Episode 161: Atypical Parkinsonism Series: Unique Care Needs of PSP, CBD and MSA

Jessica Shurer, MSW, LCSW, is the Director of Clinical Affairs and Advocacy of CurePSP. In this role she oversees CurePSP’s efforts aimed at increasing support, education, and awareness of progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), corticobasal degeneration (CBD), and multiple system atrophy (MSA) as well as manages the CurePSP Center of Care program, a network of 33 medical centers dedicated to the comprehensive care of PSP, CBD, and MSA. She is also currently leading a partnership between CurePSP and the Parkinson’s Foundation focused on education for healthcare professionals on atypical Parkinsonian syndromes.

Prior to joining the team at CurePSP in October 2021, she served as the Center Coordinator and Clinical Social Worker of the Movement Disorders Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a Parkinson’s Foundation Center of Excellence and CurePSP Center of Care. She had been in her previous position since graduating from UNC Chapel Hill in 2012 with a Master of Social Work, Interdisciplinary Certificate in Aging, and Hartford Partnership Program for Aging Education Fellowship. 

She has volunteered on the Board of Directors for CurePSP, Scientific Advisory Board of the Davis Phinney Foundation, and several national task forces and committees with the Parkinson’s Foundation. She is a member of the Movement Disorders Society, International Neuropalliative Care Society, and National Association of Social Workers. Her clinical and research interests include the psychosocial and unmet needs of navigating neurodegenerative disease, integrated healthcare delivery, and palliative and end-of-life care.

Nancy Montgomery is a graduate of Temple University with a degree in Communications.  Her career includes being a Congressional Press Secretary, handling marketing for financial institutions, served as VP and Branch Administrator for a bank; and ended her career as a Project and Product Manager for financial services technology companies, specializing in anti-fraud and anti-money laundering software.  Montgomery also served on local chapter boards of the United Way, American Red Cross, and Habitat for Humanity.
 
Ms. Montgomery started as a CurePSP volunteer in 2019, shortly after her husband’s diagnosis of PSP.  Her husband, Jerry Kohl, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 2010 at the age of 57 and lead to his early retirement in 2013.  In 2017, Mr. Kohl had Deep Brain Stimulation surgery.  In April 2018, after moving to the Columbus, OH area, his new neurologist and movement specialist updated the diagnosis to PSP. 
 
Not knowing anything about PSP, they began researching the illness and wanted to meet others with similar patients.  They attended a couple of CurePSP Family Conferences.  Ms. Montgomery took it further and is founder and facilitator of the Central Ohio Support Group for patients and care partners for those with PSP/CBD/MSA.  The group has been meeting for 4 years.  In September 2020, Montgomery also took on the role of co-facilitator for a CurePSP Support Group for women care partners.