‘Me Over PD ‘ Is Born In Tampa

A Parkinson’s diagnosis is a shock. The lack of verified, actionable information easily available to People With Parkinson’s (Parkies in my vernacular) is even more shocking. This is especially true for highly localized treatment information.

A group of aggressive Tampa Parkies is changing that miserable equation. Dread disease, plus information chaos, no longer must equal existential terror.

Diane Cook, PD hero, pointed the way with her in-depth PD Self Actualization training in nine 2017 locales, including Tampa. Six Tampa graduates plus care partners, plus four Parkie recruits (and three care partners) have created a non-profit corporation that will deliver comprehensive, local-care guidance.

The back-story on this remarkable enterprise follows. (Full disclosure: I was a PD Self “facilitator” and convener of the Special Ops tribe managing this potential breakthrough in PD communicoation.)

Coby O’Brien is the senior advertising instructor at the Zimmerman School (advertising and mass communications) at the University of South Florida, Tampa campus. His father has PD.

Coby and I talked about how his senior advertising class could take on the challenge of remedying the “miserable equation” in the northern Tampa Bay region.

Thirty-plus students did in-depth research with extensive interviews of support groups, local Parkies and their Special Ops mentors.

Their proposal is to establish The Me Over PD project. The project’s digital and print products will reach newly diagnosed People With Parkinson’s with accurate, actionable, local information—little of which is available in most locales.

The project’s heart is a comprehensive database and a print brochure (The Roadmap or Guide) that directs newly-diagnosed Parkies to the database.

The Specials Ops “Tribe” will distribute the brochures at such possible locations as VA hospitals, drug stores, support/action groups, and agencies serving senior citizens, civic groups like Rotary, retirement communities, physician’s offices, The Y, and the Jewish Community Center.

Janelle Applequist, a Zimmerman School assistant professor, “owns” the database. Her graduate students will give it constant attention.

Me Over PD has filed for nonprofit incorporation and 501 C. 3 status. A Detroit donor has graciously contributed $5,000 for working capital.

That will be used to build out the website and print the guides. Launch target is the first quarter of 2018.

My Special Ops Tribe owes the USF students (and Coby O’Brian) an enormous debt of gratitude.

Thank you, guys. You are the best ad agency we could ask for.