I was diagnosed with PD in the summer of 2022 but had been experiencing symptoms for many years before that. At first, I was shocked and felt alone. This changed once I met with my PD mentor. He was the first person with Parkinson’s that I talked to, and it was a great relief to realize that I was not alone in my experiences, struggles, and anxieties. What he told me about his path helped me find my way, and I am so thankful for that. I hope to give the same to my mentees. I enjoy talking with others about their PD journeys, listening, and sharing my own experiences. I look forward to meeting you in an informal setting in North County in person.

I have been happily married for 34 years. We have two wonderful children that fill us with joy. Before my retirement in 2022, I was a scientist at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla, studying the role of plankton in the ecosystems of the world’s oceans.