March 22nd Speakers, Jeff Laethem and Mary Sue Lanigan
Published on 3/22/2022
Jeff Laethem and Mary Sue Lanigan
Michigan Parkinson Foundation
Parkinson’s disease affects approximately 1.5 million people in the United States. Although Parkinson’s disease most commonly affects people over age 60, it can occur as early as age 20.
When Jeff Lathem’s father was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, he left school to be totally immersed in the family’s car dealership business.
Mary Sue Lanigan, CEO
In addition to being Chairman of the Michigan Parkinson Foundation, Laethem is actively involved with the St. John Hospital Guild, is an officer of the Children’s Charity at Adios and a Director of the Grosse Pointe Youth Nautical Education Foundation. An avid boater, enthusiastic singer, and struggling golfer, Jeff, his wife Alysia, and their three children live in GP Shores.
Mary Sue Lanigan is the Chief Executive Officer of the Michigan Parkinson Foundation, an organization that provides direct patient services and education to people living with Parkinson’s disease and their families. The Foundation is headquartered in Bingham Farms, serving the entire state of Michigan. Mary Sue has been with the foundation for six years.
Jeff Lathem, Chairman
Prior to that, Mary Sue was the Development Director for the Arthritis Foundation, Great Lakes Region for fifteen years. Additionally, she is a patient educator at the Cleveland Clinic and community education director at the Diabetes Association of Greater Cleveland. Mary Sue has 31 years of experience in program development for chronic disease management in both the non-profit and the private sector.
She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Community Health Education from Kent State University. The website of the Michigan Parkinson Foundation is www.parkinsonmi.org