Our Story
The Movement Disorders Foundation of Arizona started by setting up quarterly educational events for people living with Parkinson's. Shortly afterwards, the benefits of Deep Brain Stimulation for Parkinson's were quickly recognized to be highly beneficial, and seminars about DBS were quickly added to the Foundation's activities.
Unfortunately with the COVID pandemic, attendance to face-to-face events and seminars sharply declined. And while the need for education and care for Parkinson's were ever growing, it was realized that remote meetings online would be an essential tool for the Foundation's activities. Zoom became the preferred meeting app and is still in use today in the Foundation.
Seeing also the potential wider reach with these online tools, MDFA started to focus its efforts in creating programs and events designed around remote meetings Utilizing these, the Foundation's reach with regards to ongoing education for Parkinson's quickly spread. Along with a robust Arizona presence, participation in these events quickly rose in the United States - and shortly thereafter, a very active global audience was found.
Fast forward to today, the Foundation's events extended to online weekly boxing classes and webinars on novel alternative treatments like the Vibrating Glove and Deep Brain Stimulation. In-person events have also made a return in the form of hybrid events, which combine both in-person and online participation. With these events, we hope to see more participants in the near future.
But none of these would come to fruition if it wasn't for the people living with movement disorders and Parkinson's disease, their friends and families, their sympathizers and supporters. Huge thanks also to the vendor partners and sponsors who also play a huge part in their care, and are vital for the continuance of the Foundation's activities.
educational events
& webinars
participants served
A Message from our Executive Director
The Movement Disorders Foundation of Arizona started to assist patients in pursuing wellness while living with movement disorders, such as Parkinson's disease, Dystonia, Huntington's disease, essential tremor and others. MDFA's main goal is to help provide patients and their caregiver\'s educational programs to stay informed on the latest therapies and management options.
I would like to thank all of those who support MDFA with this mission and those who participate in this community. Our education programs have helped MDFA reach and support many people touched by movement disorders. Please do not hesitate to reach out to MDFA with any questions or inquiries.
Board Members
Julie Sievert
President of the Board
Julie brings over twenty-five years of management experience working within Fortune 500 companies. For twenty years, Julie worked for American Express in several facets of call center management, including at the Director level. Prior to that she worked in management in both Marriott and Sheraton hotels.
Julie holds an MBA degree from Arizona State University and a BS from the University of Houston.
Patrick Klein
Vice President
Patrick brings over 40 years of management experience working for a large international construction firm. His career took him across the US and Canada in numerous positions. In the last ten years of employment he served as an educator, trainer, mentor to sales and pre-construction teams. Patrick served on the Board of the Design-Build Institute of America. Since retirement he has served on several not-for-profit national and international associations and institutions. He has a degree in Construction Engineering from Iowa State University.
Timothy J Windle
Secretary / Treasurer
Tim has over 30 years of experience addressing a broad range of legal needs of a group of international transportation and logistics companies. In the last 14 years of his employment, he served as Vice President & General Counsel for the Americas Region.
Tim has also been a trustee of a number of multi-employer pension and benefit plans and served as a director of an independent, not-for-profit association focused on international trade. He has degrees from the University of California, Berkeley (BA) and UCLA School of Law (JD).
Dr. Virgilio Gerald H. Evidente
Medical Advisor / Member of the Board
Dr. Evidente is the current director of Movement Disorders Center of Arizona. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Neurology, and a member of the Movement Disorders Society.
Dr. Evidente is a frequent presenter and invited lecturer at national and international conferences and symposiums, and has served as a principal investigator and co investigator of numerous clinical trials regarding treatment for Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders.
Dr. Jesus Villanueva
Member of the Board
De La Salle University
Dasmarinas Cavite
Doctor of Medicine, Surgery 1989
Mercy Catholic Medical Center
Darby, Pennsylvania
Internal Medicine, 1993
Baptist Medical Center
Talladega, AL
Staff Physician, 1993-1996
Executive Medical Specialists
Myrtle Beach, SC
Staff Physician, 1996-1998
Veterans Affairs Medical Clinic
Myrtle Beach, SC
Staff Physician, 1998-2002
to Better Health