March 13: National RD Day

On March 13, we recognize National Registered Dietitian Day, a time to celebrate the vital role RDNs play in improving patient health and wellness, especially for those living with complex neurological conditions.

At the Fixel Institute, nutrition is an essential part of our interdisciplinary approach to care. Our Nutrition Program supports individuals with conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, ALS, and Lewy body dementia, helping them navigate symptoms like difficulty swallowing, weight loss, and medication-nutrient interactions through evidence-based dietary guidance.

👩‍⚕️ Meet Emily Truscott, MS, RD, LD

Since joining Fixel in August 2024, Emily Truscott has more than doubled patient consultations and continues to lead impactful initiatives across the nutrition program. As a registered dietitian nutritionist, Emily provides personalized, disease-specific dietary strategies to improve patient outcomes and support brain and body health.

Emily is also the author of Fixel’s nutrition blog, offering insights on everything from managing appetite loss to building brain-healthy meals.

March 29th: 23rd Annual Parkinson's Symposium

Join us this year for our 23rd Annual Parkinson’s Disease Symposium for patients, caregivers and healthcare providers. 

March 29, 2025
9:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

This year, we are excited to have Ray Dorsey, M.D., M.B.A. as our headlining guest speaker. Dr. Dorsey is a professor of neurology and director of the Center for Human Experimental Therapeutics at the University of Rochester Medical Center. Dr. Dorsey has used telemedicine to improve care for individuals with Parkinson’s disease. His research has been published in the leading neurology, medical, and economic journals. He has also been featured on NPR, the Wall Street Journal, and New York Times. He is one of the authors of the popular Ending Parkinson’s Disease book and co-author of the much anticipated The Parkinson’s Plan.

Attend in-person or virtually

Free lunch included for in-person attendees who register.

To register, you must either email Amanda Fessenden or call her at 352.733.2431

March 31: Distinguished Professor Lecture with Laura Ranum

Fixel Insittute member, Dr. Laura Ranum will be giving the upcoming Distinguished Professor Lecture. 

Repeating themes and therapeutic opportunities in genetics and neurologic disease 

March 31st @ 2:00 p.m.

McKnight Brain Institute (MBI) DeWeese Auditorium & available via Livestream

With Dr. Laura Ranum

Distinguished Professor, Director – Center for NeuroGenetics, Professor – Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Member – UF Genetics Institute

Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology

College of Medicine

View the live stream, flyer, and recording here.

April is PD Awareness Month

Parkinson's Disease Awareness month is right around the corner in April and World Parkinson's Day is April 11th. 

Parkinson’s Awareness Month is the perfect time to brush up on Parkinson’s facts.

Here are 5 fast facts about PD:

1. Nearly 90,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with Parkinson’s each year.

2. Scientists believe a combination of environmental and genetic factors cause PD.

3. People with Parkinson’s experience both movement and non-movement related symptoms.

4. Symptoms can be managed through treatments like medications, lifestyle changes, exercise and in some cases, surgery.

5. Early-onset Parkinson’s disease occurs in people younger than 50 years of age.

ICI Homes for Hope gives $52.5K gift

The Fixel Institute recently received a $52,500 gift from ICI Homes for Hope, part of a $210,000 charitable initiative made possible through the sale of a home in the Oakmont neighborhood. This donation will support the institute’s mission to deliver patient-centered care and innovative research for neurological conditions.