This newsletter is published six times a year. Articles published in this newsletter are solely for your information and should not be relied on as medical advice. Parkinson’s Resources of Oregon 8880 SW Nimbus Ave Ste B Beaverton, OR 97008
PERSPECTIVES PROvider PROfile
pg 1
Communication Skills
pg 2
Support Group Updates
pg 3
Calendar of Events
pg 4
Sole Support
pg 5
Your Best Step Forward
pg 6
Group Meetings
pg 7
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THE PARKINSON’S PERSPECTIVE Newsletter Volume 38, Issue 4
July/Augustr 2018
Serving OR and S. WA
PROVIDER PROFILE Meet Sukhee So Chinn
The time is right to reintroduce our PROvider PROfile column. There are so many reasons that living here in the Pacific NW is grand; wonderful outdoors, temperate climate, good food, etc. For people living with PD, part of what makes this region special includes all the people working behind the scenes to support and improve quality of life and understanding of Parkinson’s disease. If you would like to nominate a special provider for a future profile, please send an email to: info@ parkinsonsresources.org.
Contact Us info@parkinsonsresources.org toll-free: (800) 426-6806
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PROVIDER PROFILE (continued from page 1)
Meet Sukhee! Sukhee is a Physical Therapist who works at Kaiser Permanente in Portland and is also a volunteer for PRO programs and events.
college at Willamette University. After I graduated, I taught English in Korea for a year. It took me a while to figure out that I wanted to go into physical therapy. Once I decided, I moved to the east coast and attended Boston University for PT school. Oddly enough, I landed back in Portland for my last internship at Kaiser and have stayed there since I graduated which was 8 years ago! What does it mean to you volunteer with PRO? I feel very fortunate to be a PT and grateful for the people who have helped me get through PT school. My faith, coaches, mentors, my parents, friend’s parents, and friends. They shaped who I am today. I made a promise to myself that when I graduated PT, I wanted JULY/AUG 2018
Sukhee & PRO hikes from last fall to give back in any way I can with my degree. I didn’t know what that would look like 8 years ago when I called PRO and asked how I can be involved. Join us on one of Sukhee’s hikes this summer (up next on July 8th and August 8th). Registration at www.pro. MORE INFO! (800) 426-6806 - WWW.PARKINSONSRESOURCES.ORG
eventbrite.com. Live in Lane County? Contact our office there to connect with the local PD walking group! Are you interested in starting a hiking group in your community? Contact Melissa for guidelines and details.
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What experience led you to explore physical therapy as a career? I always wanted to go into health care; helping others has always been my thing. When I graduated from college, I was planning to attend nursing school. However, after I spent a year teaching in Korea, I thought about going into education/teaching. After going on a mission trip to Uzbekistan with my church in 2005, the idea of physical therapy got planted in my head. It was the perfect combination of helping others in the health field and education!
JULY/AUG 2018
What exactly does a PT do? Physical Therapy (PT) works a lot on function and mobility because without those two things, people tend to lose their independence. My goal for my patients is for them to regain or maintain their mobility. Movement is important! Ideally, a person with PD should get referred to PT in the early stages of diagnosis so that we can educate them on the importance of movement and exercise with PD. Often times, people with PD don’t get referred until they start having gait and balance issues, but we would LOVE to see them before that. PTs can also provide services at home for those who may have difficulty getting to the clinic or need a home safety evaluation.
SEE PAGE 8 FOR MORE GALA INFORMATION
Do you have a favorite tip for PwP or carepartners? Getting connected with other PwP through similar interests like hiking, dancing, exercise classes or happy hour is very useful for reducing isolation, expanding passions and finding opportunities to remain engaged. Same goes with carepartners. This is why PRO is so great for our community and I’m so glad to be a part of it. Also, music does wonders, whether to help with walking or just to dance around to or sing!
MORE INFO! (800) 426-6806 - WWW.PARKINSONSRESOURCES.ORG
Sukhee’s Sole Support Team Do you have a family connection to PD? I don’t, but I feel those I have met through the hikes and activities I lead in partnership with PRO have become like family to me over the years. When you aren’t working or volunteering, how do you spend your time? Now that I have a newborn, most of my free time goes to hanging out with our little one. But she’ll usually tag around when I enjoy the outdoors. I also enjoy training for triathlons, but these days, I’ve been enjoying leisure running, biking and swimming. You aren’t from Oregon originally, how did you land here? I was born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska. I came to Oregon to attend PAGE 1