Our Story
CureNow:PD was founded by Michelle Hespeler and Steve DeWitte, two individuals who understand first hand the daily struggles of living with Parkinson’s disease. They started CureNow:PD as early-onset patients with a deep passion to push research forward and bring real hope to others facing this challenge. For Michelle and Steve, clinical trials and studies are more than just science—they are lifelines that can lead to better treatments and brighter futures.
At its core, CureNow:PD is about building meaningful connections—connecting doctors, researchers, and patients to break down barriers and work together toward progress. We partner with top institutions like Yale, and major health organizations like Hartford HealthCare, to ensure the best ideas are shared and acted upon. Our mission is to offer constructive suggestions for improvement in all areas of the Parkinson’s experience, from research to care, and to work collaboratively to drive positive, incremental change wherever we can. Most importantly, we make sure the voices of those living with Parkinson’s are heard and valued every step of the way.
Steve and Michelle’s work has resulted in the Proof of Concept of CureNow:PD Ambassador Program—a proven initiative that empowers individuals with Parkinson’s to bridge the gap between research and their participation, through face-to-face outreach. By bringing the patient community and researchers closer together, the Ambassador Program has the power to create lasting change, ensuring that every voice matters and every effort counts in the fight against Parkinson’s.
Our Tenets:
- Coordinated, Prioritized Research Agenda: NIH, Foundations, Pharma, Academic
- Collaborative Governance: Foundations Must Share Research Data
- Jargon-Free Communications With Patients
- Continuous Improvement at every level: surveys, metrics, dashboards, embedded
- A Drive Towards Personalized Medicine & Treatments
- Recruitment based on priority to PwP’s; standardized approach based on best practices; Ambassadors make it personal
- Expanded diversity to mirror that in PwP population