About me
María L. De León M.D. is a fellowship trained movement disorder specialist as well as an avid research advocate, patient, and caregiver. Over the last 2 decades, she has spent most of it her time championing women’s issues and setting ground for understanding of gender differences in neurological diseases particularly that of PD, while attempting to decrease the disparity in healthcare treatment among women and minorities through her work with various national and international organizations like WPC. She has been instrumental in developing the ‘Women & PD initiative" ( having penned the first book addressing gender/women issues in PD). Maria is also a passionate healthcare collaborator. Over the last decade, she has collaborated in various campaigns with scientists, clinicians, government institutions like NIH, FDA, and DOD as well as with the pharma industry from setting priorities, raising funds and awareness and access to care to clinical trial designs and post marketing studies to foster education and better living with Parkinson's around the globe. Last couple of years she has been involved Early PD- pro Project to identify early symptoms of PD through the Michael J Fox foundation. Also collaborated in women and PD project for WPC2023 releasing a pamphlet “In her shoes” as a guide for women with PD and having been part of first ever paper to document effect of PD medications on menstruation and vice versa. She has also authored 2 other bilingual books and several other publications, frequently cited as an expert in the field of women and Parkinson’s. Aside from her work with women and PD she works closely with the Hispanic Parkinson's community in the US as well as abroad helping to create ambassadors/promotores throughout Latin America and Spain through her work with Give for a Smile, Parkinson's foundation to decrease the disparity in healthcare treatment among minorities and increase genetic research participation through PD Generation study.
