Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences and Endeavor Parkinsonology welcomes Dr. Ray Dorsey, a nationally recognized pioneer, practitioner and leader in digital health and telemedicine, as the keynote speaker for the Fall 2025 Zoota Family Leaders in Parkinson’s Disease speaker series Oct. 11.
Dorsey will present the findings of his new book, The Parkinson’s Plan, co-authored with fellow Zoota series speaker, Dr. Michael Okun. The book highlights the chemicals in our food, water and air that are fueling the rise of the disease. With the causes identified, Dorsey and Okun then present the Parkinson's 25, a checklist to help prevent or slow the progression of Parkinson’s Disease
The Zoota Family Leaders in Parkinson’s Disease speaker series was founded in 2023, thanks to an endowment fund established by the Zoota family of Fort Worth, in honor of Eleanor and Murray Zoota.
“The Zoota family have been instrumental in supporting research, education and community outreach in Parkinson’s disease at TCU,” Christopher Watts, Marilyn and Morgan Davies Dean of Harris College, said. “Their endowment support of this speaker series allows us to bring in global thought leaders to engage the community and region and bring us up to date on cutting-edge topics in the neurodegenerative disease space.”
After Zoota’s Parkinson’s diagnosis in 2013, his wife, Eleanor, began searching for ways to slow the progression of the disease. This search led her to Punching Out Parkinson’s (POP), a program founded by former professional boxer Paulie Ayala to help Parkinson’s patients improve and retain their mobility, strength, vocal health and balance through boxing.
In 2022, Watts partnered with POP to study how boxing influences those with Parkinson’s. It was then that the Zoota family connected with TCU and began supporting Watts’ research efforts.
In addition to endowing the Leaders in Parkinson’s series, the family is supporting TCU Gives Day as the challenge donor for Harris College.
The Zoota Family Leaders in Parkinson’s Disease speaker series is open to all. Visit the TCU calendar for details and registration.