| If You Do One Thing, Go to The PANC Conference! by KelliAnn Rubalcaba
If there is one event I look forward to every year as a daughter and care person for someone with Parkinson's disease, it's PANC's Annual Educational Conference.
My mother was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease over 10 years ago. While I'd never heard about this event prior to her diagnosis, I have since realized the positive impact this conference has had on my entire family's lives.
Being a young woman in my 20's trying to navigate work, school and being a care partner can be difficult, and I face challenges on many days. The diagnosis of Parkinson's is not just for the individual but also for the loved ones and family members -- it can be isolating for everyone involved. I do my best to find the balance of being a care person and daughter and am always searching for solutions on how best to do this. Something that has helped support me in navigating this, is the annual conference.
This event provides an amazing opportunity for connection between people with Parkinson's, their care persons and the medical/service community. There is a plethora of information that provides inspiration about better treatments and new promising research. I also love that it does not matter where you come from, or what hospital or Doctor you go to, everyone is there to learn and share about findings, potential solutions, and foster a growing hope for what's ahead. When you live with Parkinson's, you can easily become lost between appointments, medications, and everything else that goes with this disease. However, the conference allows for a day to just enjoy time with others, be inspired, and be in an environment where everyone feels supported.
The information provided is fantastic and I always walk away feeling so inspired by the speakers who are living with Parkinson's who share their story. We look forward to learning from all the vendors, getting fun goodies, and having our passports stamped for the raffles. Those little things, while of course are fun, also serve a bigger purpose as they help foster conversations with vendors whose products and services could be life changing. Every year, I walk away feeling joyful and hopeful for what is to come. I leave with connections and support to lean into. My mom has also made new friendships and enjoys needed camaraderie that extends even after the event.
I truly cannot thank PANC enough for putting on such an incredible event. Whether you are a family member or a person with PD, newly or long ago diagnosed, if you do one thing, I encourage you to go to the conference, in person or by Zoom. It will open doors you did not even know you needed. I hope that one day in the future, I can be a part of PANC whether it is as a member of the Board of Directors or something else to contribute to such an amazing organization and the Annual Educational Conference. Don't miss it! [copied from September 2025 PANC Update] | 
