YOPD Advisory Council
community-informed programming
Meet Our YOPD Advisory Council
Advisory council members were strategically chosen to represent a wide array of journeys, and they will serve as vital resources to keep YOPN programming grounded in real experiences.
Meet Anna Grill
Anna Grill is the inspiration for Young Onset Parkinson’s Network (YOPN). She was on the fast track as a sales executive at a Fortune 200 company, and the youngest and only woman on the executive team when she was diagnosed with Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease (YOPD) in 2007 at the age of 38.
At the time, she was living her best life: excelling in her career while successfully balancing the roles of wife and mother, with two girls aged nine and seven. She led a division of 110 associates spanning a territory from South Carolina to Delaware and served as an active volunteer in her community. Afraid of being defined by her disease rather than her work, she continued in her stressful career for ten additional years without disclosing her illness to workers, family, and friends.
Once Anna publicly disclosed her diagnosis, she became frustrated with the lack of resources available specifically for those with YOPD. Never one to step away from a challenge, Anna recognized the need for a building community and providing resources to others with diagnosed with Young Onset. Her vision is to specifically support the YOPD community in a holistic, positive environment.
Anna is a vocal advocate, active volunteer for the Parkinson’s Foundation and Ambassador for Supernus Pharmaceuticals. She lives in Northern Virginia with her husband and her two grown daughters.
Meet Angie Gooding
Angie Gooding is a care partner to her husband, Jason, who was diagnosed with young onset Parkinson’s disease in 2017. They have two adult children and live in the Pacific Northwest. Angie brings her lived experience to the Young Onset Parkinson’s Network Council and focuses on supporting other care partners and families. She and Jason co-manage the social media platform Beyond the Brochures, where they share real-life experiences of care partnering and daily life with Parkinson’s. Angie is also a high school history teacher to 150 amazing teenagers.
Meet Daniel Maggioni
I was diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson’s disease in October 2024 and didn’t previously know anyone with PD. I responded by diving into as much research and books as I could find, which led me to rethink and revamp some pillars of my life, critically exercise, diet, and sleep(lots of changes with a newborn at the time.)
I’m a dad of three kids ages 6, 4, and 1, and an accountant focused on M&A work for private equity clients. My young onset experience I imagine is like most, learning to manage a new diagnosis while keeping up with a demanding career and a busy family and other obligations.
I stay engaged in the PD community because supportive communities have made a real impact on my own journey, and I want to be that for others still finding their footing. I’m an optimist, always learning, and look forward to connecting with and supporting fellow YOPN members.
Meet Donna Parkhurst
Donna Parkhurst is a Parkinson’s advocate, speaker, Advisory Council Member for the Young Onset Parkinson’s Network, and PMD Alliance Ambassador. She is dedicated to elevating the voices and experiences of those diagnosed at a younger age.
Diagnosed with young onset Parkinson’s at 51, after living with symptoms for several years, Donna brings a deeply personal and multifaceted perspective to her advocacy. Before her own diagnosis, she walked the Parkinson’s journey as a care partner for her mother, who passed away from the disease in 2018. That dual experience, first as a caregiver and now as someone living with Parkinson’s, gives Donna a rare and powerful understanding of both sides of the disease.
Through her work, Donna is committed to helping others feel seen, supported, and informed. She uses her growing social media presence to share honest, relatable insights into life with Parkinson’s, addressing both the physical and often-overlooked and misunderstood mental and emotional aspects of the disease.Her content focuses on reducing stigma, correcting misconceptions, and creating a space where people can feel less alone, while emphasizing what is within our control, like mindset and intentional movement.
Donna is especially passionate about supporting those navigating a diagnosis during midlife, a stage often filled with competing responsibilities, identity shifts, and unanswered questions. She advocates for a proactive approach to living well with Parkinson’s, focusing on movement, stress management, cognitive engagement, and meaningful community connection.
In addition to her advocacy work, Donna has a background in leadership and team development within the clean beauty industry, where she has spent over a decade mentoring and supporting women. She also brings corporate experience in human resources and project management, along with training as a certified integrative health coach where she blends strategy, people leadership, and a deep understanding of lifestyle-based wellness. Her work is grounded in authenticity, empathy, and what she calls “love-led leadership,” empowering others to show up fully while building meaningful connection and impact.
Her work extends beyond awareness into action. Donna participates in community events, collaborates with nonprofit organizations, and contributes to conversations that shape how Parkinson’s is understood and supported, particularly for those diagnosed earlier in life. She is committed to bridging the gap between lived experience and broader awareness, ensuring that individuals and families navigating Parkinson’s have access to both practical tools and a sense of hope.
At the heart of everything she does is a simple but powerful mission: to help others live fully, even in the face of a progressive diagnosis, and to remind them that their life, and their voice, still matters.
You can find her via the following social media channels:
Meet Esther Labib-Kiyarash
Based in El Paso, Texas, Mrs. Labib-Kiyarash is a former hospital Director of Performance Improvement/Risk Management. She holds a Master of Science in is a Certified Professional of Healthcare Quality. An Ambassador, Research Advocate and Advisory Board Member for the Parkinson’s Foundation’s Southwest Chapter and recipient of the 2024 Rising Star Award. She sits on multiple Patient Advisory Boards for research. Named a top Parkinson’s Influencer on Instagram, she is an activist on multiple social media platforms under the moniker “ShakingInMyBoots1”. She is the mother of two school-age children and is happily married to an amazing Doctor of Pharmacy. An avid traveler, she was diagnosed with Young Onset Parkinson’s disease at the age of 47.
