MDS-PAS 9th Annual Movement Disorders School: Empowering Neurology Residents for Patient Care

MDS-PAS for Neurology Residence Course 2024

The Michael J. Fox Foundation, in partnership with the Edmond J. Safra Foundation, sponsored the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society's Pan American Section (MDS-PAS) 9th Annual Movement Disorders School for Neurology Residents, held in Chicago, Illinois, on October 19-20. This free, two-day course brought together over 90 neurology residents from five Pan American countries to learn about movement disorders from world-renowned experts.

"I was so happy to be a part of the course for neurology students," said Course Director Amy Amara, MD, PhD. "The enthusiasm from faculty and residents was contagious! It was the perfect setting to introduce residents to the wonderful world of movement disorders and to encourage the pursuit of additional training to grow the number of movement disorders specialists."

The program included engaging lectures, interactive panel discussions, live patient consultations and video case studies. Key topics included Amy Amara, MD, PhD's presentation on sleep and movement disorders, where her engaging approach provided critical insights for understanding these complex conditions. Ignacio Keller Sarmiento, MD, discussed the role of genetics in movement disorders, while Joanna Blackburn, MD, introduced residents to the essential but often underrepresented field of pediatric movement disorders, sparking valuable discussions. Indu Subramanian, MD, emphasized a holistic view of patient care in her talk on lifestyle medicine, urging more research into pregnancy and early-onset Parkinson's disease.

Through these diverse sessions, residents gained a deep understanding of movement disorders and the latest research in the field. The event also offered insight into potential career paths in movement disorders, inspiring many to consider specializing in this important area of neurology.

"This course was an amazing opportunity to get exposure to movement disorders and a very good primer and insight into next steps in my career," said Alina Icaniuk, MD. "I connected with people from all over the US, Canada and Latin America, who came here to learn something about movement disorders. Being so close to the people who are prime stars in the movement disorders field is humbling and appreciated a lot. This was a great opportunity to learn from faculty who are experienced in their fields."

• Karen Wu

  Science Communications Specialist