HEALTHY PARKINSON'S COMMUNITY - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Senior Program Manager - Content and Curriculum
Angelina joined the Davis Phinney Foundation in 2022 after a 28-year career in education. Over the course of her career, Angelina has served education communities in various capacities including vice principal, director of admissions, classroom teacher, university instructor, and educational consultant. Her passion for writing and her desire to work with others striving to live a balanced, fulfilled life are what led her to work for the Davis Phinney Foundation.
Angelina holds an Ed.D. in Education Policy, Organization, and Leadership with an emphasis in Global Studies in Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Since 2018, Angelina has served as a volunteer faculty training and curriculum consultant in Ghana. Her most exciting international research project was a month-long residency in January 2021 writing and implementing the COVID-19 school reopening policy and safety protocols in collaboration with the local Ghana Education Service Division.
Outside of the office, Angelina enjoys exploring different countries and cultures (over 20 countries and counting), dancing, spending time with her family (she's a favorite aunt), and napping. Her life's goal is to be remembered for living fully, loving passionately, and having a life full of shenanigans and adventures.
Job Titles:
- Marketing Manager - Social & Web
Betsy joined Davis Phinney Foundation's marketing team in 2022. She comes with a background in higher education and consumer behavior research. She has a passion for message strategy, particularly in making marketing materials accessible and engaging. Betsy holds a Ph.D. in Communication and Information/Advertising from the University of Tennessee. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Dave, and her two dogs, Charlie and Rose. She has recently picked up gardening, so if you have any tips, please send them her way!
Job Titles:
- Co - Founder and President of Tru Family Dental
Brandon Halcott is the co-founder and President of Tru Family Dental, a Midwest-based dental support organization with offices throughout Michigan and Illinois. Brandon graduated with honors from the University of Chicago and earned an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Introduced to the Davis Phinney Foundation following his father's diagnosis with young-onset Parkinson's, Brandon has experienced firsthand the impact of the Foundation's work to help people with Parkinson's live well today. An ever-smiling, fundraising powerhouse, you'll find Brandon climbing the mountain passes every summer at The Copper Triangle, an event he rode with his father and now shares with his children. As the father of three young children, he admits that free time is hard to come by. However, slalom water skiing in summer and Nordic ski racing in winter keep him fit for those Copper Triangle ascents.
Christina joined the Davis Phinney Foundation in March 2022. Christina has years of experience in nonprofit administration supporting education, music, and faith-based communities. She enjoys being involved with diverse communities across the US and thrives being a part of the growth in people's lives. As a native New Yorker, having lived in Boston and Los Angeles, it still amuses her that she now lives near the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. In her free time, Christina enjoys hikes with her family and playing on her fiddle.
Job Titles:
- Individual Giving Manager
Connie is an entrepreneur, author, artist, life-long athlete and is extremely passionate about her work as a Board member of the Davis Phinney Foundation. Connie particularly enjoys sharing her experiences via the written word and she is an eloquent and humorous public speaker. She has two adult children, Taylor and Kelsey, with her husband Davis Phinney.
Job Titles:
- Founding Teacher and Program Director
David Leventhal is a founding teacher and Program Director for Dance for PD®, a program of the Mark Morris Dance Group that has now been used as a model for classes in more than 300 communities in 25 countries. He leads classes for people with Parkinson's disease around the world and trains other teachers in the Dance for PD® approach. He has co-produced five volumes of a successful At Home DVD series for the program and has been instrumental in initiating and designing innovative projects involving live streaming and Moving Through Glass, a dance-based Google Glass App for people with Parkinson's. He received the 2016 World Parkinson Congress Award for Distinguished Contribution to the Parkinson's Community and was a co-recipient of the 2013 Alan Bonander Humanitarian Award from the Parkinson's Unity Walk. He graduated from Brown University with honors in English Literature.
Davis Phinney's background spans a highly successful professional cycling career (including numerous victories and an Olympic medal), and subsequent careers as a national network broadcaster and sports marketer. Diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson's in 2000, he refused to give in to the disease and set his sights on living well today, rather than waiting for a cure. His tenacity coupled with his infectious positive attitude and dedication to exercise and overall wellness laid the groundwork for the Davis Phinney Foundation, which he founded to help to inspire and inform those living with Parkinson's.
