It’s time to target the information/care abyss awaiting most Parkies at diagnosis.
A group primarily of Tampa PD SELF graduates is teaming with a University of South Florida advertising class to find and recommend ways to fill that huge hole.
The project is an extraordinary opportunity to address the disconnect between PD diagnosis and orderly provision of validated information and appropriate care.
Coby O’Brian, a senior instructor in the USF School of Mass Communications, is dedicating an upcoming class to understanding the disconnect, then creating information campaigns to end it.
In short, the campaign’s intent is to identify and reach new Parkies, place solid PD information in diagnosing physicians’ offices and provide PD-savvy mentors for the new Parkies.
The 33 students are divided into three-person teams. Each team will examine in depth the role and responsibilities of PD care providers, such as speech therapists or internists. The teams’ findings will be rolled into a recommended marketing campaign.
Each team will be assigned an experienced PD mentor. The mentor will meet with the team at least once in person. After that, the communications can be virtual.
The mentors will assist students understand how Parkies interact with medical care providers and vice versa. They will also help the teams develop their action plans.
A word about Coby, a one-time ad operative. He is smart, aggressive, sometimes brash, often loud……and relentless. Coby’s father has PD. Coby “gets” PD. I “get” him.
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