Empower U | Taking Control of Parkinson's Disease

The EMPOWER U® program is presented annually by Cleveland Clinic, a Parkinson’s Foundation Center of Excellence. This free education-driven, one-day event provides a positive, interactive approach to helping individuals with Parkinson’s disease take control of their disease, maintain their identity and improve their quality of life. The goals of the event are accomplished through:

  • Educational sessions on treatments and updates in Parkinson’s disease.
  • Interactive sessions that introduce rehab therapies, exercise programs and wellness concepts to fight back against Parkinson’s disease.

This event brings together individuals and families of individuals with Parkinson’s disease, caregivers, Parkinson’s disease organizations and medical professionals – working alongside each other to improve the quality of care and enhance the level of information available to those affected by Parkinson’s disease.

Special guests at past events have included:

  • Jimmy Choi – American Ninja Warrior Athlete, Parkinson’s Disease Advocate.
  • Arman Askari, MD – Co-Founder Premier Health Advocates, Cardiologist, and individual with Young-onset Parkinson’s Disease.
  • David Zid, BA, ACE-APG – Co-Founder, Ohio Health Delay the Disease.
  • Maria Pujolas, RN, BSN, CFT – Owner and Coach, Rock Steady Boxing.
  • Leaders from the Parkinson’s Foundation.
  • Prominent Parkinson’s Disease specialists including physicians, surgeons and psychologists.

Watch presentations from our previous EMPOWER U events.

EMPOWER U® 2025 will be held on Saturday, September 27, 2025 at the Huntington Convention Center in downtown Cleveland, Ohio.

This year's event features keynote speaker Michael S. Okun, MD, Executive Director of the Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, and co-author of “The Parkinson Plan”. Dr. Okun will address his soon to be released book, which participants will receive.

Additional talks include:

  • Medications Updates
  • Surgical Options in Parkinson's Disease
  • Taboo Topics in Parkinson's Disease
  • Hot Topic Debates
  • Exercise and Freezing of Gait

There will also be a large number of exhibitors.

Learn more and register for the event.

Help us design this year's EMPOWER U® t-shirt

Choose one of the following taglines and design a logo to go with it:

  • Option 1: Rise Above, Fight Beyond
  • Option 2: Empower. Overcome. Thrive.
  • Option 3: Unshaken Spirit, Unstoppable You
 
Anyone with Parkinson’s Disease can submit up to three entries by email to CNRCOE@ccf.org with the word “Entry” in the subject line. Please include your first and last name, as well as a phone number in the email.
 
Deadline: August 20, 2025
 
The winning design (chosen by the EMPOWER U® planning committee) will be featured on EMPOWER U® 2025 t-shirts given away at the event. The winner will also receive recognition at EMPOWER U® on September 27th.

Care Partner U

Care Partner U is an extension of our EMPOWER U event, tailored to friends family and care partners of individuals with Parkinson’s disease. This annual, free, educational event allows care partners of individuals with Parkinson’s disease to learn about resources available to them in the community, and learn valuable steps they can take to care for themselves while being provided a forum to voice questions and concerns.

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