Recognized for excellence in care and research by the Parkinson’s Foundation
Contact: Eileen Teves, 210-450-7239, tevese@uthscsa.edu
SAN ANTONIO, Feb. 22, 2024 – The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio) will be recognized for its newest designation as the Parkinson’s Foundation Comprehensive Care Center on Saturday, Feb. 24.
A plaque presentation acknowledging the designation will take place at the Academic Learning and Teaching Center (ALTC).
A team of specialists from UT Health San Antonio’s Movement Disorders Program will receive the recognition, happening on the same day as the program’s inaugural symposium. The designation is unique to the area, and it is the first of its kind in the state of Texas.
“We are honored to have this designation from the Parkinson’s Foundation,” said Okeanis Vaou, MD, associate professor and director of the movement disorders program in the Department of Neurology, Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine. “We are committed to serving the community with the latest in treatments and research. The designation is a salute to our dedication and expertise, and it empowers us to enhance our services, expand research initiatives and strengthen community outreach efforts.”
In July of 2023, the Parkinson’s Foundation announced the expansion of the Global Care Network, adding four centers of Excellence and four Comprehensive Care Centers throughout the country. The announcement included UT Health San Antonio’s designation in the latter category. The expansion recognizes those Centers for providing excellent care to people with Parkinson’s disease within a broad geographic region. Each center is required to meet rigorous care, professional training, community education and outreach criteria.
UT Health San Antonio’s Movement Disorders Program is led by a team of board-certified, fellowship-trained neuroscience experts who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders. Together, the team of experts consult and collaborate to create an effective treatment plan specifically tailored for patients to help with symptoms and improve their lives.
The central priority of the Parkinson’s Foundation is to ensure people with Parkinson’s disease can obtain the care they need to improve their health and quality of life.
According to the Parkinson’s Foundation, about 90,000 Americans are diagnosed with Parkinson’s each year. It is the second-most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer’s. The number of people with Parkinson’s is expected to increase in the next 20 years due to our growing population.
Parkinson’s is often gradual and progresses over time. Some symptoms may include shaking or tremors, slow movement, stiffness and balance issues. It is typically diagnosed after age 60, but people under 50 can also have Parkinson’s.
To learn more about UT Health San Antonio’s Movement Disorder Program, visit uthealthcare.org/parkinsons or call the center at 210-450-9700.
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio) is one of the country’s leading health science universities and is designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution by the U.S. Department of Education. With missions of teaching, research, patient care and community engagement, its schools of medicine, nursing, dentistry, health professions, graduate biomedical sciences and public health have graduated more than 42,200 alumni who are leading change, advancing their fields and renewing hope for patients and their families throughout South Texas and the world. To learn about the many ways “We make lives better®,” visit UTHealthSA.org.
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