Parkinson’s, Law, and Leadership: Navigating Capacity, Credibility, and Care
A case study in handling chronic illness, ethics, and inclusion in professional life
February 24, 2026 | 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Eastern Time | Virtual Delivery
Parkinson's - For Lawyers, Directors and HR and Other Professionals
This program contains 1 hour and 15 minutes of Professionalism Content and 1 hour and 25 minutes of EDI Professionalism Content, accredited by the Law Society of Ontario.
About this Program
Across Canada, more than 100,000 people live with Parkinson’s disease, including many who continue to practice law, lead organizations, and serve on boards. Parkinson’s — the fastest-growing neurological condition in the world — brings into focus some of the most pressing questions facing modern professionals: How do we assess capacity and credibility fairly? What does inclusion look like when ability changes over time? And how do we balance ethics, privacy, and leadership when health becomes part of professional life?
We are bringing together leaders in law, medicine, workplace inclusion, and governance to examine these questions through a single, unifying lens: Parkinson’s as a real-world case study in professional judgment. As a participant, you will gain deeper understanding of both the condition and the broader principles it illuminates — fairness, communication, and human dignity in practice.
Elevate your understanding of how to:
- Identify and respond effectively to Parkinson’s-related challenges affecting capacity, communication, and workplace participation.
- Navigate complex ethical and legal situations where health intersects with professional duties.
- Advise and lead with clarity, empathy, and accountability in client, employee, or governance relationships.
- Strengthen institutional trust by modeling informed, compassionate professionalism.
This is the first Canadian program to integrate neurological insight with legal, workplace, and governance realities — preparing professionals to meet the future of ethical leadership with both knowledge and conscience.
Parkinson's - For Lawyers, Directors and HR and Other Professionals
Program Agenda
10:00 | Welcome and Introduction
10:05 | The Human Side of Professional Judgment: Why Parkinson’s Matters for Every Profession
Speakers:
Stephanie G Johnson, MSSW, Director, PD Alliance of WI
Dr. Erin Presant, DO, CCMS, DipABLM, Board Certified Neurologist, Fellowship Trained Movement Disorders Specialist; Owner, Central Coast Lifestyle Neurology Medical Group Inc.
Parkinson’s affects one in 500 Canadians — and its impact is growing. Its motor and cognitive fluctuations challenge how professionals assess credibility, competence, and fairness. It also illustrates the human complexity every profession must now learn to navigate. Build your foundational understanding of why Parkinson’s is not a rare issue, but a case study in modern professionalism. Increase your ability to:
- Identify risks when fluctuating symptoms affect capacity or client communication.
- Recognize how health-related bias can influence employment and inclusion decisions.
- Understand governance implications when chronic illness intersects with fiduciary duty.
10:30 | Seeing Beyond Symptoms: Law, Ethics, and the Challenge of Interpretation
Speakers:
Bryan Gilmartin, BMus, JD/JD, Partner, Whaley Estate Litigation Partners
Dr. Erin Presant, DO, CCMS, DipABLM, Board Certified Neurologist, Fellowship Trained Movement Disorders Specialist; Owner, Central Coast Lifestyle Neurology Medical Group Inc.
Motor symptoms — tremors, quiet voice, limited facial expression — can be misinterpreted as confusion, disinterest, or lack of capacity. When professionals misread these signs, the results can include invalid legal documents, human rights violations, or reputational damage. Professional judgment requires learning to see the person, not just the symptom. Bolster your understanding of how to:
- Apply nuanced capacity analysis in fluctuating cognitive conditions.
- Build fair assessment and performance systems that account for medical realities.
- Oversee ethical decision-making that respects human variability and dignity.
11:05 | Communication and Dignity: Building Accessible and Trust-Based Practices
Speakers:
Larry Gifford, President & Cofounder, PD Avengers
Maureen Haan, President and CEO, Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work
Kelly Soifer, Career Coach, Coach and Consultant, KS Leadership Development
Communication challenges — soft speech, slower responses, micrographia — can undermine fairness and confidence if not understood. In this session, our esteemed faculty demonstrates how modest changes to process and awareness can transform professional relationships and outcomes, preserve dignity and strengthen both relationships and results. Discover how to:
- Adapt interviews, meetings, and documentation for clarity and inclusion.
- Foster accessible communication channels for all employees.
- Model inclusive dialogue in board and committee practices.
11:40 | Break
11:50 | Rights and Remedies: Legal and Workplace Duties in an Evolving Condition
Speakers:
Larry Linton, Senior Immigration Lawyer, Marani Law; Lawyer. Author. Advocate.
David Share, President, Managing Director, and Co-founder, Share Lawyers
Parkinson’s evolves and so must accommodation — adaptive accommodation is both a legal duty and a leadership opportunity. Static solutions can fail both legally and ethically when conditions change. Learn how dynamic frameworks meet human rights standards and build organizational trust and how to:
- Strengthen representation in disability and benefits matters.
- Design nimble and responsive accommodation policies for progressive conditions.
