Medical Director
Laurie Mischley, ND, PhD, MPH
Dr. Laurie Mischley ND, MPH, PhD studied naturopathic medicine (ND) at Bastyr University. From there, she went on study epidemiology (MPH) and nutritional sciences (PhD) at the University of Washington. Her work is focused on identifying the nutritional requirements unique to individuals with neurodegenerative diseases. She has published studies related to coenzyme Q10, lithium, and glutathione deficiency in Parkinson’s Disease (PD).
As a clinical researcher, she has worked with the FDA, NIH, and the Michael J. Fox Foundation to administer intranasal glutathione, (in)GSH, to individuals with PD. Drawing on expertise in radiology, epidemiology, nutrition, neurology, and naturopathic medicine, she is attempting to determine whether (in)GSH boosts brain glutathione and improves health.
Dr. Mischley has served on the Bastyr University Institutional Review Board since 2010 and regularly provides mentorship to students interested in integrative medicine research. She founded the social purpose corporation, NeurRx; developed an outcome measure to assess PD severity; and is author of the books Natural Therapies for Parkinson’s Disease and Cannabis Use Survey: Insights, Confessions, & Opinions.
She has given presentations on Parkinson's Disease research at conferences in the U.S. and abroad. The following are some of the recent poster presentations:
Dr. Mischley maintains a small clinical practice at Seattle Integrative Medicine where she works exclusively with patients with Parkinson's.
John Duda, MD
John Duda, MD, is the director of the Parkinson's Disease Research, Education and Clinical Center (PADRECC) and the Co-Director of the Center for Neurotrama, Neurodegeneration and Restoration of the Philadelphia VA Medical Center, the National Director of the PADRECCs for the Department of Veterans Affairs, and an Associate Professor of Neurology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.
As Director of the Philadelphia PaDRECC, he participates in the care of almost 1,000 Veterans with Parkinson's Disease and has had a long interest in integrating lifestyle modifications in the care of these Veterans, as well as speaking at numerous support groups and national scientific meetings on the role of nutrition in the management of PD. He also started the Brain Wellness Clinic at the Philadelphia VA, focusing on lifestyle modifications for maintaining brain health. His research activities include basic science investigations into the cause of Parkinson's disease and how traumatic brain injury relates to PD. He also has ongoing research projects studying the effects of a plant-based, whole food diet on PD as well as how the gut microbiome changes in PD.
He has received research grants from the Department of Veterans Affairs, the National Institutes of Health, the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, the Samueli Foundation and the Pennsylvania State Department of Health. He is currently on the editorial board of npj Parkinson's Disease and has served as a peer reviewer for over 30 journals. He has authored more than 100 scientific publications including articles in JAMA, Science, Neuron, The New England Journal of Medicine and Neurology.
samantha evans, nd
Samantha Evans, ND graduated from Bastyr University and completed a residency with physician Drs. Laurie Mischley and Marco Vespignani. While attending Bastyr, her studies focused on neurology and Parkinson's disease and she worked as a Research Assistant on the CAMCarePD.bastyr.edu epidemiological study. Dr. Evans frequently speaks at PD support groups throughout the Pacific Northwest.
In her practice at Seattle Integrative Medicine in Seattle, WA, her focus is how gastrointestinal health impact PD and works with patients to identify causes and navigate treatments for Small Intenstial Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO), H. Pylori, low stomach acid, dysbiosis and more.
Claire McLEan, PT, DPT, NCS
Dr. Claire McLean, PT, DPT, NCS is a Board Certified Neurologic Clinical Specialist. She graduated with a doctorate in physical therapy from the University of Southern California and has specialty training through the USC/Rancho Los Amigos Neurologic PT Residency program.
Claire worked as a neuro clinical specialist at Hoag Hospital, an NPF Care Center from 2010 to 2015. She worked in the outpatient clinic primarily with clients with PD and other movement disorders. She was also on the interdisciplinary team assessing & treating patients prior to and after receiving DBS surgery. She has research experience working as an intervention therapist on multiple studies investigating the effect of exercise in people with PD.
