Foundation Leadership
Soania Mathur, MD
Co-Chair, MJFF Patient Council
Ontario, Canada
"As a physician and a patient, I wanted to be part of an organization dedicated to supporting research to find better treatments and a cure. Most importantly, I wanted to find a foundation that was fully dedicated to the PD community. I found all of that and more in MJFF."
Bret Parker
Co-Chair, MJFF Patient Council
New York, New York
"Always remember that PD is different for each person, what works for others may not work for you. Stay mentally and physically active. Keep a sense of humor. And while Parkinson’s is an important part of your life, it doesn’t define you."
Matt Ackerman
Palo Alto, California
Matt Ackerman attended the University of California at Berkeley where he graduated with a degree in Accounting and earned an MBA in Finance from Cornell University.
Carl Bolch, Jr.
Atlanta, Georgia
"My participation in MJFF's Patient Council was inspired by my desire to take control, as much as possible, of my own destiny in confronting this disease. Any contribution I might add in advancing a cure is hopefully additive to the talented, diverse members of this important group."
Eugenia Brin
Los Altos Hills, California
Eugenia (Genia) Brin is a retired research scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. She and her family immigrated to the United States from the former Soviet Union in 1979.
Ken Cater
Birmingham, Alabama
Ken is an engineer and former president and managing partner of CRS Engineering and Design Consultants. In 2005, at the age of 42, he received a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease and immediately became interested in research efforts, particularly those taking place at University of Alabama, Birmingham.
Christopher Chadbourne
Patient Council Emeritus Member
Marblehead, Massachusetts
Christopher (Chris) Chadbourne is an architect and photographer. He was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2008.
Jimmy Choi
Bolingbrook, Illinois
Jimmy Choi serves as the Chief Technology Officer for Moravia. In 2003, Jimmy was diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson's disease at age 27.
Carey Christensen
Stanwood, Washington
Carey Christensen is a patient activist, writer and speaker. Diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1999 at age 41, she turned to advocacy in 2002 after losing her longtime staff position at the University of Washington due to the little understood non-motor symptoms of PD.
Michael R. "Rich" Clifford
Patient Council Legacy
Michael R. (Rich) Clifford was a passionate advocate and activist for people living with Parkinson's disease.
Anne Cohn Donnelly, D.P.H.
Winnetka, Illinois
"A Parkinson's diagnosis is shocking. It can take time to accept it. Give yourself the time."
Quentin Dastugue
Covington, Louisiana
Quentin Dastugue is chief executive officer and one of the founding partners of Property One, Inc. His over thirty-five years in commercial real estate have included property management, leasing, investment sales, development, construction project management and consulting. Quentin was diagnosed with PD in the fall of 2009 and quickly decided to engage with The Michael J. Fox Foundation to assist in finding a cure.
María L. De León M.D.
Nacogdoches, Texas
María L. De León M.D., is a fellowship trained movement disorder specialist as well as an avid research advocate.
Steven D. DeWitte
New Preston, Connecticut
"Parkinson's is what we have, it is not who we are."
David Eger, PhD
White Plains, New York
David Eger is a psychologist in private clinical practice, with specialties in neuropsychological evaluations of learning disabilities in children and counseling/psychoeducation of people with Parkinson's. Dr. Eger was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2000.
Hadley Ferguson
Missoula, Montana
Hadley Ferguson is a patient activist and artist. She was diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson’s disease in 2010, but as her symptoms progressed, the diagnosis changed three years later to multiple system atrophy (MSA-P), an atypical Parkinsonism.
Michael S. Fitts
Alabaster, Alabama
Michael S. Fitts serves as assistant dean for user access and diversity at The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB Libraries). He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2011 at age 38.
Larry Gifford
Vancouver, British Columbia
Larry Gifford has spent nearly 30 years on radio and is currently the National Director of AM Radio for Corus Entertainment in Canada.
Cynthia Gray
Orono, Minnesota
"The Foundation is all about collaboration, teamwork and integration across disciplines, organizations, geography and ideas — it's a powerful way to accelerate the path to a cure."
Lynn Hagerbrant
Greenwich, Connecticut
"My mother and I both have Parkinson's disease, so I am both a caregiver and a woman who faces PD. I share the research updates and other valuable news from the Foundation with my local support group and others who have Parkinson's to help instill hope and optimism."
