Stony Brook Medicine Receives National American Parkinson Disease Association Grant to Enhance Parkinson’s Care and Support Services

STONY BROOK, NY, April 7, 2026- Stony Brook Medicine's Parkinson's Centers, which include the Parkinson's and Movement Disorders Center at Stony Brook University Hospital (SBUH) and the Center of Parkinson's Disease at Stony Brook Southampton Hospital (SBSH), are the recipients of a two-year Information and Referral Center Innovative Project Award totaling $150,000 from the American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA). This national grant recognizes Stony Brook Medicine's commitment to advancing innovative, community-centered care for people living with Parkinson's disease (PD) and their care partners.

"This award reflects the incredible dedication and innovation of our teams," said Dr. Guy Schwartz, Director of the Stony Brook Parkinson's and Movement Disorders Center and the Medical Director for grant programming. "We currently support over 600 patients annually, and this funding allows us to broaden our reach, strengthen partnerships, and deliver meaningful support to individuals and families affected by Parkinson's across Long Island and beyond."

Parkinson's is the second-most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer's disease, with men 1.5 times more likely to have PD than women. While the incidence of PD increases with age, an estimated 4% of people with PD are diagnosed before age 50. The American Parkinson Disease Association approximates that there are 1 million people in the United States living with PD and that 90,000 people are diagnosed each year.

"Stony Brook Southampton Hospital's Center for Parkinson's Disease has annually served approximately 350 participants in person and more than 1,000 participants virtually," said Sarah Cohen, PT, DPT, Administrator of the Center. "This level of participation underscores the growing regional demand for accessible programs, education and support."

The APDA has continuously funded programs through SBSH and SBUH Centers since 2018, including:

• Sing Loud for PD, a weekly SBSH virtual group attracting over 100 PD singers each week from 43 states and nine countries;
• Paint at the Parrish Art Museum (Watermill, LI), a SBSH arts program for those living with PD and their caregivers;
• A 2025 APDA-supported Care Partner Symposium at Stony Brook Southampton, attended by 33 PD care partners for a day of education, wellness and connection;
• A 2025 APDA Community Grant supporting the launch of an in-person PD exercise class near Stony Brook University Hospital.

This new award will allow Stony Brook Medicine's interdisciplinary Parkinson's teams to grow programs, expand care partner services, reinforce clinical-community integration across the region, enhance outreach, add additional classes to SBSH's programs and further deepen Stony Brook Medicine's partnership with HOPEFitness, an independent organization dedicated to making fitness accessible for all abilities.

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About Stony Brook Medicine:

Stony Brook Medicine integrates and elevates all of Stony Brook University's health-related initiatives: education, research and patient care. It includes five Health Sciences schools - Renaissance School of Medicine, School of Dental Medicine, School of Health Professions, School of Nursing and School of Social Welfare - as well as Stony Brook University Hospital, Stony Brook Southampton Hospital, Stony Brook Eastern Long Island Hospital, Stony Brook Children's Hospital, Stony Brook East Hampton Emergency Department and more than 200 community-based healthcare settings throughout Suffolk County. To learn more, visit https://www.stonybrookmedicine.edu.

About Stony Brook Southampton Hospital (SBSH)

With 120 beds, Stony Brook Southampton Hospital (SBSH) is staffed by more than 280 physicians, dentists, and allied health professionals representing 48 medical specialties. SBSH offers a diverse array of clinical services, ranging from primary medical care to specialized surgical procedures, including cardiac catheterization, orthopedics and bariatrics. The sole provider of emergency care on Long Island's South Fork, Stony Brook Southampton Hospital is a designated Level III Trauma Center and primary stroke center. The hospital includes the Stony Brook East Hampton Emergency Department, The Phillips Family Cancer Center, a Heart and Stroke Center, Breast Health Center, The Center for Advanced Wound Healing, Wellness Institute, and 32 satellite care centers throughout the South Fork of Long Island. The hospital is the largest employer on the South Fork with more than 1,200 employees. To learn more, visit https://www.southampton.stonybrookmedicine.edu.

About the American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA)

The APDA is the largest grassroots network dedicated to fighting Parkinson's disease and improving lives through support, education, and research. Since 1961, the APDA has invested over $255 million in programs and research to help every person impacted by Parkinson's live life to the fullest. https://www.apdaparkinson.org/.