Dr. Kara Beasley is a neurosurgeon with Boulder Neurosurgical & Spine Associates (BNA). She completed a dual degree in medicine with a MA in Biomedical Ethics at Midwestern University in Glendale, AZ, and is one of only a few dually credentialed neurosurgeon bioethicists in the world. She also obtained an MBA at the University of North Carolina's Kenan-Flagler Business school. She completed a general neurosurgery residency at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in Philadelphia, PA. Before joining BNA, Dr. Beasley also obtained fellowships in Stereotactic Radiosurgery at Cooper University Hospital in Camden, NJ, and Functional and Restorative Neurosurgery at The Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Cleveland, OH. Dr. Beasley decided to dedicate her career in part to the surgical treatment of Parkinson's disease after meeting Parkinson's patients and learning about deep brain stimulation during her training. Upon moving to Boulder, Dr. Beasley began working with the Davis Phinney Foundation to support community outreach and education and has spoken at The Victory Summit® symposia.
Dr. Soania Mathur is a family physician living outside of Toronto, Ontario who resigned her clinical practice twelve years following her diagnosis of Young Onset Parkinson's Disease at age 27. Now she is a dedicated speaker, writer, educator and Parkinson's advocate. She speaks passionately about the challenges of adjusting physically and emotionally and the coping strategies available to patients.
Dr. Mathur is an active speaker in Canada and the US at patient-directed conferences and also serves as a resource for education projects. She works with The Michael J. Fox foundation for Parkinson's Research and serves as Co-Chair of their Patient Council. She is a member of The Brian Grant Foundation Advisory Board, the Medical Advisory Board for Parkinson Canada and also works with Parkinson's Movement UK on North American initiatives. Dr. Mathur has valued her involvement with World Parkinson Congress as both a speaker and committee member. Locally she is a member of the Board of Directors for the Lakeridge Health Foundation.
An equity advocate committed to holistic approaches to health, Eden Mussie is passionate about improving health outcomes for marginalized communities. Eden currently works as a Health Equity Program Manager at Blue Shield of California focused on building a shared understanding of health equity principles across the organization through tools, terminology, trainings, and assessments. She holds a BA in Psychology from Carleton College and an MBA from the University of St. Thomas, where she received a certificate in Transformational Change and Organizational Development. Prior to her current role, Eden worked on advancing health equity through grantmaking at the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation and was a The Victory Summit® event intern at the Davis Phinney Foundation. She has also consulted on various projects focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion. This work has included organization development consulting with the University of St. Thomas focused on making higher education more equitable and strategy consulting with Imagine Deliver, a B Corporation focused on developing solutions for the new majority by centering the most marginalized end user and co-designing alongside them.
Erica Borenstein is a mother of two teenage girls and lives in Denver, Colorado. Since 2016, she has been General Counsel of Farmland Partners Inc., a publicly traded farmland real estate investment trust (REIT) headquartered in Denver, CO. From 2008 - 2015, Erica served as the General Counsel and Vice President of International Sales and Distribution of Newton Running Company, Inc., a manufacturer and marketer of performance running shoes and apparel based in Boulder, Colorado. From 2001-2007, Erica served as Chief Counsel of the Broadband Services Division for CSG Systems, Inc., a multinational corporation headquartered in Colorado that provides business support systems software and services. Prior to joining CSG Systems, Inc., she worked as an attorney in private practice. Erica has a B.A. in Political Science from Washington University in St. Louis and a J.D., cum laude, from Boston University School of Law. She is a mentor for a high school student at South High School as part of the Denver Kids, Inc. program.
Job Titles:
- Public Relations Coordinator
Erika is a former journalist who loves to use her inquisitive nature to tell important stories. The intersection of health care and quality-of-life issues is something that resonates with her focus on what really matters. The Davis Phinney Foundation is close to her heart: Everyone of all abilities deserves the opportunity to live his or her best life. Her hobbies include volunteering with farmer's markets, skiing, gardening, running, and yoga. She's an accidental dance mom and has never met a dog she hasn't liked: Her current favorite is named Poppy.
Job Titles:
- Ambassador Leadership Program Associate
Everett is the Ambassador Leadership Program Associate at the Davis Phinney Foundation. After growing up in Kansas City and graduating from the University of Missouri with degrees in Anthropology and English, Everett moved to the state with 300 days of sunshine to explore the mountains and the nonprofit world. He has four years of experience in volunteer management and is known to be capable of making friends with brick walls. When not talking people's ears off about his favorite losing baseball team (Go Royals!), the most recent book he finished, or his latest dispersed camping spot, he's hanging out with his partner and their dog and cat, Fae and Fern. During the high school speech and debate season, his pets forget what he looks like as he spends most of his free time coaching a team of 20 students.
