Dr. Tinatin Chabrashvili – Professor of Neurology at SUNY Upstate Medical University Department of Neurology
Dr. Tinatin Chabrashvili was recently appointed Professor of Neurology at SUNY Upstate Medical University Department of Neurology. In addition to teaching responsibilities, Dr. Chabrashvili will be involved in research in the Neuroscience Program and serving patients in the Movement Disorders Clinic. Her specialties and certifications are in neurology, behavioral neurology, and movement disorders neurology. Dr. Chabrashvili comes to Upstate from Tufts Medical Center/Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston. She is a graduate of Tbilisi State Medical School in the Georgia, Russia and earned her PhD at the Institute of Neurology at the Russian Academy of Medical Science focusing on Parkinson’s Disease and Huntington’s Chorea. Subsequently, she completed the Fellowships in movement disorders at the Institute of Neurology at the Russian Academy of Medical Science and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders & Stroke at the National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD. Her research focus is on the characterization of novel mechanisms for death of dopaminergic neurons in a mouse model for Parkinson’s disease and novel biomarker initiative in patients with Parkinson’s disease. In 2008, she completed the Residency at Emory University School of Medicine. Her work has been recognized with several honors and awards: Gold Medal for Excellence – Education Ministry of Georgia (Russia), Fogarty International Fellowship – National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD 6th Annual Astra Zeneca Young Cardiovascular Investigator Meeting – Montreal, Sellie Mae Young Investigator Award – National Kidney Foundation. The Parkinson’s community looks forward to the expertise and support Dr. Chabrashvili will bring to the CNY Parkinson’s community.
Dr. Ray Dorsey Professor of Neurology and Director of the Center for Health & Technology at the University of Rochester.
Dr. Ray Dorsey is the David M. Levy Professor of Neurology and Director of the Center for Health + Technology at the University of Rochester. The Center seeks to provide care and research opportunities to anyone anywhere. Ray and his colleagues have written Ending Parkinson’s Disease, a book that provides a prescription for ending this debilitating condition.
Ray previously directed the movement disorders division and neurology telemedicine at Johns Hopkins and worked as a consultant for McKinsey & Company. His research has been published in leading medical, neurology, and economic journals and has been featured on National Public Radio, in The New York Times, and in The Wall Street Journal. In 2015, the White House recognized him as a “Champion for Change” for Parkinson’s disease.
Jill Weldum, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Jill Weldum, LMFT, has volunteered with empower Parkinson for two years in the gym providing encouragement. She also facilitates support group meetings for boxers and care partners and occasionally teaches Tai Chi. She feels blessed to be part of the community!
Chaya Lee Charles Registered Dietitian Nutritionist
Chaya Lee Charles is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist with over ten years of experience working with the aging population in Central New York. She is a Board-Certified Specialist in Gerontological Nutrition with a passion for using food as medicine.