the center of the clinical research enterprise. Here’s my message: get involved, get committed. If all of us participate in just one clinical study, it would make a huge, significant difference in speeding up the development timelines. We hear so much about the negative aspects but there is so much good being done.”
Hadley Ferguson, Patient Council Member.

Hadley Ferguson

Missoula, Montana

Hadley Ferguson is a patient activist and artist. She was diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson’s disease in 2010, but as her symptoms progressed, the diagnosis changed three years later to multiple system atrophy (MSA-P), an atypical Parkinsonism.
Michael S. Fitts, Patient Council member.

Michael S. Fitts

Alabaster, Alabama

Michael S. Fitts serves as assistant dean for user access and diversity at The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB Libraries). He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2011 at age 38.
Bill Geist, Patient Council Member.

Bill Geist

New York, New York

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Larry Gifford

Vancouver, British Columbia

Larry Gifford has spent nearly 30 years on radio and is currently the National Director of AM Radio for Corus Entertainment in Canada.
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Cynthia Gray

Orono, Minnesota

"The Foundation is all about collaboration, teamwork and integration across disciplines, organizations, geography and ideas —  it's a powerful way to accelerate the path to a cure."
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Ethan Henderson

Tucson, Arizona

Ethan received his diagnosis of young-onset Parkinson's disease in 2016. However, his deep involvement goes back to 2001 when his father was diagnosed with PD.
Kathy Holden, Patient Council member

Kathy Holden

Ellicott City, Maryland

“Working to connect the newest patients with others, in person or through social media, is an ongoing passion. No one should have to navigate this alone. I will work for a cure as hard as I can, for as long as I can. I do it because I can, with the hope that when I cannot, someone else will.”
Karen Jaffe, Patient Council Member.

Karen Jaffe, MD

Cleveland, Ohio

"The Patient Council has allowed me to bring the work of the Foundation back to my community; educating the Parkinson's community on what is happening, and how they can help keep the momentum going."
Nicole Jarvis, Patient Council member.

Nicole Jarvis, MD

Norman, Oklahoma

"Working with the Patient Council and fundraising with Team Fox has helped me live with this disease. I can't change the fact that I have Parkinson's, but I can help change what being a patient with Parkinson's will look like in years to come!"
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Sebastian Krys

Woodland Hills, California

Sebastian is an Argentine-born American audio engineer and record producer. He’s a seven-time Grammy and 13-time Latin Grammy winner, including the Producer of the Year trophies in 2007 and 2015.
Wanda Kim Lilley Profile

Wanda Kim Lilley

London, United Kingdom

Wanda lives with her husband in England and France and looks forward to expanding awareness of Parkinson’s and support for the MJFF in her communities. She was particularly pleased to organize over 20 friends from Chamonix, France to ride in the 2022 Tour de Fox.
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Sheryl Lowenhar

“I am excited about participating in the MJFF Patient Council. The work and dedication of the MJFF staff and volunteers is inspiring. We all have the same goal - to find a cure. It is an honor to be a small part of a large team urgently striving to reach this goal.”
Soania Mathur, Patient Council Co-chair.

Soania Mathur, MD

Ontario, Canada

"As a physician and a patient, I wanted to be part of an organization dedicated to supporting research to find better treatments and a cure. Most importantly, I wanted to find a foundation that was fully dedicated to the PD community. I found all of that and more in MJFF."
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Rebecca Miller, PhD

New Haven, Connecticut

“The power of the patient voice in directing research and partnering with researchers and clinicians is essential in moving forward and pursuing a cure for Parkinson’s. That is why being a part of the Fox Foundation Patient Council is so important to me.”
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Hilton Mirels, MD

Rye, New York

Hilton Mirels, MD, is currently in private practice in Westchester County, affiliated with Montefiore/Sound Shore Medical Center and also on the orthopedic staff of The Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York.
Jim

Jim McNasby

New York, New York

Jim McNasby started with the Foundation on March 16, 2020. His team provides legal and compliance advice to the Foundation and its senior leadership.
Matthew Peck Profile

Matthew Peck

Cambridge, Massachusetts

Matt is Co-Founder and COO of Cambridge, Massachusetts based DaCapo Brainscience, a biotechnology company whose mission is to develop some of the first disease-modifying therapies for neurodegenerative diseases.
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Bill Rasmussen

Seattle, Washington

“Whether Parkinson’s-related or not, the obstacles in my life won’t stop — and I won’t let them stop me. I make workarounds to address the disease and I accept it for what it is. I still enjoy meeting new people. And I continue to be grateful that I can share my story. I hope my life story can help more people — even just one more person.”
Claudia Revilla, Patient Council Member.