Job Titles:
- Community Engagement Manager
- Member of the Davis Phinney Foundation
Gabby became a member of the Davis Phinney Foundation team in January 2018. Her career has been sprinkled with academia, business development and management, and human services through work in university, startup, and non-profit settings. Gabby is a passionate humanitarian who brings a curious, strategic, and person-centered approach to all she does.
Glen Sibley retired recently from his position as Managing Director Mountain West Region at McCaffery Interests, Inc. in Denver. His background includes 38 years' experience in commercial real estate development, acquisition, and finance. Glen was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2006 and met Davis Phinney in 2009. He lives the Foundation's mission every day by continuing to ski, play tennis, fly fish, and ride his bicycle. Formerly, he served as a director of Denver Civic Ventures, Colorado Public Radio, The Greater Denver Corporation, and the Denver (Olympic) Games Committee; founding Co-Chairman of Denver's World Trade Center; President of the Historic Paramount Foundation; and Chair of the Urban Mixed Use Development Council/Urban Land Institute. Glen holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Denver and degrees in Business and Economics from the University of Puget Sound.
Job Titles:
- Program Manager - Audio and Video Producer
Jackie joined the Davis Phinney Foundation in January 2021. Prior to joining the Foundation, she spent many years as a music educator while earning her master's degree in music therapy. During this clinical work, Jackie had the opportunity to work with many persons with Parkinson's and it was this extraordinary community of people, along with her passion for advocacy, love of projects and drive for excellence that led her to working at the Foundation.
In her spare time Jackie can be found eating pizza, hiking with her dog Bingley, tickling the ivories, or finding a new favorite coffee shop. She loves the smell of sulfur but hates the smell of gum, and her favorite quote that she tries to live by every day is to "Do the best you can until you know better. Once you know better, do better." - Maya Angelou
Job Titles:
- Vice Chairman and Managing Director at Clairvest Group Inc
Jeff Parr is Vice Chairman and Managing Director at Clairvest Group Inc., a private equity investment management company in Toronto, Canada. Prior to joining Clairvest in 1995, Jeff was one of three partners managing the Canadian Mezzanine Fund and previously held management positions with National Bank of Canada and Citibank Canada. A graduate of the University of Western Ontario, Jeff is a member of Clairvest's Board of Directors and his alma mater's Investment Committee.
The 2019 recipient of the CVCA Ted Anderson Community Leadership Award for his efforts in supporting Parkinson's and other charitable causes, Jeff finds motivation to serve the community in the determination he has seen in close family and friends who live with Parkinson's. In his free time, he enjoys pursuing his passions of skiing and cycling, and also finds time to work on home improvement projects with his wife.
Job Titles:
- Director of Community Engagement
Jenna joined the Davis Phinney Foundation team in the fall of 2017. Much of her eclectic career has been spent creating and facilitating educational, inspiring, and sometimes surprising experiences for diverse communities in classrooms, museums, theatres, orchestra halls, and more. She is passionate about connecting individuals with experiences that improve and transform their lives, and believes deeply in the power of relationships and community to address complex issues and create positive change.
In 2020, Jenna launched the Davis Phinney Foundation's Health Disparities and Parkinson's webinar series and helped to form the Foundation's first Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) advisory board. In 2021, she and her team launched the Healthy Parkinson's Communities™ initiative to help make the places where we live, work, and play more inclusive and supportive for those living with Parkinson's.
When she's not working alongside her team and the incredible Parkinson's community, you can find Jenna cooking, gardening, going to hot yoga, and spending time with her husband and their rescue dog Maybelle.
Job Titles:
- Development Manager
- Davis Phinney Foundation As a Consultant
Jorie joined the Davis Phinney Foundation as a consultant in 2015 and manages corporate and foundation relations in support of the priority programs and initiatives of the Foundation. Prior to joining the Foundation, her work focused on grantmaking and donor relationship management in support of Parkinson's disease research in academic medicine. Jorie received her BA in Global Studies from the University of Iowa and her MA in Public Policy Administration, with a focus on health care policy from Northwestern University. A native of Chicago, Jorie currently lives just outside the Windy City with her young family.
Kayla joined the Davis Phinney Foundation in October 2018, leaving behind the world of corporate event sales. A passion for "experiences" led Kayla to leave corporate Hollywood and spend a year (2015-2016) traveling to 29 different countries from Japan to Peru. It is also what led her to a career in event and program management. A simultaneous passion for health and wellness is what ultimately led her to the Davis Phinney Foundation.