- Understand oversight responsibilities for health-related risk and culture.
12:25 | When the Professional is the Patient: Ethics, Competence, and Leadership
Speakers:
Elizabeth (Eli) Pollard, Executive Director at World Parkinson Coalition
Kelly Soifer, Career Coach, Coach and Consultant, KS Leadership Development
Ethical leadership begins with how we respond to vulnerability — our own and others’. When a lawyer, HR professional, or director develops Parkinson’s, sensitive questions arise: When to disclose? How to ensure competence? How to plan succession? Gain clarity and compassion for navigating professional life amid personal change. Enrich your competence to:
- Meet competence and disclosure obligations under professional regulation.
- Balance transparency and privacy in supporting affected leaders.
- Integrate health and succession planning into good governance.
12:55 | Closing Reflections: From Awareness to Action
This closing dialogue brings the lessons full circle. Parkinson’s is the lens — but the insight is universal. Chronic illness is reshaping how we define professionalism itself.
Leadership, ethics, and vision come alive when professionals commit to understanding the whole human experience.
1:00 | Program Ends
Parkinson's - For Lawyers, Directors and HR and Other Professionals
The Speakers
Larry Gifford
Larry Gifford is a broadcaster, storyteller, and global Parkinson’s advocate based in Vancouver, Canada. Diagnosed with Young Onset Parkinson’s in 2017, he co-founded PD Avengers, a Global Alliance to End Parkinson’s that now includes thousands of members and partner organizations in more than 100 countries. His work brings together people with Parkinson’s, care partners, clinicians, researchers, and industry to push for prevention, better care, and ultimately a cure.
Larry is the creator and former host of the podcast When Life Gives You Parkinson’s and currently develops podcasts, webinars, and education programs for leading Parkinson’s organizations, including the Brian Grant Foundation and the Michael J. Fox Foundation. Drawing on his lived experience and media background, he focuses on practical ways language, systems, and stories can either erode or reinforce dignity—and how more accessible, person-centred communication can build the trust needed for better decisions, better services, and better outcomes.
Stephanie Johnson
Stephanie Johnson is a health professional and advocate with a 28-year career in health systems and academia. She earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology and her Master of Science in Social Work with a health care concentration from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Stephanie spent 15 years as a hospital social worker, supporting patients and families in neurology, cardiac surgery, and the NICU. She later served in Community Relations roles at two Madison hospitals, leading community health improvement efforts and building partnerships with diverse populations. She has also taught patient advocacy and is a certified life coach.
Stephanie met her husband, Rick Johnson, at UW–Madison in 1987, and they married in 1989. Together they enjoyed scuba diving, hiking in Italy, cycling, and family travel. Rick was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2011 and faced the disease with resilience and optimism until his passing on December 26, 2023. Three months later, Stephanie was also diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
Drawing on her personal and professional experiences, Stephanie has become a leading advocate for Parkinson’s disease policy in Wisconsin. She is the founder and director of the Parkinson’s Disease Alliance of Wisconsin and championed bipartisan legislation introduced on October 1, 2025, to establish the Rick Johnson Parkinson’s Disease Registry.
Larry Linton
Larry Linton is a seasoned legal professional with over 30 years of experience in Canadian immigration and immigration law. He provides guidance on preparation, review, and submission of complex immigration applications and advises organizations on compliance and risk mitigation. Living with Parkinson’s for more than 13 years, Larry brings a uniquely informed perspective to issues such as workplace disclosure, disability claims, and empowers others with Parkinson’s disease to live with clarity, confidence and dignity.
He holds Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) degrees from the University of the Witwatersrand, in Johannesburg, South Africa, aAnd is a Certified Specialist by the Law Society of Ontario. Larry also serves as a Board Member at Parkinson Canada and is an Ambassador at the Davis Phinney Foundation, in the United States. Larry is an avid cyclist, runner, and swimmer, and enjoys music as a semi-professional Percussionist.
Kelly Soifer
Kelly Soifer comes with with 35+ years of experience in leadership and management development. She has long-term experience with students, churches, non-profits, academic institutions, business and intercultural contexts. She is certified by the International Coaching Federation.
Kelly especially loves to help organizations of all sizes figure out how to develop and maintain pervasive culture that lives among their employees. Her goal is to partner with leadership and managers to strengthen the soft skills needed to get stuff done, collaborate well, manage interpersonal dynamics, and connect with clients, boards, and investors.
Other than that: She has lived in Santa Barbara for over 40 years (yessss!!), drives a scooter or rides a bike instead of a car, and blogs a bit a www.ksleadershipdevelop.me. And pertinent to today’s conversation, she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 2018, yet has continued to coach many organizations and clients since then. She also serves as an ambassador for the Davis Phinney Foundation, especially focusing on supporting those who have been newly diagnosed with Parkinson’s.
David Share
David Share is the President, Managing Director, and co-founder of Share Lawyers. David’s practice is devoted to disability insurance litigation and he represents disabled clients with compassion and sensitivity.
