Class of 2025
Juan Ramon Deliz, MD
Northwestern University Chicago, Illinois
An Early Passion for Neuroscience As a child in San Juan, Puerto Rico, I first became interested in the brain and its inner workings because my grandfather had Lewy body dementia. I grew up understanding how chronic neurologic illness can impact a patient and their family. My dad and his siblings alternated caregiving duties every week. They never complained; they just loved their dad. That experience made me interested in cognitive and movement problems, and how the brain can deteriorate.
By college, I knew I wanted to study neuroscience but was unsure whether my route would be toward research or care. This question was answered when I volunteered as a Spanish medical interpreter at a New York City hospital, where I was exposed to patient care and the art of medicine. I also came to see the barriers that specific patients face when they encounter the medical system, from language to lack of access to care. Volunteering shaped my career goals as much as my academic interests did.
Markers Initiative( PPMI) study, which has received early and sustained funding from the Edmond J. Safra Foundation. At health centers and health fairs, we introduced people to the idea of increasing research recruitment efforts.
We also trained young health ambassadors, mostly college students interested in health careers, in“ Parkinson’ s 101.” These ambassadors began educating the community about the disease. Hopefully, this outreach will lead to us seeing Parkinson’ s patients earlier, before the disease becomes advanced.
Deepening Parkinson’ s Care Closer to Home I’ m primarily a clinician, and I value the time I spend with patients. But the Fellowship’ s protected research time meant I could work on community outreach, literature reviews and posters for national and international conferences. I also grew more involved in clinical research, especially through PPMI.
Focused on the Community Community outreach was a thread through medical school, residency and the Edmond J. Safra Fellowship. At Northwestern University in Chicago, I have focused on optimizing engagement efforts with the Hispanic community. We coordinated events to discuss the research happening here, especially the Parkinson’ s Progression
After graduation, I’ ll stay on as a medical director for one of Northwestern’ s satellite facilities in the Chicago suburbs. I’ ll help build a more comprehensive Parkinson’ s disease center so people can get care closer to home without needing to travel downtown. We hope to integrate research with services like physical, occupational and speech therapy, and connect people with psychiatry or rehabilitation when needed.
8 The Edmond J. Safra Fellowship in Movement Disorders