Events

Attached below is Governor McMaster's proclamation: Official Governor Proclamation - (PDF)

  Rescheduled from January, 2026 Would you like to help further research into Parkinson’s Disease and potentially help find new treatments – or possibly – eventually - a cure? We understand that this might be a difficult topic for some people. Some of us might be squeamish about thinking of donating our brains for scientific research. Please come to this meeting and get your questions answered so that you understand how important this research is – and the decision-making process, as well as what happens if you decide to help in this important research. The presentation will also cover some of the research into Alzheimer’s Disease that the SC-ADRC is conducting. The April 19, 2026 meeting will be a very robust and important program from the Brain Bank – the South Carolina-Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (SC-ADRC), which is a joint effort between MUSC, Clemson University and the University of South Carolina. We are very fortunate to have 3 speakers who will explain the program as it relates to research into Parkinson’s Disease and how individuals and families are able to significantly support this research, ultimately assisting in determining new treatments for Parkinson’s Disease. The Columbia Parkinson’s Support Group suggests that […]

2026 Patient/Care Partner Symposium Presented by Medtronic - Registration is Open! The Columbia Parkinson’s Support Group is excited to announce that our 2026 FREE Patient/Care Partner Symposium is open for registration! Thank you to Medtronic as our Platinum Presenting Sponsor – without our sponsors, we could not provide this symposium free to attendees. Additional sponsors will be listed on our website shortly. Come ask your questions about Parkinson’s Disease - we will have 7 speakers on the panel – bios and photos can be found below. Dr. John Morgan, movement disorders specialist neurologist, Augusta University Dr. Nathan Rowland, neurosurgeon, MUSC Health Dr, Myriam Sollman, neuropsychologist, Prisma Health Neurosurgery Will Harmon, DPT, Trek Physical Therapy Chris Maynard, person with Parkinson’s Pete Oliver, person with Parkinson’s Cindy Smith, chair yoga instructor and physical therapy assistant Date: Saturday, May 2, 2026 Location: SCETV – Murray Studio 1041 George Rogers Blvd. Columbia, SC 29201 Valet Parking is available Time: Check-in opens at 8:30 AM with time to visit sponsors – Breakfast available – Program starts at 9:30 AM and concludes at 2:30 PM – Lunch break 11:30 to 12:30, time to visit sponsors – full agenda in the link to register VERY IMPORTANT: We […]

Parkinson’s Disease as a “presumptive condition” for veterans, and why. Presumptive conditions are exempt from the standard proof requirements for service connection. Support for veterans through community groups. Our first and main speaker is Joy Kinney, MSR CCC-SLP. Joy Kinney is a Speech-Language Pathologist specializing in the treatment of adults with neurological disorders, including communication, swallowing, and cognitive symptoms of Traumatic Brain Injury, Stroke, Parkinson’s, and the after-effects of COVID-19. She treats adult patients and has worked in and directed therapy programs in skilled nursing and rehabilitation facilities, as well as in the settings of home health, the acute care hospital, and outpatient therapy. She has presented at the national and state level regarding various treatment techniques, and she frequently discusses brain health during her treatment sessions.  Ms. Kinney is a member of the Board of Directors of the Columbia Parkinson's Support Group, and also a member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. She is fully licensed to practice Speech-Language Pathology in the states of South Carolina, Florida, and Georgia. Ms. Kinney is a 2005 graduate of the Medical University of South Carolina with a Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders, and a 2003 graduate of Columbia College of […]

Did you know there are at least five types of depression? Come to this meeting to find out how to recognize depression in your spouse, learn about new treatment approaches, learn what you can do at home, and how to be supportive in healthy ways. Phil Steude M.D., with over 40 years as a board certified psychiatrist, will speak briefly on the subjects and then interact with you about specific concerns or questions you may have concerning depression in yourself or your loved one. Doctor Steude has practiced in the Columbia area, being well-versed in traditional psychiatry, medication management, and a leader in transcranial magnetic stimulation. He has been interested in how medicines work, not just what seems to work and in his practice enjoyed psychotherapy, including a focus on how depression can affect one's faith.  Currently retired, he has a strong interest in his grandchildren and in gardening.

Columbia Parkinson’s Support Group – Meeting June 21, 2026 Our support group historically does not meet in June, as the 3rd Sunday is Father’s Day. However, this year, our president, Karen Basso, has offered to be at our usual meeting location (Lexington Medical Park I Auditorium, 2728 Sunset Blvd., West Columbia, SC 29169) at 3 PM for anyone who might like to come and just talk with one another. This will not be structured, like our Open Forum meetings, it will simply be an opportunity for anyone who wishes to get together and talk about anything related to Parkinson’s Disease. As a reminder, our meetings are open to anyone with an interest in Parkinson’s Disease, and are always free to attend. 

