UC Davis Health designated Parkinson’s Foundation Center of Excellence

The Parkinson’s Foundation has designated the UC Davis Health Center for Movement Disorders & Neurorestoration as a Parkinson’s Foundation Center of Excellence. The center is one of 54 worldwide to receive the prestigious designation.

“We feel honored and proud to receive this recognition from the Parkinson’s Foundation,” said Norika Malhado-Chang, health sciences clinical professor in the Department of Neurology. Parkinson’s disease has been part of her personal and professional life for the past 22 years. “As a caregiver to my mother with Parkinson’s, I am acutely aware of how challenging it is to coordinate the care needed for such a complex disease.”

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects movement and causes tremors, stiffness and difficulty with coordination and balance. Approximately 1 million people in the United States live with PD, and about 90,000 new cases are diagnosed annually. While most people diagnosed with PD are 60 years or older, 5 to 10% are diagnosed before age 50. There is no cure, but medications, treatments, and other therapies can often relieve symptoms.

A Parkinson's Foundation Center of Excellence is a medical center that brings together a specialized team of neurologists, movement disorder specialists, rehabilitation professionals, mental health experts, and others with extensive knowledge in PD medications, treatments, and research. Their collective expertise enables them to provide top-quality care for individuals with PD.

“I was inspired by the vision of having experts in PD collaborating across disciplines, all together in one clinic. I am grateful to work with amazing colleagues who all share my passion for providing people with PD the best care possible. We make a fabulous team!” Malhado-Chang said. “I am also indebted to our generous donors and grateful patients, who have shared our dream from the beginning and saw our potential to be the best, most comprehensive care center in the region.”

Effective July, the Center for Movement Disorders & Neurorestoration will assume the role of a Parkinson's Foundation Center of Excellence for a term of five years, joining a global network of expert care providers.

“This milestone reaffirms our commitment to providing exceptional care and advancing groundbreaking research,” said Lin Zhang, professor in the Department of Neurology. “I am excited about the possibilities it brings for improving the lives of individuals living with Parkinson's disease."

The Department of Neurology is known for its outstanding Movement Disorders Program, which provides inpatient and outpatient evaluation, treatment, and management of movement-related diseases. Notably, its PD program conducts clinical research studies and provides state-of-the-art care. For example, the Deep Brain Stimulation treatment uses a surgically implanted, programmable brain pacemaker to address symptoms associated with PD, such as tremors, muscle spasms and epilepsy.

For more information, visit the Parkinson’s Foundation website.

Claudia Coons

[email protected]

Phone: 916-367-8105