Surrounded by medical heavyweights, Muhammad Ali continued the fight by honoring 50 top surgeons and physicians at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Arizona. Barrow at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center is home of the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center.

With approximately 60,000 new cases diagnosed each year, there are currently 1 million Americans with Parkinson’s disease.  As of yet, there is no cure. Ali, who is a three-time Heavy Weight Boxing Champion and the most famous athlete in history, attended the ceremony.  He was diagnosed with the disease in 1984.

Ali and his wife, Lonnie, invited Barrow doctors to the special awards event to help commemorate the Institute’s 50th anniversary.  Ali is also celebrating his 70th birthday this year.

“Muhammad and I want to share in the celebration of Barrow’s anniversary by honoring the outstanding group of neurologists and neurosurgeons at St. Joseph’s,” said Lonnie Ali. “Together we are working to bring direct access to the same standard of medical care that Muhammad and I enjoy, to all those who suffer with Parkinson’s disease and other brain disorders.”

The Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center opened at the hospital in 1997. It has grown into the most comprehensive Parkinson’s treatment center in the nation.  The center’s doctors were among the 50 from Barrow who were honored.

The center is largely funded by the generous donations of Celebrity Fight Night which has donated almost $20 million to the hospital since the star-studded event started 18 years ago. Ali is always the honored guest of the evening.  This year’s Celebrity Fight Night is March 24 and will feature such headliners as Rascal Flatts, Reba McEntire, Miley Cyrus and Lionel Richie.

“Muhammad and everyone associated with Fight Night wanted to salute the extraordinary medical community who are helping to lead the fight against Parkinson’s and other neurological conditions,” said Jimmy Walker, the founder of Celebrity Fight Night. “You are the real stars and the heavyweights of the medical community,” Walker told the Barrow physicians as he, Muhammad and Lonnie handed individual trophies to the 50 physicians.

St. Joseph’s Barrow is ranked among the top 10 hospitals in the nation for neurological disorders and attracts patients from around the world.  The Institute performs more brain surgeries than any hospital in the United States.  ”Muhammad Ali is a remarkable inspiration to our entire medical community every day,” said Barrow Director Dr. Robert Spetzler. “Over the next 50 years, the progress in the fight against Parkinson’s will see dramatic advances and the physicians at Barrow will continue to play a major role in this battle.”

Barrow Neurological Institute at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona, is internationally recognized as a leader in neurological research and patient care.

Established in 1962 Barrow treats patients with a wide range of neurological conditions, including brain and spinal tumors, cerebrovascular conditions, and neuromuscular disorders. The Barrow Neurological Institute is consistently rated among the Top 10 best hospitals in the United States for neurology and neurosurgery by U.S. News and World Report.

Image Courtesy of  Featureflash / Shutterstock.com

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Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) on February 07, 2012 announced the signing of Nathan Chapman to an exclusive, worldwide publishing agreement.

Two-time Grammy award-winning songwriter/producer Nathan Chapman is widely known for his production work with Taylor Swift. Chapman credits his love of songwriting and songwriters as the key ingredient that drives his production and songwriting, resulting in over 30 major label cuts.

“We are incredibly excited to have such a special songwriting talent as Nathan join our Universal Music Publishing family,” said Evan Lamberg, President, Universal Music Publishing Group, North America, “With Kent Earls now leading UMPG Nashville and great creative executives such as Ron Stuve signing Nathan, we look forward to partnering with him in all of his creative and songwriter endeavors.”

“We are honored and excited Nathan has entrusted this UMPG team to further his already illustrious career,” said Kent Earls, Executive Vice President/General Manager, Universal Music Publishing Group, Nashville. “Nathan’s musical knowledge, immense talent and impressive work ethic make him a tremendous asset not only for Nashville but all of Universal Music Publishing.”

Chapman produced three, multi-platinum albums with Taylor Swift – her self-titled debut, Fearless, and Speak Now. Chapman holds two Grammy Awards for Album of the Year and Country Album of the Year along with CMA and ACM Album of the Year awards (Fearless).

Fearless also spent several weeks at No.1 on the Billboard 200 and Country Albums charts. Chapman has been working with Swift since her debut single “Tim McGraw,” which hit Top 10 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart and has continued to produce her chart-topping songs such as “Our Song,” “White Horse,” “You Belong With Me,” “Mean,” “Back To December” and “Love Story,” to name a few.

Chapman also produced The Band Perry’s single, “All Your Life,” which is currently No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. Chapman is producing two songs on the upcoming Lionel Richie album, Tuskegee, dropping on March 27th which features Shania Twain on “Endless Love” and Jennifer Nettles on “Hello.” Chapman also recently worked with Lauren Alaina on her first single “Like My Mother Does.” Other artists he has worked with include, Colbie Caillat, Sara Evans, Martina McBride, and Jewel.

Nathan Chapman joins UMPG Nashville’s prolific staff of current songwriters, who deliver hits for today’s country music elite - Keith Urban , Lady Antebellum, Jason Aldean, Carrie Underwood , Kenny Chesney , Rascal Flatts, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill to name a few. Artists of all genres seek to work with this versatile staff.

The UMPG Nashville catalog spans the entire chasm of the musical landscape: the 1940′s Folk/Blues of the Delmore Brothers; the 1950′s and 1960′s classics of Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash and Buddy Holly; through the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s with Don Williams, Waylon Jennings, The Judds, Alabama and George Strait.

It also includes country classics from Webb Pierce, Brenda Lee, Mel Tillis, Garth Brooks, Dixie Chicks, Alan Jackson, Vince Gill and Shania Twain. UMPG Nashville owns and administers many prominent catalogs including Bob McDill, Rivers Rutherford, Gary Burr, Pat Alger, Kent Robbins, Dickey Lee, Kostas, Troy Verges, Luke Laird, Marijohn Wilkin, John D. Loudermilk, Stephanie Bentley, David Lee, Craig Wiseman, Keith Urban and more.

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