Before Michael Zerin was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 2018, his wife, Ruth, had her suspicions — Michael wasn’t swinging his left arm when he walked. 

Parkinson’s is characterized by distinct motor symptoms like muscle stiffness and resting tremor, but psychological factors such as depression, anxiety and sleep disturbances are also common.

“It’s never easy to diagnose yourself,” Ruth, a retired nurse, said. Michael, 73, was a pediatric radiologist at the time. 

Michael said he has experienced a bit of denial about his diagnosis over the past seven years. But when he became a member of the Kirk Gibson Center for Parkinson’s Wellness along with nearly 450 other people with Parkinson’s, he noticed a mindset shift.

“Being in the environment of so many people who have Parkinson’s Disease, there’s a compassion that comes from that,” Michael said. “I can see what they’re going through because I go through it. There’s also reassurance that I am able to be less hard on myself, because I see that other people are struggling with the same challenges.”

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The newly opened 32,000-square-foot building in Farmington Hills is strategically located within a 30-minute drive for over half of Oakland, Macomb and Wayne County residents. An estimated 8,000 of them have Parkinson’s.

The center features state-of-the-art classrooms dedicated to group activities including boxing, tai chi, spinning, cardio drumming, art, music, and cognitive-based classes taught by certified coaches and physical therapists. 

“Michael is a very disciplined person — he had been in PT and he was doing his exercises at home,” Ruth said. “But doing it by yourself and doing it at home is very different from taking a 50-minute class. The intensity is different.” 

The center is the brainchild of former Detroit Tiger Kirk Gibson, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2015. Determined to fight Parkinson’s head-on, he discovered exercise can slow the progression of Parkinson’s and improve physical and cognitive functioning.

Since his diagnosis, he’s been vocal about the impact of Parkinson’s, raising awareness and supporting exercise-based programs through the Kirk Gibson Foundation, which he co-founded with his wife, JoAnn. He’s also determined to find a cure. 

“It’s the fastest growing neurological disease there is, and we need to get a hold of it right now,” Gibson said. 

Over time, he learned Parkinson’s can be isolating — and he wanted to do more. In 2022, he sketched out the concept for the center on the back of a napkin. From there, things moved quickly: On October 1, 2024, he announced a site was selected, and on October 6, 2025, the Kirk Gibson Center for Parkinson’s Wellness held its ribbon-cutting ceremony. 

Gibson sits at the helm, but calls himself a “teammate” or “member.” His office is positioned in full view of the entrance where he greets people as they come and go.

Today, more than 1,300 people throughout metro Detroit have registered to join. Prospective members are asked to submit a physician release form, attend an orientation and schedule a physical assessment to determine which classes are an ideal fit.

The center is privately-funded by individuals and corporations through the Kirk Gibson Foundation, allowing it to be free of charge. An eventual goal is to accept insurance.

On the main floor of the center, the phrase “Movement Matters” is painted in bright orange cursive lettering. A communal fridge sits adjacent to the coffee machine, facing a kitchen island and high-top chairs. Table games and an activity room dedicated to ping-pong are frequently occupied.

Encouraging social interaction was important to the Gibsons from the beginning. While classes are available to members, care partners — individuals in a supportive role like Ruth — are encouraged to experience the center’s amenities. Groups regularly gather to solve jigsaw puzzles, knit and crochet, and share stories. The indoor walking track on the second level is available to all.

A 2025 study published in the National Library of Medicine outlined health challenges expressed by caregivers of those with Parkinson’s Disease, including difficulty sleeping, lack of time for self-care and feeling socially isolated. Anxiety, depression, apathy and agitation were also reported. 

“The role of the care partner is so vital to the health of the member,” said CEO of the Kirk Gibson Center Mary Lynn Foster. “We like to say here at the center, ‘when someone in the family has Parkinson’s, the whole family is affected.’”

The Kirk Gibson Center also offers support groups and educational seminars led by the Michigan Parkinson’s Foundation on a monthly basis at no cost to care partners and members.

For Michael and Ruth, joining the center has allowed them to gain acceptance — and feel part of a community.

“You learn that everybody’s Parkinson’s journey is so different,” Ruth said. “This is a disease where there’s no right or wrong — there are no exact stages — and I think because of that, people are just so understanding and supportive.”

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