Joel Gerstel
Joel Gerstel is the Executive Director of the American Parkinson Disease Association. Born and raised in Long Island, New York, he received his BA degree from New York University. In 1997 he was named the Association’s executive director. Previously he was director of operations and prior to that he’d served as a member of the Association’s board of directors. His previous administrative experience included nine years as development director for the Pride of Judea Mental Health Center, Douglaston, New York. Under his leadership, the Association doubled its operational budget, expanded its national network to become the largest grass-root organization serving Americans with Parkinson disease in the United States, and moved from rented quarters into it first national headquarters building. In 2003, he was appointed to represent the Parkinson disease community on the Transportation Security Administration’s Disability Coalition, a division of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
