HITN Broadcasts Parkinson’s Documentary to Address Growing Health Disparity in Hispanic Community

In observance of World Parkinson’s Day, the Hispanic Information and Telecommunication Network (HITN) will broadcast a documentary addressing Parkinson’s disease within Hispanic communities. The network will air ‘The Long Road to Hope: Ending Parkinson’s Disease,’ produced by the University of Rochester Center for Health and Technology (CHeT), on Saturday, April 11, at 5:00 PM EDT, with on-demand viewing available on HITNGo.

The broadcast addresses a significant health disparity. Based on Parkinson’s Foundation estimates of more than 1.1 million people in the United States living with Parkinson’s disease and 2023 U.S. Census data showing around 62 million Hispanics nationwide, approximately 200,000 Hispanics in the U.S. are currently living with the condition. This statistic underscores the urgent need for expanded Spanish-language resources, culturally responsive outreach, and greater Hispanic representation in Parkinson’s research.

‘Teaming up with the University of Rochester Center for Health and Technology to air ‘The Long Road to Hope’ is exactly the kind of work HITN exists to do,’ said Erika Vogt-Lowell, Vice President of Content at HITN. ‘We want to ensure that Hispanics living with Parkinson’s disease in this country have information in their language, with relevant stories and knowledge that reflects our community and that hope — and prevention — are real possibilities.’

The documentary profiles twelve individuals navigating life with Parkinson’s disease, offering intimate perspectives on their personal journeys. It draws on the work of leading researchers, advocates, and patients to argue that Parkinson’s is largely preventable and that meaningful progress toward ending the disease is achievable. The film is based on the book ‘Ending Parkinson’s Disease,’ co-written by neurologist Dr. Ray Dorsey, a leading advocate for prevention efforts.

‘We hope the stories of those in ‘The Long Road to Hope’ light a way to a world where Parkinson’s is increasingly rare,’ said Dr. Dorsey. ‘For almost all, Parkinson’s is preventable. Two centuries of Parkinson’s is enough. Let’s be the generation that brings about the fall of this terrible disease.’ Dr. Dorsey maintains advocacy websites at endingpd.org and pdplan.org.

Dr. María De León, a neurologist and movement-disorders specialist who lives with Parkinson’s disease, brings a deeply personal perspective to the documentary. Through her books ‘Parkinson’s Diva’ and ‘Viviendo más allá del Parkinson,’ and years of community commitment, Dr. De León has worked to advance Spanish-language outreach and Hispanic representation in research. The University of Rochester Center for Health and Technology, which produced the documentary, has served as a worldwide leader in clinical research for more than three decades, with information available at https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/chet.

This broadcast represents a significant step in HITN’s mission to deliver meaningful health content to Hispanic communities across the United States. By providing accessible, culturally relevant information about a disease affecting hundreds of thousands of Hispanics, the network aims to address healthcare disparities and promote prevention awareness within a community that has historically faced barriers to specialized health information.

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