More than 500,000 Americans are currently living with Parkinson’s Disease, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), not including those who have yet to receive a diagnosis. Despite the disease’s prevalence, no cure currently exists, and a growing shortage of neurologists greatly impacts those suffering from Parkinson’s Disease.

The Parkinson’s Disease Buddy Program, a program held in conjunction with the National Parkinson's Institute, is working to not only address both issues, but to also contribute to the learning of first-year medical students at the University of Louisville School of Medicine (ULSOM). Students who opt to participate are paired with a “buddy” – a person diagnosed with Parkinson’s – and meet with them monthly throughout the academic year.  These meetings take place alongside the students’ intensive studies, providing a powerful learning opportunity to humanize the conditions they’re learning about in the classroom.

“Meeting with people who have Parkinson’s Disease over the course of a year helps students to see the challenges that the buddies are facing in their disease, the challenges they face with accessing medical care, and the way that we come to a resolution for those challenges,” shared Dr. Victoria Holiday, assistant professor of neurology, who oversees ULSOM’s participation in the Parkinson’s Disease Buddy Program.

Over the course of the year, students develop skills in empathy, communication, and bias management as they witness firsthand the complexities of living with chronic disease. While chronic disease can be scary, many of these patients still work, drive, and exercise daily, proving that living a normal life is possible. This paints a real picture of chronic disease management and shows first-year students that just because there is no cure for a certain condition, does not mean that the outlook is bleak. 

As eye-opening as the program is to first-year medical students who choose to participate, they are not the only ones who enjoy the program. The buddies love sharing their journeys with the students. They understand that by meeting with future physicians, they are contributing to the science that will improve the lives of people living with Parkinson’s Disease. Additionally, having scheduled activities and a variety of social interactions helps the buddies to contribute to their condition in a positive way, both physically and cognitively. Buddies also report gaining skills of self-efficacy and social behavior through their participation in this program.

As first-year students complete the program and continue on through their medical training, each of them chooses a different path. While many have chosen neurology and many have gone into other specialties, each of them is able to use the valuable skills they learned in this program, starting with meeting patients where they are, without any preconceived notions that could stem from a diagnosis.

Research demonstrates that students find the program impactful and would recommend it to their peers. As ULSOM continues its outreach in the community and works to train compassionate physicians who understand the complexities of living with chronic diseases, the Parkinson’s Disease Buddy Program stands out as a model of how experiential learning can transform future physicians and improve the lives of those living with chronic disease.