Kathy Holden
Ellicott City, Maryland
“Working to connect the newest patients with others, in person or through social media, is an ongoing passion. No one should have to navigate this alone. I will work for a cure as hard as I can, for as long as I can. I do it because I can, with the hope that when I cannot, someone else will.”
David Iverson
Patient Council Emeritus Member
Oakland, California
"What matters most isn't getting diagnosed with Parkinson's, it's what you do next. The choices we make after we're diagnosed can open doors to possibilities you'd never imagine."
Karen Jaffe, MD
Cleveland, Ohio
"The Patient Council has allowed me to bring the work of the Foundation back to my community; educating the Parkinson's community on what is happening, and how they can help keep the momentum going."
Nicole Jarvis, MD
Norman, Oklahoma
"Working with the Patient Council and fundraising with Team Fox has helped me live with this disease. I can't change the fact that I have Parkinson's, but I can help change what being a patient with Parkinson's will look like in years to come!"
Tony Mendez
Patient Council Legacy
Tony Mendez was a retired CIA officer, an author and an award-winning painter with an international reputation. He resided in Virginia but maintained a gallery and studio on his forty-acre farm in rural Maryland. He passed away on January 19, 2019.
Hilton Mirels, MD
Rye, New York
Hilton Mirels, MD, is currently in private practice in Westchester County, affiliated with Montefiore/Sound Shore Medical Center and also on the orthopedic staff of The Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York.
Eric Pitcher
Dallas, Texas
Eric Pitcher is an engineer and managing partner at PSI Midstream. He was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2008.
Bill Rasmussen
Seattle, Washington
“Whether Parkinson’s-related or not, the obstacles in my life won’t stop — and I won’t let them stop me. I make workarounds to address the disease and I accept it for what it is. I still enjoy meeting new people. And I continue to be grateful that I can share my story. I hope my life story can help more people — even just one more person.”
Claudia Revilla
Peoria, Illinois
Claudia Garrido-Revilla was born in Monterrey, Mexico. She was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease at age 45. She began to take on education and advocacy as a response to her diagnosis. She soon became interested in helping others in her same situation, and in helping research and the search for a cure.
Bryan M. Roberts
Ithaca, New York
"I have never been one to sit on the bench. When I had the opportunity to work with MJFF — an organization that was mission-driven and efficient — I jumped at the opportunity. My outcome is simple: work in whatever capacity is necessary to cure Parkinson's disease."
Israel Robledo
Midland, Texas
"I'm proud to help make a difference for all of us living with PD by lending my voice on a council that focuses on patient priorities, in all aspects of the Foundation's work."
Richie Rothenberg
Los Angeles, California
"Hang in there. Read Michael J. Fox's 'Lucky Man.' Exercise, eat right and get involved. Reach out to others who have PD."
Margaret Sheehan
Washington, District of Columbia
"I am inspired by the researchers. The thought that there are really smart people whose job it is to fix my disease gives me hope."
M. Daniel Suwyn
Savannah, Georgia
"My goal as a member of the Patient Council is to help develop an interactive patient-centric team model for Parkinson's care."
W.N. "Bill" Wilkins
Roswell, Georgia
Bill Wilkins is cofounder of Wilkins Parkinson's Foundation and a media executive. He was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2006.
Gary Rafaloff
Marlboro, New Jersey
Gary Rafaloff is a businessman and entrepreneur with over 45 years of professional experience in finance, management, organizational consulting and business development.
Sebastian Krys
Woodland Hills, California
Sebastian is an Argentine-born American audio engineer and record producer. He’s a seven-time Grammy and 13-time Latin Grammy winner, including the Producer of the Year trophies in 2007 and 2015.
Rebecca Miller, PhD
New Haven, Connecticut
“The power of the patient voice in directing research and partnering with researchers and clinicians is essential in moving forward and pursuing a cure for Parkinson’s. That is why being a part of the Fox Foundation Patient Council is so important to me.”
Leonard Chandler
Helena, Alabama
Leonard Chandler is actively involved in helping advance progress for those living with Parkinson’s disease. After being diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2014, he began participating in Parkinson’s research.