Outside of work, Kayla is an avid ultrarunner most enthusiastic about the 100mi distance. She can also frequently be found in yoga studios, pools for freediving practice, or abroad with a scuba tank, backpacking gear, and a list of the country's best restaurants.
Job Titles:
- Retired Biopharmaceutical Operations and Consulting Executive
Kevin Kwok is a recently retired biopharmaceutical operations and consulting executive who combines his 30 years of career experience with his firsthand knowledge about living and thriving with Parkinson's. Kevin earned his Doctorate in Clinical Pharmacy from the University of Michigan, where he serves on the Dean's Advisory Council. He previously was managing director at the leading executive recruiting firm Russell Reynolds Associates, where he led the North American Life Science practice. Diagnosed in his late 40s with YOPD, Kevin has mindfully pivoted his work and personal life to become a super advocate for people living with Parkinson's. Kevin joined the Board of Directors in 2015 and maintains an active and fulfilled life by embodying the Foundation's mantra, "Every Victory Counts." He recently relocated from his home of 25+ years in San Francisco to immerse himself in the vibrant outdoor opportunities available in Colorado. In retirement, he continues to stress the importance of patient-centered care and speaks passionately on all issues Parkinson's.
Lauren, a University of Washington alumna and half-iron(wo)man, is a smooth blend of art, Seattle rain, and Southern charm. She began her career in event management and academic advising. Formerly trained in life coaching, Lauren provides clarity in goal setting, helps identify obstacles and uses tools, strategies, and support that bolster each unique fundraisers' goals. She loves making connections and building communities. Lauren resides in North Carolina with her family and enjoys gardening, finding new ways to live plastic-free, and volunteering for her church.
Job Titles:
- Content Contributor
- Davis Phinney Foundation As a Consultant
Leigh joined the Davis Phinney Foundation as a consultant in September 2020, stepping into the field of health and wellness education after having spent much of her career in international and environmental education. Her drive to help others live their best, most joyful lives led her to the Foundation, where her role combines several of her favorite things-sharing stories and advice about whole-life wellbeing and connecting people around the world.
Some of Leigh's other favorite things include books, beaches, baking, laughter, tulips, tennis, Taylor Swift circa 1989, alliteration, and mountains. Her heart is most at home by the ocean, and she is a firm believer in Isak Dinesen's advice that much happiness can be found via salt water: "sweat, tears, or the sea."
Meghan is a born and raised Texan who moved to Denver to pursue her Master's of Science in Web Design and Development at the University of Denver. Before that, she received her Bachelor's in Marketing focused on Advertising Strategy from Texas A&M University. She is a loyal Aggie (gig 'em) and is passionate about philanthropy and helping the communities around her.
In her free time, Meghan enjoys photography, skiing (which she recently took up), hiking, exploring breweries, spending time with her family back in Texas (including Teddy the Mega Yorkie), watching Texas A&M sports, and hanging out with her leopard gecko Piper.
Melani Dizon (rhymes with Dijon and usually goes by Mel) joined the Davis Phinney Foundation in January 2018. She's a former social worker, teacher, therapist, and coach, and she worked as a freelance educator and writer for 25 years. She joined the Foundation because she was inspired by its mission to help people live well today. When she's not writing or trying to organize all the things in life, you'll find her doing CrossFit, trying to keep up some sort of streak, hanging out with her family and three pups, or drinking scalding hot-like-the-sun decaf chai.
Nabila Dahodwala, MD, MS is an Associate Professor of Neurology at the University of Pennsylvania. She is also a Senior fellow at the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, Institute of Aging fellow and Director of the Parkinson Foundation Center of Excellence at Penn. Dr. Dahodwala's research interests involve access to care; disease prevention and health promotion; disparities and health equity; and global health and risk communication. She leads a number of projects that study patient, physician and health system-level barriers to high-quality care for individuals with neurodegenerative diseases. She has received research funding from the NIH, VA, Michael J Fox Foundation, Parkinson Foundation and the Parkinson Council. She is also the site investigator for numerous industry-sponsored clinical trials testing new therapeutics for Parkinson's disease and Essential Tremor. She serves as the chair of the American Neurological Association's Health Services Research Special Interest Group, and is a member of the International Parkinson and Movement Disorders Society's Integrated Care Taskforce, the Parkinson Foundation Parkinson Outcomes Project Steering Committee and the Michael J Fox Foundation's Fox Insight Executive Steering Committee. In addition to her research and clinical activities, Dr. Dahodwala is the Movement Disorders Fellowship Director at the University of Pennsylvania and directs the Patient-Oriented Research Curriculum for the neurology residents.
