Dr. Cohen is an independent research/program evaluation and program development consultant, and has more than 30 years experience both as a practicing clinician and applied researcher in the health services field. Dr. Cohen received a Ph.D. in human behavior/ clinical research psychology from the Institute of Advanced Psychological Studies at Adelphi University. She went on for advanced clinical training and received a certificate from New York University Postdoctoral Program in Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis. Dr. Cohen is currently consultant to the NYU Parkinson and Movement Disorders Center, assisting in program development and research/ program evaluation.

Dr. DiRocco is Chief of the Divison of Movement Disorders, the Director of the NYU Parkinson and Movement Disorders Center and an Associate Professor of Neurolgy at the NYU School of Medicine. Dr. DiRocco's main academic interest is in developing more effective treatments for Parkinson's disease and its motor, cognitive, and neuropsychological complications.

Ms. Draghici is the Administrative Associate for the Center. She has been with the NYU Medical Center since 2000 and has been with the Center since its inception. Her experience, organizational skills and dedication to the NYU Parkinson and Movement Disorders Center are essential components in accomplishing our mission of excellence in patient care.

Dr. Ghilardi, a researcher and a neurologist by training, and her group is studying motor control and brain plasticity. In particular, their studies are focused on how the brain produces movements in normal human subjects and in patients with Parkinson and other neurological disorders. They have been investigating the interaction of non-motor processes with the motor system; how the memories that are relevant to movement execution are formed, preserved and destroyed and how they could be enhanced. They have found that sleep, in particular slow wave activity, plays an important role in the enhancement and disruption of these memories. Major goals of their research are: to define the specific mechanisms through which sleep enhances motor memories; to enhance motor memories by inducing slow wave activity sleep.

Dr. Gladys González-Ramos, Ph.D., LCSW, is Associate Professor at the New York University Silver School of Social Work, serves as Director of Planning and Community-based services at the NYU Langone Parkinson and Movement Disorders Center and is Adjunct Associate Professor of Neurology at the NYU School of Medicine. She received her Masters and Doctoral degrees in Social Work from NYU and holds two certificates in psychoanalytic psychotherapy. For the past several years, Dr. González-Ramos has been working closely with the National Parkinson Foundation (NPF) on national educational and outreach initiatives. She serves a co-director of National Parkinson’s Care Network, a national community outreach program that seeks to help medically underserved families throughout the U.S. to access informed medical care and serves as assistant director and faculty on Allied Team Training for Parkinson (ATTP), a national interdisciplinary program providing specialty training in Parkinson. Her most recent publication, authored with Elaine Cohen and Ruth Hagestuen is HealthConnect: A guide to community outreach.

Dr. Hirsch is a graduate of the New York University School of Medicine. He also completed the double-board residency in neurology and psychiatry at the NYU School of Medicine. Dr. Hirsch is a Clinical Instructor of Neurology and Psychiatry at the NYU School of Medicine. He is particularly interested in understanding and treating mood and anxiety symptoms associated with Parkinson Disease, Tourette Disorder, and Alzheimer Disease. He provides individualized pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy in combination with traditional neurological treatment. Dr. Hirsch also serves as Unit Chief of the Outpatient Geriatric Psychiatry Clinic at Bellevue Hospital. Current research includes investigating the effects of S-Adeonsyl-methionine in Parkinson’s Disease, including its use as an antidepressant.

Ms. Lemen is the Social Worker and Center Coordinator of the NYU Parkinson and Movement Disorders Center. She holds a master degree in social work from the NYU Silver School of Social Work and specializes in neurological conditions. Ms. Lemen is also the coordinator of the NYU/JCC Parkinson's Wellness Program and has developed fitness, educational and creativity programs for persons with Parkinson's and their families in partnership with the Jewish Community Center in Manhattan.

Luciana Ricciardi, MD is a graduate of Messina University in Italy. She is completing her residency in the Department of Neurology in Messina. She is now attending the NYU Parkinson and Movement Disorders Center as a Assistant Research Scientist and her aim is to study the neurophysiology of higher cognitive functions and to understand neural plasticity at the systemic level.

Dr. Rossi is a Clinical Instructor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the NYU/Rusk Institute of Rehabilitative Medicine and serves as the NYU Parkinson and Movement Disorders Center staff Physiatry consultant for outpatient and community Rehabilitative services. Dr. Rossi is a graduate of the University of Osteopathic Medicine and Health Sciences in Des Moines, Iowa. He completed his residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at New York University/The Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation where he serves as clinical instructor. He is Assistant Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Dr. Rossi is board certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and Sports Medicine. Among his areas of interest include Neurodegenerative diseases, Parkinson Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Musculoskeletal Medicine, Sports Medicine, and Integrative Medicine.

Dr. Varanese is a graduate of Chieti University in Italy. She is completing the residency in the Department of Neurology in Chieti, where she was involved in the clinical care of patients with different types of Movement Disorders, such as Parkinson’s Disease, Lewy Bodies Disease, Multiple System Atrophy, Supranuclear Progressive Palsy, Cortico-basal Degeneration, Huntington’s Disease, dystonia and dementia. She was also involved as sub-investigator in several trials on new drugs for Parkinson’s disease. Her research interest is focused on the cognitive and electrophysiological disturbances in parkinsonism. She is now attending the NYU Parkinson and Movement Disorders Center as an Assistant Research Scientist.