Our Mission and Philosophy
Our mission:
To enhance quality of life for individuals and families living with Parkinson disease and related movement disorders by offering compassionate and comprehensive care, conducting innovative research and promoting education and awareness in the community.
About the Center and Our Philosophy:
The NYU Parkinson and Movement Disorders Center was founded in the summer of 2007 with generous support of the Edmond J. Safra Philanthropic Foundation, to help individuals and families living with Parkinson disease and other movement disorders to achieve the highest possible quality of life. The Center has three aspects, all closely interrelated.
These are:
- An active research program that explores best treatments options for Parkinson disease
- An interdisciplinary care team for individuals and families
- Social work, community-based and support programs
The Center values excellence in service and a humanistic, empathic and compassionate approach to healthcare delivery that emphasizes the individual, rather than just the disease. In our view, the patient-healthcare provider relationship is as important as the availability of the most appropriate treatments and supports.
As persons with Parkinson and related movement disorders go through their journey, Center staff is committed to a philosophy of care in which providing “the right care at the right time” is paramount. We value the importance of the individual and their family and goal oriented assessment in an effort to optimize function, and enhance the quality of life at every stage of the journey.
Our integrated approach to care, emphasizes the importance of an interdisciplinary team approach, one in which different types of professionals are available to provide consultation, assessment and therapy as needed.
We place great importance on establishing programs that add quality to life. While living with chronic illness can be very challenging, we believe that nourishing an environment of wellness and creative expression is paramount. The Center is proud of its newest partnership with the Jewish Community Center (JCC) in Manhattan where integrative and therapeutic programs of dance/ movement, yoga, Tai Chi and Pilates are complemented by a quarterly Sunday Educational Series. These programs are coupled with creative and fun activities such as singing, poetry, and meditation sessions for individuals and families impacted by Parkinson disease.
The Center is also committed to research to better understand the nature of Parkinson disease and related movement disorders. Researchers at the Center are actively researching new areas to better address symptoms and improve treatment options for those living with Parkinson disease and other movement disorders.