Joining forces.VA and Parkinson Foundation form alliance THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS and the National Parkinson Foundation (NPF NPF National Park Foundation NPF Norton Personal Firewall NPF National Parkinson Foundation NPF National Pain Foundation (Englewood, Colorado) NPF National Psoriasis Foundation NPF National Pro Fastpitch NPF Network Processing Forum ) have teamed up to establish the National Parkinson Foundation--Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Affairs is a term of the business that deals with the relation between a government and its veteran communities, usually administered by the designated government agency. Alliance to Cure Parkinson's Disease Parkinson's disease or Parkinsonism, degenerative brain disorder first described by the English surgeon James Parkinson in 1817. When there is no known cause, the disease usually appears after age 40 and is referred to as Parkinson's disease. . The alliance was formed in response to language in last year's VA appropriations bill, which called for more attention toward its veterans suffering from Parkinson's disease. Representatives from the two organizations signed a memorandum of understanding A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is a legal document describing a bilateral or multilateral agreement between parties. It expresses a convergence of will between the parties, indicating an intended common line of action and may not imply a legal commitment. at an official ceremony June 1 at the VA headquarters in Washington, D.C. The alliance will provide continuing medical education continuing medical education See CME. training for VA physicians treating patients with Parkinson's disease, says Lawrence Hoffheimer, Washington counsel for the NPF. It will also develop symposia sym·po·si·a n. A plural of symposium. to inform VA medical personnel, scientists, and policy makers about new Parkinson's research and disseminate public information on Parkinson's research and treatment programs in the VA. In addition, the two groups will collaborate in fostering research into new therapies that will lead to improved treatments and eventually the cure for Parkinson's disease. "This working agreement marks the beginning of a constructive alliance between a federal agency and a private voluntary health foundation," said Nathan Slewett, chairman of the National Parkinson Foundation board of directors, in a written statement. "It offers real hope to solving the remaining medical mysteries of Parkinson's disease, as well as improving the treatment of Parkinson patients who are a part of the Veterans' Health Service." |
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