Claudia Revilla

Spring, Texas

Claudia Garrido-Revilla was born in Monterrey, Mexico.  She was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease at age 45.  She began to take on education and advocacy as a response to her diagnosis. She soon became interested in helping others in her same situation, and in helping research and the search for a cure.
Bryan Roberts, Patient Council Member.

Bryan M. Roberts

Ithaca, New York

"I have never been one to sit on the bench. When I had the opportunity to work with MJFF — an organization that was mission-driven and efficient — I jumped at the opportunity. My outcome is simple: work in whatever capacity is necessary to cure Parkinson's disease."
Israel Robledo, Patient Council Member.

Israel Robledo

Midland, Texas

"I'm proud to help make a difference for all of us living with PD by lending my voice on a council that focuses on patient priorities, in all aspects of the Foundation's work."
Margaret Sheehan, Patient Council member.

Margaret Sheehan

Washington, District of Columbia

"I am inspired by the researchers. The thought that there are really smart people whose job it is to fix my disease gives me hope."
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M. Daniel Suwyn

Savannah, Georgia

"My goal as a member of the Patient Council is to help develop an interactive patient-centric team model for Parkinson's care."
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Gary Rafaloff

Marlboro, New Jersey

Gary Rafaloff is a businessman and entrepreneur with over 45 years of professional experience in finance, management, organizational consulting and business development.
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Christopher Chadbourne

Patient Council Emeritus Member

Marblehead, Massachusetts

Christopher (Chris) Chadbourne is an architect and photographer. He was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2008.
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Carey Christensen

Patient Council Emeritus Member

Stanwood, Washington

Carey Christensen is a patient activist, writer and speaker. Diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1999 at age 41, she turned to advocacy in 2002 after losing her longtime staff position at the University of Washington due to the little understood non-motor symptoms of PD.
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David Eger, PhD

Patient Council Emeritus Member

White Plains, New York

David Eger is a psychologist in private clinical practice, with specialties in neuropsychological evaluations of learning disabilities in children and counseling/psychoeducation of people with Parkinson's. Dr. Eger was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2000.
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David Iverson

Patient Council Emeritus Member

Oakland, California

"What matters most isn't getting diagnosed with Parkinson's, it's what you do next. The choices we make after we're diagnosed can open doors to possibilities you'd never imagine."
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Richie Rothenberg

Patient Council Emeritus Member

Los Angeles, California

"Hang in there. Read Michael J. Fox's 'Lucky Man.' Exercise, eat right and get involved. Reach out to others who have PD."
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Michael R. "Rich" Clifford

Patient Council Legacy

Michael R. (Rich) Clifford was a passionate advocate and activist for people living with Parkinson's disease.
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Tony Mendez

Patient Council Legacy

Tony Mendez was a retired CIA officer, an author and an award-winning painter with an international reputation. He resided in Virginia but maintained a gallery and studio on his forty-acre farm in rural Maryland. He passed away on January 19, 2019.
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Tom Picone

Patient Council Legacy

Thomas A. Picone was a founding member of The Michael J. Fox Foundation Patient Council and a leader in the pharmaceutical development field.
Eric Pitcher, Patient Council Member.

Eric Pitcher

Patient Council Legacy

Eric Pitcher was a passionate advocate for the Parkinson's community and generously supported various local charities.
W.N. "Bill" Wilkins, Patient Council member.

W.N. "Bill" Wilkins

Patient Council Legacy

Bill Wilkins was cofounder of Wilkins Parkinson's Foundation and a media executive. He was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2006.
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Allie Signorelli

Arlington, Virginia

Allie Signorelli was diagnosed with Young Onset Parkinson's disease at 47 years old. She has been a nonprofit fundraiser and event producer working to raise millions for vital causes.
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