Living well despite Parkinson’s is possible with the right tools and knowledge. Our bi-annual Wellbeing Symposium is designed to address the physical, emotional, and social needs of those impacted by chronic disease. This spring, we’re focusing on the power of exercise—how to get the most out of it and build lasting resilience to make it a part of daily life.
We’re thrilled to announce Daniel Corcos, PhD, Northwestern University, as our keynote speaker for the Spring Symposium! A nationally renowned expert, Dr. Corcos will delve into the critical role exercise plays in Parkinson’s disease, sharing his groundbreaking research on how exercise can slow disease progression and alleviate non-motor symptoms like anxiety and depression.
This year’s symposium also introduces small group breakout sessions, giving participants the opportunity to connect with others facing similar challenges and start implementing the tools and strategies they learn in real time.
Join us for this transformative experience, and leave feeling empowered, hopeful, and equipped with actionable strategies to positively influence your Parkinson’s symptoms.
Agenda
- 10:00 AM – 10:30 AM: Exercise Demonstrations
- Indoor Cycling / Spin Room
- Strength and Balance in the Cafeteria
- Yoga on the Gym Stage
Participate or observe as our expert instructors guide these sessions.
- 10:45 AM – 11:30 AM: Breakout Sessions
- For People with Parkinson’s (PwP): “Sustaining Exercise and Physical Activity with Parkinson Disease”. Action planning to overcome barriers and maintain exercise habits, led by Mark Mañago, DPT, and Cory Christiansen, DPT, from the University of Colorado Physical Therapy Department.
- For Care Partners (CP): In this session led by Jill Duffy Williams, Care Giver Advocate – The Negative Space, participants will: learn the impacts of caregiving on physical and mental health, be presented with five types of strategies for realistically embedding self care into their daily routines, reflect on which strategies to implement, make a plan for implementation.
- 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM: Partner Reception by invitation
Featuring Dr. Kara Beasley, DO, MBA, MBE, FACOS—a unique opportunity to connect with fellow attendees and professionals in a relaxed setting. - 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM: Expo and lunch
- 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM: Keynote Address with speaker Daniel Corcos, PhD
- 1:30 PM: Closing remarks and thank yous
We can’t wait to see you there! Let’s take steps together toward a healthier, more empowered future.
Event Details
🗓 Date: Thursday, March 6, 2025
📍 Location: Parkinson’s Pointe
East Community Center,
5933 S Fairfield St., Littleton, CO 80120
🕙 Time: 10:00 AM – 1:30 PM
Registration is now closed.
Event Sponsors
This year, we’re excited to announce expanded programming that brings even more impactful opportunities to engage with our community! With these enhancements, we’re thrilled to offer Program Sponsorship and space at our Community Partners Expo.
Keynote Speaker
Daniel Corcos, PhD, Professor,
Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences
Northwestern University
Dr. Corcos will be speaking on the importance of exercise in Parkinson’s and his research related to exercise and slowing disease progression, along with the other benefits of exercise on non motor symptoms such as anxiety and depression.
Daniel Corcos obtained his PhD in 1982 in Motor Control from the University of Oregon. He did a Post-Doctoral Fellowship in the Department of Neurosurgery at Rush Medical Center from 1983-1987. Dr. Corcos was an Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago from 1987-1993, was promoted to the rank of Associate Professor with tenure in l993, and to Full Professor in 1997. He is currently a tenured Full Professor at Northwestern University. He has published more than 200 peer reviewed research articles and his research has been cited more than 15,000 times.
Speaker
Kara D. Beasley,
DO,MBA,MBE,FACOS
Boulder Neurosurgical and Spine Associates of BCH
Dr. Kara Beasley is a board-certified neurosurgeon and one of the only dually credentialed neurosurgeon bioethicists in the world. She completed her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine at the Midwestern University in Glendale, Arizona, and her neurosurgery residency at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. She then went on to complete two fellowships: one in functional and restorative neurosurgery at Cleveland Clinic, in Cleveland, Ohio, and the other in stereotactic radiosurgery at Cooper University Hospital in Camden, New Jersey. Dr. Beasley received additional training in neuroethics and in advanced epilepsy surgical techniques at Cleveland Clinic.
She performs complex cranial and spinal procedures: surgery for tumors and degenerative disk disease, radiosurgery, deep brain stimulation, and spinal cord stimulation. Her areas of interest include brain and spinal tumors, movement disorders and neuromodulation for refractory chronic pain.
Cory Christiansen
PT, DPT, PhD, FAPTA
Professor, University of Colorado
Mark Mañago
PT, DPT, PhD, NCS
Assistant Professor, University of Colorado
Jill Duffy Williams
Care Giver Advocate
The Negative Space
