Lorraine Wilson, EdD
Professor Emerita, Dept. of Kinesiology and Nutrition
Abilene Christian University
Lorraine Wilson grew up in CA, WA and MI before moving to TX to attend Abilene Christian University and Texas Tech. She taught for 41 years and spent much of her time outside of the classroom running, swimming and riding bikes but her true love was scuba diving. She delighted in teaching others to dive and led travel groups to locations around the globe. She was an advocate for water safety, which found her teaching swim instructors and lifeguards year after year.
Lorraine was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2017. Not one to sit and wait for things to happen, she asked a small group of colleagues to join together as a research team to study types of exercise for persons with Parkinson’s. They said “yes!”
In 2018 Lorraine became a Davis Phinney Foundation for Parkinson’s Disease ambassador and contributor to Parkinsonsdisease.net. She was asked to take charge of the local support group. She said “yes!”
Lorraine knows that knowledge, exercise, and support have helped her live well with Parkinson’s thus far. She focuses on what she calls the fab five: physical, spiritual, social, emotional and creative wellness. This is the foundation of PCA as we work toward making more people aware of what it is like to live with Parkinson’s, advocate for those who need help, and hold meetings, exercise and special events for all who join us.
Lindsay Spindler, PhD
Professor/Department Chair/Graduate Program Director
Department of Kinesiology, Health and Recreation
Hardin-Simmons University
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Dr. Lindsay Spindler arrived in Abilene from South Africa in the early 1990s as a student and track and field athlete at Abilene Christian University. Her graduate work was at Tarleton State and the University of Houston. She shares her faith abroad and at home, and IN her home where she hosts many a meal with a variety of guests, always including international students.
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Lindsay has been at HSU for 17 years teaching undergraduate and graduate classes. She often works with students to complete various research projects related to exercise science, but her love is being in the classroom, teaching. She is involved in many facets of the Abilene community. Lindsay serves her local church in various capacities and strives to bring awareness and education about the importance of health and exercise to the people of the Big Country.
Julie St. John, PhD(c), DrPH, MPH, MA, CHWI
Associate Professor | Office of Research and Innovation | School of Health Professions
Texas Tech University
Julie St. John is an Associate Professor in the Office of Research and Innovation, School of Health Professions, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Abilene. Dr. St. John has served as the principal and co-investigator on numerous projects in rural and underserved areas that utilized community based participatory research approaches. Dr. St. John completed a fellowship with the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) and a fellowship with the Rural Health Fellows Program and a Rural Scholar with The F. Marie Hall Institute for Rural and Community Health, TTUHSC.
Her scope of work includes: teaching; research; health status assessments; strategic and operational planning; continuums of care; implementation science; program evaluation; community partnerships facilitation; Community Health Worker (CHW) training; and program development. Dr. St. John has served as the principal and co-investigator on numerous projects in rural and underserved areas that utilized community based participatory research approaches. She is currently the PI on a colorectal cancer prevention and screening grant funded by Cancer Prevention Research of Institute of Texas; and a Co-PI on an NIH funded maternal health implementation science grant.
Dr. St. John completed a fellowship with the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) “Rural Health Fellows Program” and a Rural Scholar fellowship with The F. Marie Hall Institute for Rural and Community Health, TTUHSC. She Also published a CHW textbook as lead editor titled, “Promoting the Health of the Community – Community Health Workers Describing their Roles, Competencies, and Practice,” with Springer in April 2021. She has also taught several undergraduate and graduate courses and works internationally on various public health initiatives.
Brady Holcomb, PT, DPT, OCS
Assistant Professor
Department of Physical Therapy
Hardin-Simmons University
Brady Holcomb is an Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Hardin-Simmons University. He is originally from Sweetwater, TX and loves the Big Country and serving the students and patients that are located here in Abilene. He first became interested in working with persons with Parkinson's (PWP) when he was in Physical Therapy school in Arkansas. He obtained a certification in LSVT Big for treatment of movement dysfunction related to the disease and has been invested in working with PWP ever since. He is excited about the work of PCA within the community and looks forward to continuing to grow resources for the Abilene area.
Donna Walls, OTD, OTR, CHT
Associate Professor/Assistant Chair
Department of Occupational Therapy
Abilene Christian University
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Dr. Donna Walls earned her BS in Occupational Therapy from Texas Woman’s University in 1986, MS in Clinical Practice Management from Texas Tech University in 2015, and a Doctoral in Occupational Therapy from Texas Woman’s University in 2018. Most of her clinical experience has been in rehabilitating the hand and upper extremity. She became a Certified Hand Therapist in 1992. After many years of clinical practice, she began teaching full-time at ACU in 2015. She enjoys teaching courses dealing with rehabilitation for the adult population and those with hand and upper extremity injuries. Her passion is mentoring students to become life-long learners and to pursue their plans to become occupational therapists.
Annie Bane, PhD
Associate Professor
Sport and Exercise Science
West Texas A&M
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Annie grew up in the small town of Rogers, Texas, and describes herself as a "creative scientist." She earned her PhD from Baylor University, specializing in cardiovascular physiology and nutrition. Her journey into Parkinson’s research began when her mentor, Lorraine Wilson, introduced her to the field—but it became her passion as she met more and more people with Parkinson’s and fell in love with the community.
Annie’s research focuses on autonomic dysfunction, nutrient timing, and vascular health in individuals with Parkinson’s disease. She founded "Periodization with Parkinson's" to explore structured exercise programming and now programs the exercise protocols for PROPEL at Hardin-Simmons University.
