R. Bernard Coley is an executive with 50+ years of experience in the high technology industry. He has served on many boards in senior leadership roles. He has a lengthy career of volunteer work including community development projects, supporting the arts, youth development, business leadership development, and facilitating/mentoring entrepreneurial development in underserved and indigenous communities.

Bernard is an experienced facilitator and mediator. He is aiming his talents and time in support of those interested in improving the lives of individuals and families affected by Brain Health Diseases, Parkinson’s Disease and health inequities. Alongside his wife, he co-chairs the Special Interest Group Black Diaspora, which focuses on closing health disparity gaps in under-engaged communities, educating health resource and research organizations on engaging communities in a culturally sensitive manner, bringing Black patient advocacy perspectives to PD research, and increasing Black Community participation in clinical research studies.

Bernard is passionate about patient voice inclusion and serves on patient advocacy councils with national and international pharmaceutical companies. He especially enjoys a project working on developing and maintaining a plain language glossary of clinical research terms as a patient voice with a multidisciplinary industry team facilitated by MRCT. He is a clinical research participant. He is joining his wife, Denise (Team Coley), in numerous initiatives to increase awareness of Parkinson’s Disease and PD resources in underserved communities of color. Bernard and Denise host social groups and safe spaces of Black women and men of the Parkinson’s Disease Community.