Patty joined the Davis Phinney Foundation in the Summer of 2016. She's passionate about work that engages both mind and heart and has focused her career on local and international NGO program development.
Born in NYC and raised in Vermont, Patty loves living in Colorado, but the Green Mountain State holds her heart. C'mon, have you tasted Sugar on Snow? Patty has a creative spirit and is the designer and co-owner of a boutique jewelry company located in Boulder. She is also a master doodler with an uncontrolled Sharpie obsession.
Job Titles:
- Vice - Chair
- Senior Vice President, Government Partnerships of Rho 's Federal Systems Division
Peter Schmidt, Ph.D., is the Senior Vice President, Government Partnerships of Rho's Federal Systems Division. From 2009 through April 2018, Dr. Schmidt served as Senior Vice President and Chief Research and Clinical Officer at the Parkinson's Foundation where he oversaw research, education, and outreach initiatives. Through his tenure at the Parkinson's Foundation, Dr. Schmidt served as PI for the Parkinson's Outcomes Project (POP) from launch through the 10,000th subject recruited, the largest clinical study ever in Parkinson's conducted at 30 academic medical centers. The Parkinson's Outcomes Project was designed to identify best practices in Parkinson's care but served as a platform for many other studies.
Dr. Schmidt is active in research, specializing in the intersection between mathematics and medicine, with a special interest in mapping the n-dimensional spaces of clinical data. Schmidt serves as an advisor to several government, industry, and foundation initiatives. He has been involved in several national-scale quality initiatives including with the US National Quality Forum and the Fresco Network in Italy. Schmidt has recent or current advisory engagements in wearable sensors, telemedicine, remote monitoring, and clinical trial design. He has contributed to AHRQ and Commonwealth Fund publications and has been an invited speaker for NIH and diverse international patient and professional conferences. Schmidt previously worked in corporate finance-focused on healthcare innovation, created chronic disease management systems, and served as Chief Operating Officer of a joint venture of Oxford, Stanford, and Yale delivering online education. Educated at Harvard and Cornell, he had a fellowship at New York's Hospital for Special Surgery.
Polly brings 25 years of for-profit and nonprofit experience to the Davis Phinney Foundation. That experience includes 13 years leading business-to-business, engineering, and international operations of a global satellite communications provider and, closer to her heart, creating a local fundraising chapter of an international literacy organization.
Polly's track record managing and growing organizations responsibly and with transparency dovetails with her humanitarian worldview. She is committed to making wise use of the Foundation's resources, enabling it to extend its reach while staying true to its mission. Polly is passionate about helping people with Parkinson's thrive by providing education and connection to community and funding quality of life research that take the guess work out of living well.
Polly holds an MBA in International Business from Thunderbird School of Global Management and a BA in International Studies from Earlham College. When Polly isn't behind her desk or traveling to Parkinson's communities around the world, you'll find her creating music lists for her indoor cycling classes, exploring Colorado on her road bike, swimming laps outside, and hosting family and friends from around the world. She's powered by sunshine, though, so you might also find her lying on a rock soaking up the sun like a lizard.
Job Titles:
- Events and Development Manager
Rebecca (a.k.a. Becca, Becs, Becky) joined the Davis Phinney Foundation in January 2020. Her background is in fundraising events and volunteer management with over 15 years of professional experience in the nonprofit world. She has a bachelor's degree in public relations from Syracuse University and an MBA from Johnson & Wales University. Rebecca was connected to the Davis Phinney Foundation through two things close to her heart - a passion for cycling and her father, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2011.
When not on her bike or helping people celebrate every victory, Rebecca can be found playing ice hockey, cuddling with her cat and two dogs, or traveling the world with her husband Dave.
Rich brings 25 years of business leadership experience to the Davis Phinney Foundation. That includes 10 years as executive director of a therapeutic recreation, experiential education, and adaptive sports center, plus many years working in strategic growth, marketing, and development roles for non-profit and for-profit organizations.
Over his career, Rich has worked in concert with the cycling and active-outdoor industries with organizations including the Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center, the International Mountain Bicycling Association, and Outward Bound. He has developed diverse programs in cooperation with the U.S. Dept. of Education, Apple Computer, Subaru of America, National Park Service, Trek Bicycle Corporation, Coors Family Foundation, and The Walton Family Foundation, among many others. An avid mountaineer with summits in Alaska, Nepal, and South America, Rich is a passionate believer in the life lessons and therapeutic benefits of time spent outdoors in nature.
