Meet David Zid and Jackie Russell

David Zid and Jackie Russell have collaborated on the book, Delay the Disease - Exercise and Parkinson's Disease. They have partnered to create and manage a weekly exercise class for people with Parkinson's in Columbus, Ohio. They are also quite active with speaking engagements nationally regarding managing the symptoms of Parkinson's disease with exercise. Their presentations are educational, inspirational, humorous and interactive. They have developed an instructional course to assist interested groups in starting a Delay the Disease community exercise program. Read on to find out about them, and how they became involved in the Parkinson's community.

DAVID ZID – BA, ACE, APG certified personal and functional fitness trainer

 Zid is a graduate of The Ohio State University and has been a professional fitness instructor in Columbus, Ohio since 1997.  Certified through ACE and APG as a personal trainer and functional fitness trainer, respectively, he is the owner and president of Columbus Health Works, a personal training company that he started in 1999.  As an energetic coach for hundreds of clients and other personal trainers, he has developed a special interest in the older adult client. 

 

His focus on Parkinson’s disease clients has been very rewarding.  Currently, he values the time he spends as the leader and creator of a group exercise class specifically designed for people with Parkinson’s disease. There are presently 5 Delay the Disease exercise classes weekly in Columbus.  Zid is the author of the book and corresponding DVD “Delay the Disease – Exercise and Parkinson’s Disease”. He and his partner, Jackie Russell, RN are working on a new book/DVD  “Functional Fitness – Delay the Disease II”.    These will be short exercise agendas that are based on a functional task that may be challenging to the Parkinson’s individual (i.e., freezing, getting out of the car, getting out of bed, getting off the floor).

 

David and Jackie’s most recent endeavor is the creation of an instructional certification course for Delay the Disease.  It includes detailed information on starting a community-based Parkinson’s-specific exercise program, as well as a “train the trainer” component that instructs techniques for teaching and creating the exercise programs.

 

Delay the Disease book and video are both available on Amazon and at www.delaythedisease.com.

 

David and Jackie have been well-received as presenters at many Parkinson’s support group meetings and symposiums nationally, and most recently in Ontario, Canada.  They were proud to be invited to speak at the recent APDA/NPF sponsored National Young Onset Symposium in Dallas, Texas in October.  Visit the Symposia page to see a full list of their travels.

 

His book and DVD are also featured in the resource center at the Muhammad Ali Parkinson’s Center in Phoenix, AZ.

JACKIE RUSSELL – RN, BSN, CNOR

Jackie Russell is a nurse in Columbus, Ohio that has a dedicated interest in the treatment of Parkinson’s patients.  She graduated from The Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1979 and is credentialed with professional achievement in perioperative nursing (CNOR) and ACLS certified.  She has been employed in a variety of nursing specialties including neurosurgery, orthopaedic surgery, oculoplastic surgery and critical care cardiology nursing.  Her intrigue with Parkinson’s disease (PD) began when her mother-in-law was afflicted and eventually succumbed to this progressive illness.  While she was employed for a group of orthopaedic surgeons, the senior partner, Thomas Mallory, M.D., was diagnosed with PD.  She has collaborated with Dr. Mallory and a professional fitness trainer, David Zid, to develop this Parkinson’s specific exercise plan. She remains committed to educating the PD patient by assisting in a weekly Parkinson’s exercise class in Columbus taught by David Zid. 

 

Additionally, she has been a featured speaker with David at many Parkinson’s conferences throughout the country  She functioned as an editorial assistant for Dr. Mallory in writing his memoirs, The Man Behind the Mask – Journey of an Orthopaedic Surgeon, published by The University of Missouri Press in 2007.  This book isan inspiring account of his life as a renowned hip replacement surgeon whose career came to an abrupt halt with the diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. His response to this diagnosis is an exemplary lesson for all.  Russell authored an article in Today’s Caregiver magazine in 2006, and was honored to author an article in the Summer 2008 issue of the European Parkinson’s Nurses Network, a European medical journal circulated throughout the world, entitled Exercise: the Positive Effects.  She was recently again published in the Sept/Oct 2009 and Feb 2010 issue of AgingWell Magazine.

 

Jackie was voted one of Central Ohio’s 20 Outstanding Women You Should Know (January 2009) for her work with the Parkinson’s Community. She shares David’s enthusiasm for their new book/DVD “Functional Fitness – Delay the Disease II” and instructional course on creating a community-based PD exercise program.