Dance as Medicine: Allegheny Health Network’s Neuroscience Institute Launches Dance for Parkinson’s Program

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - Allegheny Health Network (AHN) today announced the launch of the Cahouet New Patient Symposium, a first-of-its-kind program designed to transform how patients and families experience a new Parkinson's disease diagnosis.

At the heart of the symposium is "Dance for Parkinson's," an innovative, research-backed movement class that uses music and choreography to help patients improve mobility, balance and overall quality of life.

While specialized dance classes for people living with Parkinson's aren't novel, the AHN dance program is unique in that it's being led by the patients' neurologist, Sushma Kola, MD - who also happens to be a lifelong dancer.

Dr. Kola is certified as a Parkinson's dance instructor, through a training program developed by the Mark Morris Dance Group and accredited by the Parkinson's Foundation.

"Dance allows patients to move in ways that feel natural and fluid, often bypassing some of the movement barriers caused by Parkinson's," said Dr. Kola, a movement disorders neurologist and Director of Integrative Neurosciences at AHN's Neuroscience Institute.

"Music provides rhythmic cues that help the brain initiate and sustain movement, and choreography engages both the body and mind. It is not just exercise, it is therapy, community, and expression all at once."

The dance class, part of the larger half-day symposium, is held monthly at AHN.

The Cahouet New Patient Symposium offers newly diagnosed Parkinson's patients and their care partners a comprehensive and supportive introduction to the disease, while emphasizing movement as medicine.

The program is offered through the AHN Cahouet Center for Comprehensive Parkinson's Care, which was founded by the late Frank V. Cahouet, a former corporate executive and Allegheny Health Network board member who lived with Parkinson's disease. Inspired by his personal journey, the center is dedicated to delivering compassionate, multidisciplinary care and innovative programming for individuals and families navigating Parkinson's.

The launch of the program comes during Parkinson's Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising understanding of the disease and advancing care for those affected.

Parkinson's disease is a progressive nervous system disorder that affects movement and is caused by a loss of dopamine, a brain chemical responsible for controlling movement and contributing to feelings of pleasure. It is the second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer's and affects nearly 1 million Americans.

The Cahouet New Patient Symposium brings together clinical expertise, education and community support in a single, coordinated experience. Participants receive several services including one-on-one physician evaluations, baseline neurological assessments, Parkinson's education sessions, physical and speech therapy screenings, nurse-led support groups, access to clinical trial enrollment opportunities and movement therapy.

Through the dance session, patients also engage in music-guided exercises that promote coordination, flexibility, posture and balance. The use of rhythm and choreography also supports cognitive function, memory and focus.

Dr. Kola brings a rare combination of clinical and artistic expertise to Parkinson's care. In addition to fellowship training in movement disorders and integrative medicine, she has a lifelong background in dance, with formal training in Indian and Latin dance styles, competitive performance experience and leadership as a collegiate dance team captain.

Dr. Kola is believed to be the first physician nationally to combine fellowship training in movement disorders and integrative medicine with formal Dance for Parkinson's certification and a professional-level dance background.

"The response from patients has been overwhelmingly positive," Dr. Kola said. "They tell us they feel less isolated, more empowered and more hopeful. That is exactly what we want to achieve from day one of their diagnosis."

The Cahouet New Patient Symposium is held on the third Friday of each month, with two sessions offered per day. Each symposium session hosts small groups of patients along with their support partners, creating an intimate environment for personalized care and meaningful connection. Classes will be expanded in the future and made available to all patients, ensuring broader access to these valuable resources.

"Being diagnosed with Parkinson's can feel overwhelming, but programs like this remind patients they are not alone," said Don Whiting, MD, Chair of the AHN Neuroscience Institute. "By combining education, clinical care and innovative therapies like dance classes, we are redefining what comprehensive, patient-centered care looks like, starting at the very beginning of the journey."