SUSAN KLINE

Director, PDOutreach.com/Seminars at Sea

 

Early in 1997, in cooperation with the National Parkinson Foundation, Susan developed the PD Center of Excellence at St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Oxnard, CA.  She was chosen to head this project not only because of a strong administrative, operational, human resource and teaching back-ground …. but also Susan was an active lobbyist in Washington, DC, for Parkinson patients…. a proponent for research funding….and an educator for quality of life issues.

In January of 2000, a quantum leap in providing services to the movement disorder community was made when the California Neuroscience Institute was established at St. John’s.  Susan formerly served as the Outreach & Communications Coordinator for CNI. She now serves as advisor to the Hazel Hutchman Memorial Neuroscience Center and also heads PDOutreach.com. Her main focus is to provide education to the patient and caregiver community, to health professionals and to the general public.  In addition to outreach with support programs and patient services, Susan coordinates conferences and symposiums (including Seminars at Sea), and markets quality of life programs for those in her community. 

Also, since she socializes wolves….yes, wolves…. Susan has married the Parkinson community and wolf education efforts in a therapeutic blend to dispel the myths that have branded both groups. The PD patient has related to the misunderstandings and the kinship has been highly successful in building bonds and hope. 

 

  ROD PRESTON…

 

Support, Motivation and Education for PDOutreach Education, Peer Counseling

 

California has been home to Rod for all but the first year of his life (he was born in Michigan) and for what seemed like a lifetime spent in Vietnam. There was surfing the ocean swells, and backpacking the Sierra ranges and soaring as a private pilot over the Western terrain. There was a great job after college with 3M Pharmaceuticals.  And then there was less movement…

 

“If you weren’t such a young buck (Rod was in his early 30’s), I’d say you have Parkinson’s,” said one doctor trying to come up with the reason for less arm swing on one side of Rod’s body. You see, Young On-Set PD was not so well recognized as it can be today…especially after the Michael J. Fox diagnosis.

 

Devastated after the news…just when he had the whole world in front of him…Rod went through all the steps of the grieving process until he realized he still did have the whole world in front of him….just a different one. In a condition that tries to rob one of power, Rod knew that knowledge was power …and he absorbed everything he could about his challenge.

 

And, with over thirty years of first hand PD experience, Rod has taught and motivated those sharing his diagnosis, as well as health care professionals.

 

In 1999, Rod took a pioneer step to improve his quality of life by undergoing Deep Brain Stimulation even while it was still experimental.  With DBS, Rod regained a better, tolerable lifestyle. In fact, his first purchase after his surgery was a Harley Davidson motorcycle!

 

Camping, backpacking, sailing (including parasailing) are among his favorite hobbies…and then there is the hope to one day get his pilot’s license again. 

 

Hope does keep soaring for Rod.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Any medical information published on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a health care professional.