Driven by curiosity and compassion, Annie continues to bridge science and creativity in her work, striving to enhance the lives of those with Parkinson’s through research, education, and movement.
Jill Jumper, PT, DPT, PhD, GCS
Dean, College of Health Professions
Associate Professor, Department of Physical Therapy
Hardin-Simmons University
Jill Jumper grew up in Florida and Oklahoma before moving to Texas to attend college. She has been married for 34 years to her husband, Alan, and has 3 children and 4 grandchildren. She loves to spend time with her family and play pickleball with friends.
Jill has 23 years of experience as a physical therapist with a focus on geriatrics in a variety of settings (outpatient, acute care, home health, inpatient rehab). In 2007, she teamed up with a neurologist in her community and began working one-on-one with people with Parkinson’s Disease in both the outpatient and home health settings. Her love for working with and treating people with Parkinson’s Disease began 18 years ago and continues to grow every day.
In 2017, Jill became part of a small, interdisciplinary group of women focused on research and advocacy for people with Parkinson’s Disease in the local community. Through this small group, the Parkinson’s Community of Abilene was started, and Jill is honored to serve on the Board as an advocate, therapist, and friend within this community.
Pricilla Wyatt, DNP, RN
Assistant Professor of Nursing,
Texas Tech University Health Science Center,
Traditional Undergraduate Program, Abilene, Tx
Pricilla grew up in Brownwood, Tx and moved to Abilene in 1994 to attend Abilene Christian University. After getting her registered nursing license, she worked at Hendrick Medical Center as an acute cardiac nurse caring for geriatric and adult patients for 16 years. After starting a family and establishing home in Abilene, she went on to get her Master’s degree in Nursing Education as well as a Doctorate of Nursing Practice. She then taught at ACU for 11 years and now teaches at Texas Tech School of Nursing here in Abilene. She loves watching her two teenage boys play their favorite sport, basketball, playing with her dog, Kobe, and getting outside and exercising.
After working with so many chronically ill patients over 16 years at the bedside, Pricilla particularly was drawn to elderly patients with chronic diseases such as Parkinson’s disease. As an expert in her field, she was asked to join a small group of colleagues as a research team to study types of exercise for persons with Parkinson’s. Her former professor at ACU and now friend and colleague, Lorraine Wilson, empowers her every day to know more about Parkinson’s Disease and how she can help.
Since 2019, Pricilla has volunteered a portion of her time to research, fundraising, and supporting the Parkinson’s Community of Abilene, a non-profit for the well-being of people with Parkinson’s in Abilene and the surrounding area. She serves as the secretary of this non-profit and continues to study and learn more about this disease and how to improve the quality of life for these individuals.
Vivian Lewis
Vivian Lewis is a native Texan. She grew up on a peanut farm in Cross Plains. She moved to Abilene and went to Cisco College and Hardin Simmons.
She is married to Danny Lewis. They have two children and many grandchildren. They have enjoyed “adopting” college students and their friends. They have fed, housed, and taken care of students as they transition from home life to college life. These students became “grandchildren.”
Danny farmed in the Abilene area all his life. Vivian retired from the Postal Service after 39 years.
In 1999, Danny's mother was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. This diagnosis caught them by surprise. She did shuffle her feet and had trouble swallowing but never suspected such a scary diagnosis.
In 2017 Danny was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. After the initial shock they began looking for answers. They started attending the Parkinson's group meetings. Danny found a program asking for volunteers to join a study involving people with Parkinson's. His journey to LIVE a good life with Parkinson's Disease started here. They met Dr. Annie Bane and Dr. Lorraine Wilson, who oversaw the study. Danny participated in this research and became a believer in exercise being the best medicine for
Parkinson's. These two women and the support group is a huge blessing to this community.
Vivian is active in PAC as a facilitator.
Renate Wrobel
Born in Vienna, Austria, Renate immigrated legally to the United States with her family in 1956. She completed her high school education in the U.S. and, in 1962, married the love of her life. Together, they raised three children while living in various cities, including a period abroad in the Philippines. In 1971, they settled in Abilene, Texas—a city their children proudly call home.
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Throughout her life, Renate has been deeply involved in her community, serving as Service Unit Chairman for the Girl Scouts of America and as a leader for the Boy Scouts of America. Professionally, she worked as a bookkeeper and tax preparer, held a brief position as General Manager of a local radio station, and later pursued a successful career in real estate. Committed to lifelong learning, she took courses at all four of Abilene’s universities to deepen her knowledge and enhance her professional skills.
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Three years ago, her husband was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease—a life-changing moment that reshaped their journey. Motivated by love and a desire to better understand and manage the condition, she became involved with the Parkinson’s community through the PCA, seeking education and support to help her husband navigate life with Parkinson’s.
Jan Bower
Jan has called Abilene home for 50 years. She was born and raised in Brownwood, Texas.
She married her high school sweetheart in 1974. She and Richard moved to Abilene to attend
Abilene Christian University.They have three children. Richard started a career as the director
of the School of Radiography at Hendrick Medical. Retiring after 45 years of service. Jan was a
stay at home mom until the children left home. She still treasures those years in her heart. Jan
began working as bookkeeper for the Frazier Foundation, business manager for Geophysical
Services and Products, and bookkeeper for the Brown Library at ACU. Shortly before retiring
she was diagnosed with Parkinsons. She was blessed to have colleagues at ACU who also
dealt with the disease. It was clear that the encouragement of others would help with the
Parkinson's journey.
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