- Winter 2004 -

Crusading for Dignity

NYIT’s New York College of Osteopathic Medicine (NYCOM) recently hosted a special awards ceremony to honor the remarkable efforts of a woman who assists those afflicted with Parkinson’s disease.

Debbie Harrison was awarded the prestigious Sidney Dorros Memorial Award, which recognizes the efforts of individuals who have made outstanding contributions, on a local level, to bettering the lives of those who suffer from Parkinson’s disease. The award was bestowed by NYCOM’s American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) Information and Referral Center. Eileen Giannetti, coordinator of the APDA at NYCOM, nominated Harrison for the honor.

Harrison has run the “Young At Heart” Parkinson’s support group that meets once a month at the North Shore University Hospital in Syosset for eight years. Her energy and dedication transformed a small, faltering gathering into one of the most successful support groups in the region. She also mails a newsletter to over 300 people every month.

Parkinson’s Disease is a progressive disorder of the central nervous system. It causes rigidity, affects movement and creates difficulty balancing and walking for those who suffer from it. More than 1.5 million people in the U.S. are affected by this disease, with more than 70,000 new cases reported each year, according to Joel Gerstel, executive director of the APDA. The disease has no cure.

NYIT’s APDA Information and Referral Center deals with these issues daily and helps countless patients and their caregivers understand more about their disease and receive the treatment they need.

NYIT also operates the Adele Smithers Parkinson’s Disease Treatment Center, which offers physical therapy, strength training and osteopathic manipulation to its patients. The innovative center, located at NYIT’s Old Westbury, N.Y., campus, features biomechanical evaluation computer analysis of a patient’s gait, balance and posture. The analysis enables physicians to design a customized treatment program for each patient.

The Sidney Dorros Memorial Award was named after a legendary Parkinson’s pioneer who volunteered as a research subject at the National Institute of Health after his diagnosis. Dorros also founded the first local support group in the U.S., the Parkinsonian Society of Greater Washington, which serves as a model for hundreds of support groups throughout the country.

Harrison, this year’s winner, organizes a Parkinson’s support group that that meets once a month at the North Shore University Hospital in Syosset, N.Y. Meetings are held from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on the fourth Sunday of the month in the hospital cafeteria.

“I feel these meetings should be special,” she says. “Like a party. A place for those who suffer from this disease, as well as their caregivers, who often need information and support too.”

Debbie’s own experiences with Parkinson’s disease prompted her to form the group. “I was diagnosed with the disease early—a so-called young onset,” she states. “I looked for a support group I could relate to, but only found them for older people. Half of the people attending were either asleep or in wheelchairs.”

“It is impossible to quantify how many lives Debbie has enhanced,” says Giannetti. “I have never known anyone who matches Debbie’s enthusiasm and energy level. She truly embodies the gallant spirit of Mr. Dorros and propagates his generous legacy.”

For more information about Parkinson’s disease, to receive free literature or to obtain referrals to local support groups, please contact Eileen Giannetti at the APDA Information and Referral Center, NYCOM/NYIT (516) 626-6114. Further information about Parkinson’s disease can also be found at www.apdaparkinson.org.