Claire has started a community wellness program for people with PD in Orange County, CA. The program includes group exercise classes, individual wellness and a monthly educational series.
Claire is also a member of the PWR! Faculty and assists with the PWR! Retreat.
Karin Duncan, ND
Karin Duncan is a graduate of Bastyr University with a doctorate in naturopathic medicine, with focused studies on integrative neurology, specifically Parkinson's Disease and neuro-oncology. Her personal experience has grown into a professional passion to provide care for caregivers, and often speaks with support groups in her local area.
As a peer-reviewed published author, she is a passionate about wellness and focuses on resilience in facing health challenges.
Certifications include personal training, registered herbalist, Functional Neurology, Biofeedback, Craniosacral therapy, IV medicine, counseling and cognitive rehabilitation.
Karin is a child of a sustainable homestead, a collegiate athlete and a combat veteran. She is a proud military wife and owns two certified therapy dog golden retrievers and enjoys fly fishing, hiking, and local volunteer work.
Karin is a member of the WANP, AANP, OANP, and MANP, and continues to be active in policy making for naturopathic medicine nationwide.
Kimball Magoni, pHD
Kimball Magoni, PhD, is a Licensed Psychologist and a Nationally Certified Health Service Provider in Psychology. Dr.Magoni has over 35 years experience in private practice treating adolescents, adults and families. He has a specialty in resolving treatment resistant conditions. He empowers his patients to discover and integrate effective coping strategies to address physical and emotional challenges.
Dr. Magoni is also a PWP and enjoys sharing his journey.
Dr. Magoni received his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology at Temple University. He completed a four-year post-doctoral program at The Philadelphia School of Psychoanalysis; Structural Family Therapy training at The Philadelphia Child Guidance Clinic, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy training at The Beck Institute.
Dr. Magoni provides consultation, workshop training and supervision to therapists, university professionals and hospital staff on a variety of clinical topics.
Peter Lynch E-RYT 200
Peter Lynch, E-RYT 200 has been teaching yoga since 2010 to students of all ages and abilities and working with students with Parkinson’s Disease since 2011. He has two 200-hour RYT (Registered Yoga Teacher) certifications from studios in Seattle, one from Samadhi Yoga in 2010 (no longer in operation) and one from Seattle Yoga Arts in 2013. He is an Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher (E-RYT) with well over 5000 hours of teaching experience and also a certified PWR!Moves® (Parkinson’s Wellness Recovery) instructor (2018) and holds a B.A. in Anthropology from Pomona College (1995).
He loves connecting with people and helping connect people to their own bodies. Working with people with Parkinson’s Disease has become a core focus for him, helping to ease their symptoms, provide better mobility and a higher quality of life so that they can access the things they care about most for a longer period of time. He teaches classes both online and in person.
Lisa OEI, PT, MSPT, DPT & SteF Farina
Lisa Oei, PT, MSPT, DPT is a physical therapist who specializes in Parkinson's fitness and wellness. Since working in PD research at the University of California, San Francisco, her alma mater, Lisa has worked exclusively in PD for the past 7 years. In 2015, she recognized the need for community based high-intensity exercise classes and was a Parkinson's Foundation award recipient. Lisa is the founder of PD-Connect, a nonprofit organization in the San Francisco Bay Area offering PD-specific classes on a donation basis.
SteF Farina is a Master Trainer who specializes in Parkinson's and senior fitness, and is the co-founder of PD-Connect. She runs an outdoor boot camp business and also coaches high school soccer.
Together SteF and Lisa are known as S'n'L and they bring a variety of functional movements and education from the broad spectrum of PD-specific certifications they have obtained, which include PWR!, Delay the Disease, Brian Grant Foundation, Yoga Reach, Urban Poling, and Dance for PD, among many others.