Rich holds a B.S. from the Leeds College of Business at the University of Colorado, Boulder, and a degree in Wilderness Studies from Colorado Mountain College. When he isn't in the office or meeting with the Foundation's many donors and supporters, he's likely out riding bikes, running, climbing, or skiing with family and friends from far and wide.
Ruth C. Browne, SD, is President and Chief Executive Officer of Ronald McDonald House New York (RMH-NY), which provides temporary housing and support for pediatric cancer patients and their families in a caring and secure environment, close to the essential care and resources they need most. Prior to RMH-NY, Dr. Browne was CEO of the Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health (AAIUH), a best practice catalyst for interventions that advance health and educational equity solutions for culturally diverse populations locally, nationally and internationally. Dr. Browne is a founder and a past Principal Investigator and Director of the Brooklyn Health Disparities Center, an NIH funded Center of Excellence.
She is an Associate Clinical Professor at SUNY Downstate Medical Center, and holds academic appointments in the Schools of Medicine, Health Related Professions and Public Health.
Dr. Browne is the recipient of numerous honors, including the Lewis and Jack Rudin New York Prize for Medicine and Health (2013), the JW Differenter Innovator of Change Award (2014), the Towsley Policymaker in Residence (2015) at the University of Michigan Gerald Ford School of Public Policy, the Packer Collegiate Institute Alumni Award of Honor (2017), the President's Award, SUNY Downstate Medical Center (2017), the 1199SEIU Impact Award (2018), an inaugural honoree on the Crain's NY list of Notable Women in Health Care (2018), a 2019 recipient of the Women in Development's Woman of Achievement Award. She is the recipient of two Fulbright Scholar Awards.
As an active member of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Manhattan Chapter, Dr. Browne advances leadership opportunities for African-American women of all ages. She is an immediate past board member of the full-service, non-profit community hospital, Interfaith Medical Center, in Brooklyn, New York and previously served on the Board of the Center for Healthcare Strategies.
Dr. Browne earned a Bachelor's Degree from Princeton University, a Master of Public Health and Master of Public Policy from the University of Michigan, and a Doctor of Science from Harvard University School of Public Health. She has studied, lectured and worked at the University of the West Indies in Jamaica and in Trinidad.
Job Titles:
- Marketing Manager - Fundraising
Samantha (a.k.a Sam or Sammy) joined the Davis Phinney Foundation in November 2021. She graduated from the University of North Alabama with a bachelor's degree in marketing.
Samantha lives in Alabama with her husband and her dog. When she's not hanging out with her dog Oakley, you can find her spending time with her family and friends. She has two nieces and two nephews that keep her on her toes.
Samantha Narciso (pronounced NAR-sis-OH, goes by Sam) is a program associate with the Education Department at Davis Phinney. After her dad was diagnosed with YOPD when she was 3, Sam has spent the majority of her life fighting for Parkinson's advocacy and research which has led her to working for the foundation. When she's not hard at work helping the education department, Sam enjoys all things media; whether it's the latest Marvel movie or a cult documentary, if you've watched it, so has Sam. She also loves traveling, theme parks, and her dog, Charlie. Her life motto is "We're here for a good time, not a long time", and she loves how the Davis Phinney Foundation works with Parkinson's patients and their families to make sure we all have a good time no matter how long we have.
Job Titles:
- Ambassador
- Ambassador Leadership Program Manager
Sara is the Ambassador Leadership Program Manager at the Davis Phinney Foundation. Born and raised in Colorado, Sara is extremely passionate about reinvesting in the communities that have shaped who she is today and increasing access to information, tools, and resources for those who live in them.
With her passion for human physiology and business administration, Sara strives to play an active role in positively impacting the health and wellbeing of individuals across the globe while improving systems that support their communities.
Of the various things that bring Sara joy, escaping in a good book, rewatching any Marvel movie, exploring new cities and countries, playing with her two amazing nieces, or climbing to the top of the various mountains in Colorado, are among her favorites.
Job Titles:
- Director of Finance and Administration
Shane has experience in accounting and finance holding various corporate roles. He has been volunteering and fundraising with the Davis Phinney Foundation since 2011. Shane has personally experienced the direct impact of the Foundation's work as his father is living well with Parkinson's. When not at the office, Shane can be found exploring or roaming around the United States.
Job Titles:
- Program Associate - Healthy Parkinson 's Communities™ Network