My PD Story

My name is Hannah Griffiths, and I am both a healthcare professional and a family member of someone living with Parkinson’s disease (PD). My father, William, was diagnosed more than 10 years ago, and at that time, our family had little understanding of what the diagnosis truly meant.

Even as a Registered Nurse with several years of experience, I found myself uncertain about the intricacies of the disease. His diagnosis profoundly influenced me, inspiring my commitment to support not only my parents — my father as a patient and my mother as his primary caregiver — but also others affected by Parkinson’s.

About nine years ago, while driving home from work, I heard a radio announcement for the Parkinson’s Foundation Moving Day walk. Our family decided to participate that year, and it quickly became an annual tradition.

I encourage anyone impacted by Parkinson’s to attend Moving Day, as the event offers an incredible opportunity to experience firsthand the sense of community, support and resources available.

I currently serve as an Instructor of Clinical Nursing at the University of Rochester School of Nursing, a Parkinson’s Foundation Center of Excellence, where I teach in both lab and clinical settings.

Recently, I had the privilege of attending the Edmond J. Safra Nurse Educator Program on Parkinson’s Disease in Philadelphia, PA. During this program, I collaborated closely with providers in a movement disorders clinic and observed the highly specialized, patient-centered care delivered to people with PD.

The PD experts generously shared their clinical insights, and I was able to observe patient appointments that demonstrated the holistic and multidisciplinary nature of Parkinson’s care.

This experience has deepened my understanding and passion for improving PD education. I am eager to integrate what I have learned into our nursing curriculum to better prepare future nurses to deliver high-quality, compassionate care to the Parkinson’s community.

Find expert Parkinson’s care near you. Find your closest designated center in our Global Care Network or call our Helpline at 1-800-4PD-INFO (1-800-473-4636) for local referrals.