Parkinson’s Foundation Opens Fellowship Program for Nurses Seeking Specialty

The Parkinson’s Foundation has established a first Parkinson’s Nurse Fellowship program in the U.S., offering one year of training and support to working nurses who want to specialize in treating people with this progressive disease.

Applications are being accepted through Feb. 20 for the fellowship, worth up to $95,000 each, from registered nurses or those with a bachelor of science in nursing who have at least five years of experience and are interested in a career in Parkinson’s disease (PD) care and research.

The four fellows selected will be notified by March 10, the foundation announced in a press release.

They will undergo a yearlong training and mentoring at one of two sites: Oregon Health & Science University in Portland,  and the Struther’s Parkinson’s Center in Minneapolis.  Each is a Parkinson’s Centers of Excellence, a global network of 48 clinical centers recognized for their high quality of care for those with this disease.

“We recognize the crucial role that nurses play in caring for people with Parkinson’s disease,” said John L. Lehr, president and CEO of the Parkinson’s Foundation. “From ensuring medications are administered on time to supporting the transitions of care, they are consistently on the front lines of the PD community.

“This fellowship provides them with a unique training opportunity to enter the Parkinson’s space equipped with knowledge and first-hand research experience.”

Each fellow will be assigned a mentor to guide their learning about Parkinson’s. Awardees will also receive clinical training, and be expected to identify and design a research project.

Following the fellowship, fellows will be given a $50,000 grant to pursue and complete their research project.

Applicants should expect to work in the United States after finishing their fellowship.

“With this fellowship opportunity, we want to build a community of Parkinson’s nurse experts who not only know how to offer the best treatment possible for people with Parkinson’s, but also contribute to research on Parkinson’s and the roles nurses play,” said Eli Pollard, the foundation’s vice president, and chief training and education officer.

More information about this fellowship program is available here.

An estimated 1 million people in the United States are living with PD.