323: Before We Left for Phoenix: Our World Parkinson Congress 2026 Preview

In this episode hosts, Erin Gallardo, PT, DPT, NCS and Claire McLean, PT, DPT, NCS share their excitement and plans for attending the 2026 World Parkinson Congress (WPC) in Phoenix, Arizona, a unique international conference that brings together people with Parkinson’s, care partners, therapists, physicians, and researchers. Drawing on their past experiences at WPC in Montreal, Portland, and Kyoto, they describe how special it is to attend this event as a full team this year, staying together in an Airbnb and connecting with colleagues and members from around the world. They highlight what makes WPC stand out from typical scientific meetings: its interdisciplinary focus, community-centered vibe, extensive wellness and exercise programming, creative projects, and direct involvement of people with Parkinson’s in scientific discussions. Claire and Erin also walk through the rich scientific and wellness schedule—from plenary lectures on cutting-edge research and prevention to workshops, round tables, debate-style “controversy” sessions, and a robust wellness program featuring exercise, meditation, and caregiver support. They close by emphasizing how WPC advances both research and advocacy, and by promising a follow-up conversation after the congress to share key takeaways and lessons learned.

We recorded this before heading to WPC — stay tuned for our follow-up episode with everything we learned!