Team Training

At the end of this activity, learners will be able to:

1. Differentiate between the clinical characteristics of early, mid- and late-stages of Parkinson’s to guide appropriate care interventions.   

2. Apply team care strategies to support individuals with Parkinson’s and their care partners in improving self-management and quality of life. 

3. Engage in interprofessional collaboration to optimize care coordination and improve outcomes for people with Parkinson’s and their care partners. 

4. Strengthen interprofessional networks and community partnerships to enhance the delivery of comprehensive team-based care.

Those who complete the Team Training program become Team Training alumni and are immediately eligible to attend Advanced Team Training the same year, and future Advanced Team Trainings, as well as access alumni benefits.

• Continuing Education credit for physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, PTs, OTs, SLPs, social workers, and psychologists.
• Individual and team planning tools for immediate implementation.
• Eligible to attend Advanced Team Training opportunities.
• Your name and contact details will be provided to our Parkinson’s Helpline who provides callers with referrals to health professionals and community resources for local support..
• Opportunity to network with regional and national health professionals in the Parkinson’s field.
• Team Training Alumni Office Hours – a new initiative in 2025 exclusively for alumni. Nearly every month, a Parkinson’s Foundation Team Training faculty member will host a free webinar on specific topics of interest.

Alumni Office Hours are presented exclusively for those who have completed a previous Team Training and provides the opportunity to collaborate with our teaching faculty on a specific topic. Each presentation will include specific resources on the presented topic. For more information, please email TeamTraining@Parkinson.org.

At the end of this activity, learners will be able to:

1. Apply proactive rehabilitation strategies tailored to the distinct needs of individuals with newly diagnosed Parkinson’s, early Parkinson’s disease, and/or Young-Onset Parkinson’s disease (YOPD).

2. Address the psychosocial challenges and life-stage-specific needs of Parkinson’s patients through an interprofessional approach.

3. Integrate updates on clinical research, emerging therapeutics, and genetic insight into the management of newly diagnosed Parkinson’s, early Parkinson’s disease, and/or YOPD to improve patient outcomes.

The program is designed for the following professions:

• Physicians

• Nurse Practitioners

• Nurses

• Physician Assistants

• Occupational Therapists

• Speech-Language Pathologists

• Physical Therapists

• Social Workers

• Psychologists

Team coordinators and other professions not listed above who are currently working on a Parkinson’s care team should contact TeamTraining@Parkinson.org for consideration to attend with their team members.

Electronic payment is required within 24 hours of registration. PayPal, Mastercard, Visa, Discover or American Express.

Early registration discount May 1 – July 11:  $500 per person for each program through July 11

July 12 – September 30:  $550 per person for each program

VA Discount: $357.50 per person up to 15 VA discount tickets for each training.

Complimentary registrations: MD Fellows and up to 2 students per discipline. Students must be full-time in one of the named disciplines for this program.

Registration fee does not include hotel or travel cost. Training is held in a conference hotel. A hotel room block link with the conference hotel rate and travel information is provided on the registration overview of the Team Training programs in the Parkinson’s Foundation Learning Lab. Learn more at Education.Parkinson.org/TeamTraining.

“This training session has been very powerful. The tools and info can be applied to other neuro areas not just Parkinson’s... I have been emotionally stuck in my nursing career. This conference has relit my passion for the nursing profession. This is by far the BEST conference I have attended in my 29 years of nursing!”
-Registered Nurse

“This training has helped me learn that I can have confidence in my skills and not be afraid to find my voice. I discovered leadership skills I didn’t necessarily know I had.”
-Physical Therapist

“This was exactly what I needed to renew my passion for what I do and bring fresh ideas/excitement for ways to improve the care I provide and make sure it is person-centered.”
-Speech Language Pathologist

“This training has given me the momentum and framework to go back and make immediate changes in the clinic. This week has increased my enthusiasm to improve our interdisciplinary care and expand our programs.”
-Physical Therapist

“Team Training has confirmed my passion for Parkinson’s disease and has defined the importance of interdisciplinary teams.”
-Nurse Practitioner

“Team Training has given me information about other disciplines and resources available for patients and more of an understanding of this puzzle called PD. Allied teams can really make a big difference in patients’ lives when there is no cure but hope.”
- Neurologist

“Team Training has allowed me to re-connect with national leaders of care for PD, re-kindle personal goals for improving our local care of the PD community and has brought attention to palliative and behavioral health care issues earlier in the course of the disease.”
- Neurologist

“In the past, my lack of understanding, regarding other disciplines’ journeys and roles, limited my communication with other disciplines to the point of fear, intimidation and avoidance. Now, my understanding and comfort have improved greatly and I feel much more confident in initiating conversations which will greatly benefit our clients.”
- Occupational Therapist

2024 Team Training study shows the effectiveness of the Team Training program’s education 1 year later is maintained and sustained long term.
Poster presented at the 2024 International Congress of Parkinson’s Disease & Movement Disorders
View the Poster.

2023 Team Training study was shown to have a positive impact on interprofessional team members of both community care and established PD Centers. Attendees increased their confidence in the care they provide to both those with PD and care partners, increased their knowledge of the roles of other team members, and significantly increased a better understanding of their own roles within the PD care teams, allowing teams to work more effectively together to provide better care.
Poster presented at the 2023 International Congress of Parkinson’s Disease & Movement Disorders and 2023 World Parkinson’s Conference

Development and Evolution of a Model Interprofessional Education Program in Parkinson’s disease: A Ten-year Experience (May 2018). Download to read.

Interprofessional education increases knowledge, promotes team building, and changes practice in the care of Parkinson's disease, Parkinsonism and Related Disorders 22 (2016). Download to read.