Meet Jayesh Salvi
I am a 45 yo Software developer from Montreal Canada. I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s at the end of 2024. Almost the same day I joined the YOPN Community. It has been a great source of support and education. I help manage its Discord community chat. I would like to see it grow into a reliable place where YOPN members can find fellow members to chat to, as they navigate the ups and downs of the disease.
Meet Jen Newman
When I was diagnosed in 2020, I thought that the life I knew was over. Then I met the inspirational warriors that make up our PD community. You showed me how to overcome fear, how to use my voice, how to advocate, and so much more. I went from hiding my diagnosis to all but my closest family and friends to speaking at a press conference in support of the Healthy Brains Act, and leading the Maryland state delegation at the past two Parkinson’s Policy Forums in DC. This community has taught me so much but most importantly, that no one faces this alone. I am honored to serve on this Council and pledge to help others feel seen, supported, and never alone.
I live in Mount Airy, MD, with my husband Ernie and our dog Holly. Our twin girls Sammy and Vicki live with their spouses about 3 hours away. I recently retired and enjoy traveling and tumbling rocks (like Liz in Shrinking, except I give them away to anyone who crosses my path).
Meet Jen Zupon
I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease on April 27, 2023, at age 48, a day I will never forget.
For nine months prior, I underwent tests, all inconclusive. I was referred to a Movement Disorder Specialist (MDS) neurologist who diagnosed me with Parkinson’s with only a few tests and in less than 5 minutes.
While I initially kept my diagnosis private, I quickly learned that sharing the diagnosis fosters support and awareness. Since then, my purpose has drastically changed. I decided the best approach to taking Parkinson’s Disease head-on is to stay active, always continue to learn, educate others with an emphasis on Young-Onset Parkinson’s, advocate for myself and others, and volunteer my time within the Parkinson’s community.
I face this diagnosis with humor and hope, aiming to help others move forward. Inspired by Michael J. Fox, I believe progress in research and awareness shows how much can change over time.
Meet Kieran Killion
After a long journey through the criminal American healthcare system, my diagnosis at the age of 30 came as a relief. I could finally give a name to the Tasmanian devil controlling my body. After being voted “6th hottest person with Parkinson’s” in 2023, my ego was crushed, leading me to look inwards and meditate. I have found tremendous relief of my symptoms through exercise, meditation, and careful management of my diet and medications. I received a life changing DBS surgery in 2024 which has enabled me to exercise more but comes with new challenges as well. After attending the YOPN retreat in 2025, I left feeling more whole than when I walked in. Spending a couple days in a room full of parkies and not feeling like I had to hide my symptoms was a comforting feeling I want more people to experience. My hope on this council is to help create and maintain positive spaces for people with Parkinson’s to come together in person.
Meet Melissa Livingston
Melissa Livingston, better known as Mel or @missmliv-is a writer, blogger, and author of Miles to Go Before I Sleep (2024), She is an empathetic voice in the young onset Parkinson’s community, centering her focus on mental health and the realities of life with Parkinson’s
Through her blog posts and podcast episodes as aPMD Alliance Ambassador and co-host of the Living Well Starts Here podcast, she challenges outdated narratives through raw, real storytelling with her friends, people who have lived it.
The OG Creator of the viral hashtag #parkinsonslookslikeme, she’s focused on redefining what this disease actually looks like—out loud and unapologetically with the aid of PMD Alliance,, YOPN, and the community at large.
Meet Shawn Evans
Shawn was diagnosed with YOPD in 2018 at the age of 47. Following 18 months of processing the diagnosis, he began transforming himself into an advocate. Shawn serves as an admin of PD Facebook groups, shares his story on social media, and speaks publicly about his journey, all of which led to him being featured in Sara Whittingham’s book, Oh Crap! It’s Parkinson’s. Since his diagnosis, he has worked closely with Movement 360 to refine a neurological exercise approach focused on strength and balance. Shawn attended the inaugural YOPN retreat in 2025. An architect in Santa Fe, NM, his proudest professional achievements have been collaborating with Native American communities to preserve and perpetuate their built heritage. Shawn is a principal of the non-profit firm, Model of Architecture Serving Society (MASS Design Group), where he is expanding his focus to disability justice. Shawn is forever grateful to his wife Kelly and sons, Calder and Truman, for their support and encouragement.
Meet Vikas Chinnan
Vikas Chinnan has spent most of his career in the automotive industry focused on operations, product management, product strategy, and marketing. He holds a BS in Industrial & Systems Engineering from Georgia Tech and an MBA from Emory University. Most recently, Vikas held a position as an Operations Executive at a Bay Area startup before taking some time away from the corporate world to focus on his family and health. Since being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in February 2022, he has shifted his focus to full-time advocacy and outreach for the Parkinson’s community with a specific interest in expanding access to healthcare and wellness resources. He serves as both a Parkinson’s Foundation Ambassador and a California Chapter Advisory Board member and recently completed his term as Chair of the People with Parkinson’s Advisory Council for the Parkinson’s Foundation. Vikas lives in San Carlos, CA with his wife, Preeti, and his sons, Bailey (18) and Sammy (14).
https://linktr.ee/vikaschinnan