Parkinson's Foundation Collaborates with Emory University for Nurse Practitioner Fellowship Program
In a significant step aimed at enhancing care for individuals with Parkinson's disease, the Parkinson's Foundation has introduced a Nurse Practitioner (NP) Fellowship program in collaboration with Emory University. This initiative, which is supported by a substantial $1.8 million grant, is designed to improve the quality of care available to Parkinson’s patients while simultaneously preparing the next generation of healthcare leaders skilled in managing this challenging disease.
Set to commence in January, the fellowship will run for one year and involves two selected nurse practitioners working in conjunction with physician fellows and specialists at Emory University's Movement Disorders Clinic. This clinic is notably recognized as a Parkinson's Foundation Center of Excellence, a title that acknowledges its superior standards in treating movement disorders.
Dr. Sneha Mantri, Chief Medical Officer of the Parkinson's Foundation, expressed enthusiasm for the program, emphasizing its dual benefits: providing top-tier clinical training for nurse practitioners and addressing the increasing demand for quality Parkinson's care. "The Better Model of Care fellowship provides state-of-the-art clinical and academic training for qualified nurse practitioners and allows us to train the next generation of leaders in Parkinson's care," she stated.
The funding for this initiative includes contributions from the McCamish Foundation, based in Georgia, which acknowledges Emory’s pivotal role in advancing care for Parkinson's disease. J. Gordon Beckham, Jr., President of the McCamish Foundation, highlighted the urgent necessity for improved access to care, especially noting that the NP Fellowship aims to reduce wait times and enhance patient experiences significantly.
The inaugural fellows for the 2026 program are Tong Wang and Elsa Mekonnen, both accomplished nurse practitioners with extensive backgrounds in neurology and movement disorders. Wang has dedicated her career to treating patients with complex healthcare needs and has been influenced personally by her mother's long battle with Parkinson's. Mekonnen brings with her a wealth of research experience in human physiology and a decade-long tenure at Emory, underscoring her commitment to improving patient outcomes through innovative care practices.
The NP Fellowship program is set to evolve over the next three years, ultimately training eight nurse practitioners who will be equipped to deliver independent clinical care to Parkinson’s patients. Key objectives of the program include enhancing overall patient and care partner experiences, improving provider satisfaction, and positively impacting the wait times for appointments, which are essential metrics of healthcare quality.
Participants in the program will benefit from an interprofessional learning environment, collaborating closely with faculty from Emory’s Department of Neurology and other health professionals, thus fostering a holistic approach to Parkinson's treatment. Additionally, prior to the onset of in-person training, fellows will undergo virtual preliminaries through accredited coursework provided by the Parkinson's Foundation, further expanding their foundational knowledge and skills.
This new fellowship aligns with the Parkinson’s Foundation’s broader mission to support education and training for healthcare providers in the intricacies of Parkinson's disease management. Since its inception in 2022, the Nurse Practitioner Fellowship initiative has successfully launched at other prestigious institutions, including Columbia University and the University of Florida. The ongoing commitment to enhancing the capabilities of healthcare professionals in this space underscores the urgency of delivering effective and empathetic care to a growing population affected by Parkinson’s disease.
Parkinson's disease, currently impacting over one million Americans and ranked as the second most prevalent neurodegenerative condition after Alzheimer's, manifests through a range of debilitating motor and non-motor symptoms, including tremors and significant emotional challenges. There remains no cure for this chronic condition, which is diagnosed in almost 90,000 new individuals annually in the U.S. As such, specialized training for health practitioners remains critical to improving management and support for affected individuals and their families.
In conclusion, the launch of the Nurse Practitioner Fellowship at Emory University not only stands as a beacon of hope for those diagnosed with Parkinson's disease but also symbolizes a significant stride towards establishing sustainable, quality care practices that can be adapted and replicated in the broader healthcare community.
Set to commence in January, the fellowship will run for one year and involves two selected nurse practitioners working in conjunction with physician fellows and specialists at Emory University's Movement Disorders Clinic. This clinic is notably recognized as a Parkinson's Foundation Center of Excellence, a title that acknowledges its superior standards in treating movement disorders.
Dr. Sneha Mantri, Chief Medical Officer of the Parkinson's Foundation, expressed enthusiasm for the program, emphasizing its dual benefits: providing top-tier clinical training for nurse practitioners and addressing the increasing demand for quality Parkinson's care. "The Better Model of Care fellowship provides state-of-the-art clinical and academic training for qualified nurse practitioners and allows us to train the next generation of leaders in Parkinson's care," she stated.
The funding for this initiative includes contributions from the McCamish Foundation, based in Georgia, which acknowledges Emory’s pivotal role in advancing care for Parkinson's disease. J. Gordon Beckham, Jr., President of the McCamish Foundation, highlighted the urgent necessity for improved access to care, especially noting that the NP Fellowship aims to reduce wait times and enhance patient experiences significantly.
The inaugural fellows for the 2026 program are Tong Wang and Elsa Mekonnen, both accomplished nurse practitioners with extensive backgrounds in neurology and movement disorders. Wang has dedicated her career to treating patients with complex healthcare needs and has been influenced personally by her mother's long battle with Parkinson's. Mekonnen brings with her a wealth of research experience in human physiology and a decade-long tenure at Emory, underscoring her commitment to improving patient outcomes through innovative care practices.
The NP Fellowship program is set to evolve over the next three years, ultimately training eight nurse practitioners who will be equipped to deliver independent clinical care to Parkinson’s patients. Key objectives of the program include enhancing overall patient and care partner experiences, improving provider satisfaction, and positively impacting the wait times for appointments, which are essential metrics of healthcare quality.
Participants in the program will benefit from an interprofessional learning environment, collaborating closely with faculty from Emory’s Department of Neurology and other health professionals, thus fostering a holistic approach to Parkinson's treatment. Additionally, prior to the onset of in-person training, fellows will undergo virtual preliminaries through accredited coursework provided by the Parkinson's Foundation, further expanding their foundational knowledge and skills.
This new fellowship aligns with the Parkinson’s Foundation’s broader mission to support education and training for healthcare providers in the intricacies of Parkinson's disease management. Since its inception in 2022, the Nurse Practitioner Fellowship initiative has successfully launched at other prestigious institutions, including Columbia University and the University of Florida. The ongoing commitment to enhancing the capabilities of healthcare professionals in this space underscores the urgency of delivering effective and empathetic care to a growing population affected by Parkinson’s disease.
Parkinson's disease, currently impacting over one million Americans and ranked as the second most prevalent neurodegenerative condition after Alzheimer's, manifests through a range of debilitating motor and non-motor symptoms, including tremors and significant emotional challenges. There remains no cure for this chronic condition, which is diagnosed in almost 90,000 new individuals annually in the U.S. As such, specialized training for health practitioners remains critical to improving management and support for affected individuals and their families.
In conclusion, the launch of the Nurse Practitioner Fellowship at Emory University not only stands as a beacon of hope for those diagnosed with Parkinson's disease but also symbolizes a significant stride towards establishing sustainable, quality care practices that can be adapted and replicated in the broader healthcare community.
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