David has been practicing law since 1985. He is a member of both the Ontario and the New York Bars. David is very well respected within the legal community; he has spoken at many conferences, been interviewed in the media, and is often called upon by his colleagues within the legal profession for his experience and knowledge in his practice area. David served as an Adjunct Professor at Osgoode Hall Law School in the Trial Advocacy Course for 12 years and is an active member of many associations including the Law Society of Ontario, the Advocates’ Society, the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association (where he is currently serving as Chair of the LTD section), and the American Association of Justice, and is reconigzed by Lexpert as distinguished in the long term disability law category in 2025. David has extensive experience in settlement negotiation of Disability insurance claims, as well as in mediations, arbitrations, and trials. As president and managing director, he oversees the progress of each of the firm’s cases and provides input and seasoned counsel to the firm’s lawyers. Clients can rest assured that David’s experience is at work for them.
Bryan Gilmartin
Bryan is a Partner at WEL Partners in Toronto, Ontario, where he practices exclusively in the areas of wills, trusts, estates, powers of attorney, guardianship, and capacity-related litigation. Since 2020, Bryan has also mediated estate and trust related disputes.
Bryan has worked on matters at all levels of court, including the Ontario Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada. Moreover, Bryan is a prolific writer and speaker. He is frequently asked to speak at conferences throughout Canada and around the world. His articles have been published in the Globe and Mail and the Estates Trusts and Pensions Journal, he regularly presents at Continuing Legal Education programs, and he has been named in Best Lawyers: “Ones to Watch” since 2021.
Bryan recently completed the Harvard Mediation Intensive through the Program on Negotation at Harvard Law School. He is a Member at Large on the Canadian Bar Association Wills, Estates and Trusts Law Section and a member of the Baycrest Foundation Professional Advisory Group.
Maureen Haan
Maureen Haan is the President and CEO of the Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work (CCRW), Canada’s only national organization solely dedicated to the vision of equitable and meaningful employment for people with disabilities.
Maureen serves as Canada’s civil society lead on Article 27 (Work and Employment) of the United Nations CRPD and was involved with Civil Society at the G7 in Italy and with APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) in Peru.
Maureen co-leads the Disability and Work in Canada initiative, serves as a Board member of Accessibility Standards Canada and the Canadian Association of Supported Employment (CASE). She was also appointed to the Minister’s Disability Advisory Group (MDAG). In recognition of her dedication to disability rights and gender equity, Maureen was the recipient of the inaugural Hummingbird Award from DAWN Canada.
Maureen began her career in the Deaf community and is fluent in American Sign Language (ASL). She lives in Thornhill with her husband and two sons.
Dr. Erin Presant
Dr. Erin Presant, DO, CCMS, DipABLM is board certified in Neurology, Culinary Medicine and Lifestyle Medicine. She completed a fellowship in Movement Disorders including special training in Deep Brain Stimulation at Vanderbilt University and has 15 years of clinical experience treating people with Parkinson’s Disease in both academic and community settings. Currently she is the owner of a private practice in Santa Barbara, California- Central Coast Lifestyle Neurology Medical Group- where she incorporates Lifestyle Medicine into her care for her patients with Parkison’s Disease. She is a frequent speaker for non-profit organizations nationwide, and has been a keynote speaker addressing the intersection of Lifestyle Medicine and Neurologic care, especially the prevention of neurodegenerative diseases and improving quality of life for those already diagnosed with neurodegenerative diseases. Dr. Presant believes that by combining evidence- based Lifestyle Medicine with evidence-based medical and surgical treatments for Parkinson’s Disease she can help people to feel more empowered and improve their quality of life while living with this chronic disease.
Elizabeth "Eli" Pollard
Elizabeth “Eli” Pollard (Executive Director) has been with the World Parkinson Coalition® from its inception in 2004 where she helped steer the organization, alongside world renowned Parkinsonologist and WPC founder, Dr. Stanley Fahn. Since 2006 she has also worked for the Parkinson’s Foundation overseeing their professional education programming and strategy where she is the VP, Chief Education and Training Officer. Wearing these two hats has given Eli a broad view of the Parkinson’s community and work that needs to be done to make progress and support people with PD.
At the WPC, Eli worked to grow WPC Inc. from its sole purpose, of hosting a triennial global Congress on Parkinson’s disease, to its more meaningful place in the community today, as a hub for many of the global PD organizations to connect and intersect. Eli’s work with WPC has been cited as a model event in the meeting industry for its legacy “Parkinson Ready” program which first launched at the WPC 2010 in Glasgow. Eli is thrilled with the opportunity to offer new ideas that haven’t yet been explored in the Parkinson’s space and to watch as leading researchers, clinicians, people with Parkinson’s and others work together to bring us new treatments, and to finding the cause(s) of Parkinson’s all while moving us closer to finding a cure for the disease.
At the PF, Eli has worked for more than 20 years to expand the education and training opportunities for health care professionals, with the ultimate goal to ensure people with Parkinson’s get the best and safest care possible throughout their lives as the disease progresses.