Movement Disorders Foundation

Board of Directors and Executive Staff

Rajeev Kumar, MD

Chairperson

Movement Disorders Foundation was founded by Dr. Rajeev Kumar, one of the world’s foremost experts on movement disorders. As Medical Director of the Rocky Mountain Movement Disorders Center, Dr. Kumar is one of the world’s foremost experts on movement disorders, with unparalleled experience and expertise treating and researching Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, dystonia, and many other debilitating movement disorders. 

Trained at the renowned Mayo Clinic, Dr. Kumar has two decades of experience working in the fields of neurology and movement disorders and has solidified his status as one of the most trusted and respected professionals in the field. He has been designated a Dystonia Doctor of Excellence by the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation. Dr. Kumar and his team serve individuals with movement disorders from early adulthood through advanced age.

Morris Susman, MD

Secretary

Dr. Morris Susman, a Denver native and a graduate of East High School, attended Harvard College and the University of Colorado School of Medicine. His surgical residency was at the University of Michigan Hospital followed by the Harvard orthopedic residency at the Massachusetts General Hospital and Boston Children's' Hospital. He was in private practice in Denver for 35 years. His special interests were hip and knee replacement and foot and ankle surgery. 

Dr. Susman met his wife, Ellen, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Together they have enjoyed travel and contemporary art collection. Both Dr. Susman and his wife have actively supported the Denver Art Museum, the Clyfford Still Museum and Colorado Public Radio. Dr. Susman spends as much time as he can with his four young grandchildren.

Peter McKown

Treasurer

Peter McKown is a director at Prince Street Capital Management, an emerging markets investment firm. Prior to the founding of Prince Street Capital in 2001, he worked for eleven years at Credit Suisse First Boston in Los Angeles, Tokyo and Hong Kong, where he held a number of positions in compliance, operations and financial control. Peter is also a Director of The Prince Street Foundation (a non-profit affiliate of Prince Street Capital) and is on the leadership council of Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS.

Peter brings a working knowledge of operational, finance, legal and compliance functions in both larger corporations and smaller entrepreneurial firms, as well as experience with a variety of health-related non-profit organizations. Currently living in Colorado, Peter is a member of the LGBT community and is an avid participant in Broadway theatrical endeavors.

Elizabeth "Betsy" Mathies
Director

A longtime advocate for medical research and patient-centered philanthropy. Elizabeth “Betsy” Mathies previously served as Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Movement Disorders Foundation, providing governance leadership and strategic guidance as the Foundation expanded its impact in neurological research.

During that time, Betsy helped strengthen the Foundation’s commitment to funding innovative, early-stage research aimed at improving the understanding and treatment of Parkinson’s disease and other neurological movement disorders.

She has been an active proponent of translational research that helps move promising scientific discoveries from the laboratory toward meaningful therapies and ultimately cures for conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, dystonia, and essential tremor.

Meagen Salinas, MD
Director

Neurologist Meagen Salinas, MD, has served as Assistant Chief, Neurology Section and Stroke Director of the North Texas VA Health Care System, as well as Assistant Professor and Fellowship Director – Movement Disorders, of the UT Southwestern Medical Center. 

Dr. Salinas holds memberships in the American Academy of Neurology and the Movement Disorders Society. She applies her extensive experience in general neurology and movement disorders clinical practice to patient care in greater Denver. Additionally, Dr. Salinas actively participates as an investigator in clinical-research trials of cutting-edge therapies for patients with movement disorders. Her clinical research consists of co-authoring seven peer-reviewed articles. 

When not working with patients, Dr. Salinas enjoys spending time with her husband and two children, gardening, crafting, hiking, and reading historical fiction books.

Gene Sobczak

Executive Director

Executive director Gene Sobczak is a recognized change agent with over 30 years’ experience in performance improvement, staff development and business restructuring in nonprofit, commercial and public sectors. His executive appointments include Chief Executive Officer of the Alzheimer's Association of Colorado, the Colorado Symphony, Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities, High Plains Community Health Center, Community College of Aurora Foundation and Telluride Council for the Arts and Humanities.

As the chief executive officer and founder of PROTEA Success Navigation for Nonprofits - a consulting firm providing small- and medium-sized nonprofit organizations with startup, turnaround and implementation-management services - his assignments include interim, fractional and transition executive management, program, fund and board development, audit preparation and marketing.

Lynn Wells

Grants & Partnerships Officer

Lynn Wells brings a unique blend of nonprofit leadership, strategic marketing expertise, and a deep commitment to lifelong learning to her role with the Movement Disorders Foundation. With a career spanning corporate, volunteer, and academic settings, she has led programs, built partnerships, and created engaging experiences that connect people and ideas.

As Grants and Partnerships Officer she oversees outreach, peer review coordination, and grant operations, focusing on collaboration, and future opportunities. Previously, she led lifelong learning programs at the Academy for Lifelong Learning and the University of Denver’s Enrichment Program.

Lynn is energized by meaningful work and the opportunity to support programs that improve lives. A lifelong learner, she continues to seek out new ideas and perspectives.