Welcome! Sign up for a class. (Your first visit is free! 🎉)
Welcome! Sign up for a class. (Your first visit is free! 🎉)
Until Parkinson’s disease is cured, we will help those with Parkinson’s and their care partners to feel supported, connected and educated on how to live their lives to the fullest.
Got Parkinson’s — bad day
Looked it up — no way
Found others — said Hey
Learned more — only way
Fight unknown — every day
Find a way to be OK
Be you, come what may
When Derek was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2018, he and his wife, Bonnie, faced an overwhelming question: How do we tell our children? That moment marked the beginning of their journey—not just in navigating the challenges of the disease, but in creating a space where others could find support, guidance, and community.
Derek had spent over 30 years in finance, including 21 years at Morgan Stanley, working in both the United States and the United Kingdom. His passion for lifelong learning led him to Harvard University’s Advanced Leadership Initiative as a research fellow and to earning an MA in Contemporary Art from Sotheby’s Institute of Art in New York. In addition to his career and studies, Derek remains actively involved in philanthropy, serving as a senior consultant for Sustainable H2O and as an advisory board member at Harvard’s Carr Center for Human Rights Policy.
Bonnie, a retired banker, built an extensive career across Europe, Asia, and the U.S. with Morgan Stanley and NatWest Markets. In 2022, she completed a fellowship with Harvard’s Advanced Leadership Initiative, focusing on racial and gender equity. She is an advocate for progress and change, serving on the board of the Michael J. Fox Foundation, the board of trustees at the University of Pennsylvania—her alma mater—and the director’s council at the Guggenheim Museum.
Born in Taiwan to Chinese and Korean parents, Bonnie grew up in Japan. She and Derek, a native Canadian, have been married for 37 years and have four children. Together, they also own and manage Podere Tramonti Societa Agricola Srl, an agritourism business in Tuscany, Italy, dedicated to producing olive oil and wine.
Parkinson’s can be an isolating diagnosis. It can cause individuals to withdraw, to suppress their fears, and to quietly endure the challenges ahead. But Derek and Bonnie know that support, openness, and connection make all the difference—not just for the person living with Parkinson’s, but for their loved ones as well.
That belief led to the creation of the Parkinson’s Wellness Foundation (PWF)—a place where individuals with Parkinson’s, their families, and care partners can find support for their physical and mental well-being. As symptoms progress, managing the disease requires a strong, multidisciplinary team. PWF is here to help individuals build those networks, ensuring they have the right resources in place.
But beyond health support, PWF is about community. It’s a space where people can ask questions, share experiences, and find reassurance that they are not alone. Whether in person or online, PWF fosters a sense of belonging—because living well with Parkinson’s isn’t just about managing symptoms.
Bonnie co-founded the Parkinson’s Wellness Foundation with her husband, Derek, in 2024, launching New York City’s first dedicated space for holistic Parkinson’s support. A retired managing director at Morgan Stanley, she built an extensive trading career spanning Europe, Asia, and the U.S., with global responsibility for Asian and Latin American trading, and she served on the firm’s Management Committee for EMEA. In 2022, she completed a fellowship with Harvard’s Advanced Leadership Initiative. Bonnie currently serves on the executive board of The Michael J. Fox Foundation and has previously served on the boards of the University of Pennsylvania and Wharton, her alma maters. Bonnie is co-chair of the Constellation Committee at the Guggenheim Museum and is a native Mandarin Chinese speaker.
Derek co-founded the Parkinson’s Wellness Foundation with his wife, Bonnie, in 2024, launching New York City’s first dedicated space for holistic Parkinson’s support. He spent the first 22 years of his career at Morgan Stanley, where his roles included Head of Equities for EMEA and a seat on the firm’s Management Committee for the region. He joined Citi in 2008 and was the Global Head of Equities until 2016, when he retired. Derek completed a fellowship at Harvard’s Advanced Leadership Initiative in 2018. He currently serves on the American School in London Foundation Board and has previously served on the boards of Fuqua School of Business, Duke; the Carr Center for Human Rights, Harvard; and the Dean’s Advisory Council for the Graduate School of Education, also at Harvard. Derek is Canadian.
Deborah Li Cohen MD graduated Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1987. As a non-practicing physician, she has dedicated her career to community service, advocacy, and support for vulnerable populations. She served on the board of Community Mainstreaming Associates, where she created art and exercise programs for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Committed to supporting survivors of violence, she worked for the San Miguel Resource Center answering calls on their Domestic Violence Hotline and served as a Domestic and Sexual Assault Emergency Room Advocate with the Nassau County SAFE Center. In Telluride, CO, she volunteers with TASP, the local adaptive ski program. Her work reflects a longstanding commitment to service and support, empowerment, and strengthening the communities she serves.
