Emory University is advancing Parkinson’s disease care with the launch of the first cohort of the Nurse Practitioner (NP) Fellowship in Movement Disorders, a program supported by a $1.8 million grant from the Parkinson’s Foundation (PF) and the McCamish Foundation.
The fellowship, first announced in July 2025, prepares nurse practitioners (NP) for advanced clinical practice in Parkinson’s disease and movement disorders at Emory Healthcare’s Movement Disorders Clinic, a designated Parkinson’s Foundation Center of Excellence.
“Parkinson’s disease care is becoming increasingly complex, and meeting the needs of a growing patient population requires innovative, team-based approaches,” says Jaffar Khan, MD, chair of the Department of Neurology at Emory University School of Medicine. “We are proud to welcome this new fellowship cohort and grateful for the philanthropic support that makes this specialized training possible. By investing in advanced education for nurse practitioners, we are expanding access to high-quality Parkinson’s care and strengthening the interdisciplinary approach that improves outcomes for patients and families.”
The yearlong immersive program combines clinical experience with interdisciplinary collaboration, enabling fellows to work closely with movement disorders specialists, physician fellows and other care professionals. Fellows also receive virtual training and coursework from the Parkinson’s Foundation before starting in-person training.
The 2026 NP Fellowship recipients at Emory are:
Tong Wang, adult-gerontology nurse practitioner —Wang began her NP career in 2019 and currently works at Emory Johns Creek Hospital in the neurology and orthopedics surgical departments. Her neuroscience experience includes roles at Emory Rehabilitation Hospital and the Emory Neurointensive Care Unit. Her commitment to Parkinson’s care is informed by her personal experience as a care partner for her mother, who lived with Parkinson’s for more than 20 years.
Elsa Mekonnen, adult-gerontology nurse practitioner — Mekonnen is a former research NP at Emory University School of Medicine, where she conducted human physiology research. She has published multiple peer-reviewed studies and has more than 10 years of clinical nursing experience across acute care and research settings.
Over the next three years, the Emory fellowship will prepare a total of eight nurse practitioners for independent practice in Parkinson’s and movement disorders care, aiming to improve patient and care partner experiences, support providers and reduce wait times for specialized appointments.
The Parkinson’s Foundation first launched the Nurse Practitioner Fellowship in 2022. The Emory host site is part of the Parkinson’s Foundation Global Care Network, an international group of 55 medical centers, including 42 in the United States, recognized for leadership in Parkinson’s research and care.
Click here to learn more about Parkinson’s and movement disorders at Emory Healthcare.