Consortium Executive Committee

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Rebecca Martine, MSN, RN, PMHCNS
Chair

Rebecca Martine, APRN, CS, BC joined the Philadelphia Parkinson's Disease Research, Education and Clinical Center (PADRECC) in 2001 where she currently serves as Associate Director of Education as well as Clinical Nurse Coordinator. She accepted the Chair position of the National VA Parkinson's Disease Consortium in April 2003. This followed her organization of the inaugural Consortium conference titled "Novel Concepts and Management Strategies in PD.

Ms. Martine received her Bachelor's degree of Nursing from the University of Delaware and a Master's degree of Nursing from the University of Pennsylvania. She is an ANCC board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist and a member of the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses. Ms. Martine has a distinct interest in the neuropsychiatric aspects of Parkinson's disease and her practice encompasses direct clinical care, research activities and educational outreach.

Jeff Bronstein, MD
Co-Chair

Dr. Bronstein received his Bachelor's degree from the University of CA, Berkeley and his MD and PhD from the UCLA School of Medicine. He completed his residency in Neurology and a Movement Disorders Fellowship at UCLA with an emphasis in molecular cell biology. Dr. Bronstein became the Director of Movement Disorders Center at UCLA in 1996 and Director of the SW PADRECC in 2001. He recently became Co-Chair of the National VA Parkinson's Disease Consortium.

Dr. Bronstein's research interests include understanding the interactions of genes and environment in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease.  His laboratory also studies tetraspan protein function in the CNS.  Furthermore, Dr. Bronstein is directing several trials in Parkinson's disease including surgical approaches.

Dawn McHale
Consortium Coordinator

Dawn McHale joined the Philadelphia Parkinson's Disease Research, Education and Clinical Center (PADRECC) in April 2002 as the Administrative Officer. She has since assumed the positions of National PADRECC Co-Coordinator and National VA Parkinson's Disease Consortium Coordinator. Ms. McHale oversees the daily operations of these organizations and serves as a liaison to VA Central Office and other Parkinson organizations.

Prior to coming to the VA, Ms. McHale served as the Executive Assistant at the University of Pennsylvania Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorder Center. She has extensive experience working with patients, family members, and professionals in the Parkinson community.

Eric Cheng, MD
Communication Subcommittee Chair

Eric Cheng, MD, MS joined the Southwest Parkinson's Disease Research, Education and Clinical Center (PADRECC) based at the VA West Los Angeles Medical Center in 2002 where he now serves as Associate Director of Education. He is chairing the Communication subcommittee of the National VA Parkinson's Disease Consortium.  He is also a member of the PADRECC health services research workgroup and the PADRECC registry development committee.

Dr. Cheng received his Bachelor's degree from Cornell University, his Medical Degree from the University of Chicago, completed his neurology residency at UCLA, and is a board-certified neurologist by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. He obtained a Master's in Health Services Research from the UCLA School of Public Health. His main research interest is the quality of medical care in patients with neurological conditions.

Gretchen Glenn, LSW
Education Subcommittee Chair

Gretchen Glenn, MSW, LSW joined the Philadelphia Parkinson's Disease Research, Education and Clinical Center (PADRECC) in 2002 where she serves as social worker and provides direct clinical care, education and outreach to veterans and their families. She is a member of the PADRECC National Registry Operations Subcommittee and Chair of the National VA PADRECC Consortium Education Subcommittee.

Ms. Glenn received her Bachelor's degree of psychology from Arcadia University and her Master's degree of social work from Rutgers University. She is a Pennsylvania Licensed Social Worker and Member of the National Association of Social Workers. Ms. Glenn has a strong interest in patient and family education and has developed extensive programs within the Philadelphia VA PADRECC to further promote awareness and support for Parkinson's disease and related movement disorders.

Mark Baron, MD
Research Subcommittee Chair

Dr. Baron is the Associate Director of Research for the Southeastern Parkinson's Disease Research Education and Clinical Center (PADRECC) at the McGuire VAMC in Richmond, Virginia and serves as the Research Subcommittee Chair for the VA Parkinson's Disease National Consortium. Dr. Baron holds a faculty appointment as Associate Clinical Professor at the Virginia Commonwealth University in the department of neurology. He completed a residency in Neurology at Boston City Hospital, a combined clinical and research fellowship in movement disorders at Emory University, and then served on faculty at Emory University for 8 years prior to coming to Richmond in July 2003.

Dr. Baron has had extensive clinical and laboratory training in microelectrode brain recording techniques.  He has utilized these skills to assist Dr. Kathryn Holloway, neurosurgeon, to advance the current microelectrode-guided techniques of deep brain surgeries for people with advanced movement disorders. Dr. Baron is actively involved in laboratory research at VCU centered on advancing on understanding and treatment of movement disorders, including Parkinson's disease.

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