Dr. Di Rocco serves as the system director for Parkinson’s and Movement Disorders at Northwell Health. He is a professor of neurology at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, and is a member of the Medical Advisory Board at the Parkinson’s Wellness Foundation.
Dave was the Global Vice Chair of Finance and CFO, as well as a member of the Global Board at EY, a leading professional services organization. In his CFO role, he led all of EY’s finance related activities including finance, investments, treasury, and tax, as well as EY’s network of shared service centers. Prior to his role as Global Vice Chair Finance, Dave was EY’s Global Vice Chair -Tax, leading EY’s 35,000 Tax professionals around the world.
Since retiring from EY, Dave has been a Senior Advisor at Towerbrook Capital Partners. He currently serves on the board of four Towerbrook investee companies.
Dave is passionate about helping people with Parkinson’s having seen his father battle the disease.
Karsten Moller brings more than four decades of global financial leadership across New York, London, and Frankfurt. Most recently he was a Managing Director at HPS Investment Partners, where he developed core institutional investor relationships and built the firm’s insurance franchise. Previously, he served as Managing Director at Highbridge Principal Strategies (HPS) in London expanding its network across equity sponsors, banks, and intermediaries throughout the UK and Continental Europe. From 2007 to 2009, he was Executive Vice President and Head of Europe and Asia at SIFMA, where he led the creation of the Association for Financial Markets in Europe (AFME) through the merger of SIFMA Europe and the London Investment Banking Association. Karsten spent 16 years with Goldman Sachs in NY, Frankfurt and London and retired as a partner in 2002. He is now retired and lives on a farm in Connecticut with his wife.
Mehrdad is one of the Founding Partners of Global Infrastructure Partners, a leading infrastructure focused private equity firm, now part of BlackRock. Prior to the founding of Global Infrastructure Partners in 2006, he worked in investment banking and finance at GE Capital, Credit Suisse First Boston, and Barclays in New York and London. He currently serves on the boards of Right to Play, Sharon Hospital, and The Basics. He has also volunteered on the Entrepreneurship Advisory Council at the Tufts University School of Nutrition. Mehrdad is a graduate of the University of Colorado and has an MBA from the Stern School of Business at New York University. He was an Advanced Leadership Initiative Fellow at Harvard University in 2019.
Catherine Rocco Goodwin is the Executive Director of the Parkinson’s Wellness Foundation. She has worked alongside the founders on the development of a first-of-its-kind wellness and resource center in New York City to support individuals living with Parkinson’s and their caregivers. She is the Founder and former CEO of Exceed Physical Culture, a multi-location fitness and wellness organization built on inclusive, human-centered values.
Catherine also serves as a board member and children’s wellness advocate with Spence-Chapin Services to Families & Children, contributing to governance, development initiatives, and hands-on care for infants awaiting permanent placement.
Earlier in her career, she held leadership roles with Jim Henson Productions, Marvel Comics, and USA Networks, bringing expertise in strategic partnerships, brand development, and growth. She holds a Master of Public Administration & Policy (2022) from American University and a BA from Denison University.
David Steinberger is the co-founder and CEO of DSTLRY. He previously co-founded comiXology, which became the leading digital comics platform in the United States and was acquired by Amazon in 2014. Steinberger continued to lead global digital comics and manga at Amazon until 2022, helping to expand access to digital reading and support independent creators. In mid 2022, Steinberger co-founded DSTLRY, a groundbreaking physical/digital comic and collectibles company, including neonichiban.com. Steinberger holds an MBA from The NYU Stern School of Business and vocal performance degrees from Manhattan School of Music (Masters) and The Juilliard School (Advanced Certificate).
Board Members of the Parkinson’s Wellness Foundation serve on a voluntary basis and are not compensated. The expenses they incur while serving are not reimbursed.
Mirken Family Chair, Professor of Neurology, Mount Sinai
Director, Parkinson Foundation Center of Excellence, UPenn
Assistant Professor of Neurology, Mount Sinai
Medical Director, Movement Disorders Neuromodulation and Brain Circuit Therapeutics, Mount Sinai
Certified Boxing Trainer, PD Exercise Specialist
Moving Brains Neurological Care
Director of Sports Research, New Balance
Dave Patton
Head Coach, RockSteady Boxing, New York Institute of Technology
The Significance of the Olive Branch
The olive branch in our logo symbolizes strength, resilience, and connection—core values of the Parkinson’s Wellness Foundation. Like the olive tree, our community endures and thrives through challenges. It also represents growth, support, and the power of coming together.
A future where every person impacted by Parkinson’s has access to the resources, support, and community that ensure the best quality of life—until our future no longer includes Parkinson’s.
Our mission is to empower people with Parkinson’s to live their fullest lives. Join us as we cultivate connection and community through evidence-based programming and education, both physical and mindful.
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