In this final episode of season 6, Brian Grant and his mother, Dorella Grant talk about their time at Camp Lejeune, a U.S. Marine Corps base. And the ongoing battle for accountability and justice for those affected by military environmental exposures. Then, Ted Thompson with the Michael J. Fox Foundation discusses major policy advancements and the role of advocacy in driving legislative change.

In this episode we hear from Dr. Sara Whittingham, a USAF Veteran, physician, Ironman triathlete, wife and mother. In 2020, she was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. She has become a vocal advocate for Veterans who have been denied benefits despite known exposure to chemicals linked to Parkinson's disease.

About Dr. Sara Whittingham

Sara Whittingham is a USAF Veteran, physician, Ironman triathlete, wife and mother. In 2020, she was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Since her diagnosis, Sara has been on a wild journey that has taken her from dealing with anxiety and depression in the year following the diagnosis to the finish lines of the 2023 Ironman Hawaii World Championships, the 2024 Boston marathon and the 2024 US Paralympic track and field trials.

Sara is passionate about educating and inspiring others about the power and importance of exercise in managing Parkinson's disease. She has also become a vocal advocate for the 5000+ Post 9/11 Veterans who have applied for VA disability benefits for Parkinson's disease, thousands of whom have been denied benefits despite having served in Iraq and Afghanistan near active burn pits, living and working on military bases with known contaminated water supplies and working in industrial shops using toxic solvents and chemicals known to be linked to Parkinson's disease. She is on a mission to ensure these veterans get the care and benefits they deserve.

Parkinsonz: PD with Zest and Zeal - A site by Sara Whittingham MD to inspire and educate those affected by Parkinson's Disease.

In this episode we get the historical context and regulatory challenges surrounding pesticide use with researcher Dr. Caroline Tanner, Director of the Parkinson’s Disease Research, Education and Clinical Center. Then, retired lawyer, Dan Kinel, shares his journey with Parkinson’s, his story of Trichloroethylene (TCE) exposure working for years in downtown New York, and his work in patient advocacy.

About Dr. Caroline Tanner

Dr. Tanner is the Director of the Parkinson’s Disease Research, Education and Clinical Center (PADRECC) at the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center. For more than 25 years, her research and clinical practice have been directed toward understanding the causes of Parkinson’s disease and to developing better treatments. Her many studies include military service-related exposures and PD risk in Camp Lejeune.

About Dan Kinel

Dan Kinel is a retired partner at a law firm that was located next to a contaminated site where an environmental assessment found that the surrounding soil was contaminated with TCE, PCE, and other chemicals. Since being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2013, he has become deeply involved in patient advocacy and believes in the power of personal face-to-face connections in fighting PD.