An interview with Vy Dang: Movement Is Medicine: Advocacy, Education, and Hope for Parkinson’s
Biography
Vy Dang is a Doctor of Physical Therapy based in Texas with a strong clinical interest in neurologic rehabilitation, movement disorders, and Parkinson’s disease. Through her clinical work and VyInMotion advocacy, she focuses on helping people better understand movement, exercise, and practical strategies that can support daily life with Parkinson’s.
Please tell me a little about your background.
I am a physical therapist with a special interest in Parkinson’s disease, neurologic rehabilitation, and movement-based care. My background includes Parkinson’s-specific education, including LSVT BIG and PWR! Moves, and ongoing learning through conferences, research updates, and patient-centered practice.
Can you tell me more about your Advocacy?
My advocacy focuses on making Parkinson’s education practical, accessible, and realistic for individuals, families, and caregivers. I hope to bridge the gap between research, clinical recommendations, and the real-life challenges patients face when symptoms, transportation, finances, cognition, or caregiver support make care more complicated.
What is your passion and how did you get involved in Parkinson’s awareness and hope for a cure?
My passion is helping people with Parkinson’s move with more confidence, safety, and independence. I became more involved in Parkinson’s awareness through my clinical work, where I saw how much education, hope, and individualized movement strategies can change a person’s quality of life.
What type of goals do individuals with Parkinson’s have when seeing your Advocacy?
Many individuals with Parkinson’s want to understand how movement and exercise can help them maintain independence, reduce fear of falling, and stay engaged in daily life. My goal is to help them feel more informed, empowered, and hopeful rather than overwhelmed by the diagnosis.
What type of training and how long are the programs?
In the clinic, training is individualized based on each person’s stage, symptoms, safety needs, and goals. Programs may include balance training, gait training, amplitude-based movement, strength, endurance, dual-task practice, and home education, often over several weeks with ongoing progression.
What effect can your Advocacy have on an individual with Parkinson’s?
I hope my advocacy helps individuals with Parkinson’s feel less alone and more empowered to understand their symptoms, ask better questions, and seek care that fits their real life. Even when a person cannot follow a perfect plan, there are still meaningful strategies that can improve confidence, safety, movement, and quality of life.
What would you like to see as a future goal for your Advocacy?
My future goal is to create practical Parkinson’s education and resources that support not only ideal exercise candidates, but also individuals with more complex needs such as freezing of gait, fatigue, cognitive changes, pain, transportation barriers, or limited caregiver support. I hope to help make evidence-informed care more adaptable to real-world patients and eventually expand that education to Vietnamese and Asian communities.
What events do you participate in?
I participate in continuing education, Parkinson’s-focused conferences, and awareness events that help me stay connected to current research and patient-centered care. Attending the World Parkinson Congress deepened my motivation to bring research, clinical care, and lived experiences closer together.
How does this also assist the caregivers?
Caregivers often need education just as much as the person with Parkinson’s, because they are involved in daily support, safety, and encouragement. Clear education can help caregivers understand symptoms, reduce frustration, and support movement in a way that promotes independence rather than fear.
How can someone get in touch? What is your website?
The best way to connect with me is through my social media platform, VyInMotion, where I share movement and Parkinson’s education. My website is still in development, but I plan to continue building more accessible resources for the Parkinson’s community.
How can others also become advocates for awareness?
Anyone can become an advocate by sharing accurate information, listening to people with Parkinson’s, supporting caregivers, and helping reduce stigma. Advocacy does not have to be large at first; even one honest conversation can help someone feel seen and understood.
How can Parkinson’s care better support people who do not fit the ideal treatment plan?
Many individuals face cognitive changes, fatigue, freezing of gait, transportation barriers, insurance limitations, or caregiver challenges, and they deserve practical guidance too.
In your opinion, what is the key to effective advocacy?
The key to effective advocacy is combining compassion with accurate, evidence-informed education. People need hope, but they also deserve information that is realistic, practical, and respectful of their individual journey.
How can we better fundraise to support a cure for Parkinson’s?
Fundraising becomes more meaningful when people understand the real lives behind the disease. Sharing patient stories, caregiver experiences, and clear explanations of how donations support research and care can inspire more people to take action.
What other activities do you undertake to help improve and support your daily living Eg exercise and alternative remedies?
For my own daily life, I prioritize movement, continuing education, reflection, and wellness routines that help me stay grounded as a clinician and advocate. In my clinical message, I encourage people to discuss exercise and any complementary approaches with their healthcare team so their plan is safe and individualized.
Why should people who don’t have Parkinson’s care about this?
Parkinson’s affects not only the person diagnosed, but also families, caregivers, workplaces, and communities. Even if someone does not have Parkinson’s, awareness matters because compassion, research, and better care systems benefit everyone.
Have you had any family members or relatives affected by Parkinson’s disease?
I do not have a close personal family story with Parkinson’s disease, but my connection comes from my patients and the people I have met through clinical care and advocacy. Their resilience and daily challenges are what continue to inspire me to keep learning and sharing.
If you had one song that would tell us more about you or represent your life, which song would it be?
I’d have to go with ‘Glamorous’ by Fergie. I love high energy, aesthetics, and celebrating the good things in life, but what I love most about that track is the underlying message: no matter how high you fly or what you build, you stay grounded and you remember the hard work it took to get there. It represents carrying yourself with confidence, bringing a little sparkle to what you do, but always keeping your feet on the ground.
If you had one final statement or quote you could leave for the Parkinson’s community, what would it be?
Movement is medicine, and hope is action. Every small step, every intentional movement, and every day of support can still matter deeply.
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TogetherForSharon® In memory of my mother, Sharon to voice awareness & hope for a Parkinson’s Disease cure. Sharon’s Son, George
Support https://www.togetherforsharon.com/shop/
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