MEDTRONIC - LEADING THE WAY IN DBS  For the one million people diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in the United States, Medtronic, a global leader in healthcare technology, proudly announces FDA approval of BrainSense™ Adaptive deep brain stimulation (aDBS) and BrainSense™ Electrode Identifier (EI).  Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has been transforming the lives of people with Parkinson's and other neurological disorders for more than 30 years. DBS is similar to a cardiac pacemaker, but for the brain. It uses a surgically implanted neurostimulator via a minimally invasive procedure to transmit electrical signals to specific parts of the brain affected by debilitating neurological disorders. Now Medtronic has enhanced its Percept™ DBS neurostimulators with exclusive BrainSense™ Adaptive technology, introducing aDBS for people living with Parkinson's. This feature personalizes therapy based on a patient's brain activity in real time – both in clinical settings and in daily life2. It provides enhanced therapy personalization for symptom control that automatically adjusts, minimizing the need for patients to manually adjust stimulation.  "Medtronic is the only company in the world to offer an adaptive DBS system that dynamically adjusts therapy in real time. This new era in Parkinson's care represents more than a decade of intentional innovation ushering in personalized neuromodulation at scale that responds to a patient's changing needs, equipping […]

Updates in Movement Disorders/Parkinson’s Disease Research at MUSC Dr. Christine Cooper is a board-certified neurologist with a specialty in Movement Disorders. Dr. Cooper received her medical degree from the University of Florida with honors in clinical research. She went on to complete her neurology residency at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard University, followed by a fellowship in movement disorders at Pennsylvania Hospital/University of Pennsylvania. Clinically, Dr. Cooper sees patients with all Movement Disorders, including Parkinson's disease, Multiple System Atrophy, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, Corticobasal Syndrome, tremor, dystonia, dyskinesia, ataxia, tics, and chorea. As part of the treatments offered, Dr. Cooper performs botulinum toxin injections for Movement Disorders patients, as well as pre- and post- care for surgical therapies such as Deep Brain Stimulation and Focused Ultrasound.  Dr. Cooper is director of the MUSC Neurology Clinical Trials Unit, which provides opportunities for South Carolina patients to participate in the latest industry and foundation-sponsored research to evaluate the latest diagnostic tests, medications, and therapies. In addition, Dr. Cooper’s own research lab is focused on evaluating diagnostic biomarkers, neuroimaging markers, and novel noninvasive neuromodulation techniques to improve the understanding of Movement Disorders.  We will discuss ongoing and upcoming research for Parkinson’s disease and Movement […]

Date: Friday, September 4, 2026 – REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS AUGUST 31, 2026 Time: 11 AM to 1 PM – LUNCH IS PROVIDED What Is Health? is an educational wellness talk that explores the true meaning of health beyond simply the absence of disease. Participants will learn about the vital role of the nervous system, what it controls throughout the body, and how neurologically based chiropractic care supports optimal nervous system function. The presentation also discusses the potential impact of chiropractic care for individuals living with Parkinson's disease, supported by current understanding of nervous system health. The session concludes with my personal journey of living with chronic illness and how chiropractic care became an important part of my health and healing, offering both education and hope for those seeking a proactive approach to wellness. Lunch will be provided. Our speaker is Haley Heskett: Haley is the Operations Manager and Community Outreach Director for MaxLiving Chiropractic in Columbia, South Carolina. Over the past five years, she has served in multiple leadership roles within the organization, beginning at the corporate level where she assisted in training new doctors and supporting the opening of chiropractic offices across the country. For the past two years, […]

This presentation will cover a very important topic: preventing skin infections and cellulitis. Abrasions, cuts, or other trauma to the skin can lead to infections, cellulitis, and even sepsis. It is important to understand proper care when this occurs so that infections can be avoided. People with movement disorders like Parkinson’s Disease are at risk of falling and their skin being cut or scraped, these injuries can become infected. There are ways to easily mitigate the chance of infection from skin pathology, which we will cover today. When you have a chronic or progressive illness, being admitted to a healthcare facility, a hospital or rehabilitation facility, isn’t unusual. This puts you at risk for developing healthcare-acquired infections (HAIs), most frequently, infections such as MRSA and C. difficile. Will Harmon is a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), and a graduate of the University of South Carolina and the Medical University of South Carolina. He has been practicing physical therapy for 25 years. He and his son Kirk, also a DPT, own and operate Trek Physical Therapy & Assistive Applied Sciences in Irmo, SC. In his spare time, he is a car and truck enthusiast, a nature lover, and resides in Lexington […]