Board Members

Therese Uthke, is a co-founder, Executive Director/President of Parkinson Mentors Arizona (PMAZ) and has been since 2024.  She is a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) at the Muhammad Ali Movement Disorders Center at Barrow Neurological Institute and has worked with individuals with Parkinson’s disease for the past 13 years.  Through Therese’s work as an SLP, she identified the need for mentorship for people living with Parkinson’s disease.  Therese has helped develop the framework and professional image of PMAZ, spearheaded PMAZ's transition to a nonprofit, and developed and maintains the organization's website.  Therese remains deeply committed to the mission of PMAZ, advancing community engagement and providing meaningful support and empowerment to individuals living with Parkinson's disease.

Thomas Ronan is a retired physician, a native Arizonan, and a Parkinson’s mentor. He has served on several boards of varying size and complexity. In addition to his work as a mentor, he volunteers at the local library and serves as a docent at Scottsdale’s Museum of the West. Dr. Ronan is excited to facilitate the growth of PMAZ, and is grateful for all the advice and connections he has received in his own journey with Parkinson’s Disease

Linda Denney is a practicing physical therapist serving the community for 35 years and 25 years in academia. She has worked in hospitals, outpatient orthopedic clinics and started working with the Parkinson’s community in 2016. Linda conducts research and has provided speaking engagements nationally and internationally.  Her networking involves support groups, industry collaborators, student education and university involvement for presentations at professional conferences. She is active in fundraising and served as a confidant for individuals newly diagnosed with Parkinson’s connecting them for guidance and support to others previously diagnosed. Linda has previous experience working in a non-profit (pro bono) PT clinic at KU Medical Center where she served as a Board member and the Director of the JayDoc (PT) program.

Dr. Littleford is licensed to practice psychology in the states of Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado. In 2003 he established a solo private practice in Chandler as a licensed psychologist. He is a former adjunct faculty member at Arizona State University, where he taught psychopharmacology for behavioral health clinicians in the Doctor of Behavioral Health program. The primary clinical orientation of Dr. Littleford is cognitive-behavioral therapy,

with strong influences from Adlerian psychology. He treats adults and senior adults. Advanced training has been received in the treatment of depression and anxiety, grief therapy, psychopharmacology, ADHD in adults, marital therapy, psychotic disorders, and vocational career choice. He is a member of the

Arizona Psychological Association.