After being diagnosed with Parkinson’s at the age of 54, Lauren was unsure of what her future would look like. Not knowing anyone else with Parkinson’s and having to navigate her new normal was overwhelming. After seeing many others go through the same experience, Lauren launched PDBuzz.com which was a hub for Parkinson’s resources in Orange County. A couple of years later, she received a Parkinson’s Foundation Community Grant to help develop a program for those newly diagnosed called Jump Start. In 2023, as the work serving the local community grew, Lauren new it was time to take PD Buzz to the next level, an official 501c3. She co-founded Parkinson’s Orange County with Erin Angelo of Rx Ballroom Dance. Parkinson’s Orange County is now a thriving organization, whose mission is to help those affected by Parkinson’s to live well. Lauren serves as board president and continues to help develop programs for those with Parkinson’s in her area. She is also a support group leader and PMD Alliance ambassador.

Lauren holds a Bachelors degree in Communicative Disorders and in Psychology from R.I. College and a Masters Degree in Communicative Disorders with an emphasis in Audiology from California State University Long Beach. Lauren and her husband live in Mission Viejo, California.