Mission Statement
Parkinson Foundation Western Pennsylvania provides services, support and education for those living with Parkinson disease and their families.
Our Values
Excellence: We strive to achieve outstanding results by listening and learning from the Parkinson’s community.
Team Work: We bring together and embrace different perspectives, skills and knowledge.
Collaboration: We partner with a diverse group of stakeholders who share our purpose and urgency.
Integrity: We are honest, accountable and transparent with each other and with the people we represent to achieve our mission.
Positivity: We lead with optimism and always work to find solutions to problems.
Dedication: We are honored to do this important work and approach each day with a renewed focus until all those affected by Parkinson’s have access to the care they need and a cure is discovered.
Responsiveness: We build relationships through trust in order to meet and support the needs of people living with Parkinson’s and their families.
Staff
Christine Haythorn
Executive Director and CEO
Casey Peluso, LPC
VP, Programs and Outreach
Lauren O’Neil
VP, Marketing and Design
Beth Appanaitis
VP, Operations
Diane Balcom
VP, Fund Resources
Wesley Johnson
Director, Awareness and Community Engagement
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Amber VanLaar, M.D., President
SVP of Global Clinical Development for Asklepios Bio Pharmaceuticals (AskBio)
Edwin H. Beachler III, Esq., Co-Chair
Retired Attorney, Caroselli, Beachler, & Coleman, LLC
Jennifer Rose, Esq., Vice President
Attorney, Julian Gray Associates
Josiah Hoffman, Treasurer
President, Wealth Manager, & CCO, Hoffman Capital Advisors LLC
Shelley Queiser, Secretary
Director, Medical Sales, Medtronic
Susan Cruz
Financial Advisor, Merrill Lynch
Timothy Leichliter, MD
Physician, Allegheny Health Network
Ambrose Murray
Consultant and former ED, Extra Mile Education Foundation
Shelly Sargent
RN, UPMC Washington
Lisa Shaner
Technical Sales Specialist
MEDICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Susan M. Baser, MD
Medical Director of Spasticity and Movement Disorder, West Penn Allegheny Healthy System
Sarah Berman, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor of Neurology & Principal Investigator, University of Pittsburgh
YOUNG LEADERSHIP BOARD
Emily Bayer
Senior Account Manager, Hacker Agency
Jennifer Bittel Derby
Associate Attorney, Tucker Arensberg
Nicolina DiNardi
Senior Electrophysiology-Technical Service Specialist, Abbott
Shannon Mincemoyer
Associate Attorney, Reed Smith
Laura Teschke, PT, DPT
Physical Therapist, River Therapies
Courtney Williamson
CEO and Founder, AbiliLife
Parkinson Foundation Western Pennsylvania (PFWPA) is pleased to be a member of Independent Parkinson’s Network (IPN), a consortium formed with the shared goals of finding a cure for Parkinson’s and supporting those who live with the disease. IPN encourages collaboration, leverages organizational strengths and maximizes efficiency within its member organizations, which include Parkinson Association of the Rockies, Parkinson Foundation of Oklahoma, Houston Area Parkinson Society, Michigan Parkinson Foundation, Southwest Parkinson Society, Northwest Parkinson’s Foundation, Parkinson Association of the Carolinas, Parkinson’s Association of San Diego, Parkinson’s Resources of Oregon, Parkinson Association of Alabama and Dallas Area Parkinson Society, and Houston Area Parkinson’s Society.
The creation of IPN formalized a collaboration that began in 2009 between the Parkinson Foundation and several independent regional nonprofit organizations, who became the founding members of the Alliance of Independent Regional Parkinson Organizations (AIRPO). This partnership allowed AIRPO to grow significantly over the years and in 2021, after many years of support from the Parkinson’s Foundation and rebranded to Independent Parkinson’s Network (IPN) in 2022 and now functions as a stand-alone collaborative group.
PFWPA is a proud member of IPN, accessing the many benefits of shared resources and perspectives from prominent and innovative Parkinson’s organizations from across the country. By expanding communication on a national scale, we are devoted to adopting new ideas and treatments generated through IPN and will continue to provide the latest services and programs to help people affected by the disease. IPN provides the opportunity to collaborate with our peers around the country who are also providing valuable services to their local Parkinson’s communities.
To be accepted to IPN, members must be able to demonstrate their credentials as independent nonprofit organizations by offering programs and direct services to their local community that aim to improve quality of life and daily living to those living with Parkinson’s or caring for a loved one with Parkinson’s. Nonprofit organizations that are interested in learning about IPN should fill out a contact form online: parkinsonsnetwork.com
PFWPA is a proud member of The Michael J. Fox Foundation’s Unified Parkinson’s Advocacy Council (UPAC). Comprising representatives from local, state, regional and national Parkinson’s organizations, UPAC members gather information on the priorities of people with Parkinson’s and their families, helping to ensure the needs of the broader Parkinson’s community are represented in our collective public policy efforts. UPAC sends letters to policymakers when relevant bills or federal rules are being debated and encourages Parkinson’s constituencies across the country to advocate.
UPAC’s approach follows the work of the Parkinson’s Action Network (PAN). From 1991 to 2016, PAN served as the unified voice of the Parkinson’s community on public policy and advocacy issues. PAN represented patients and loved ones on Capitol Hill and worked, with input from other Parkinson’s organizations, to positively impact research and health care policy. In June 2016, PAN closed its doors and transitioned key staff and programs to MJFF.