In focus: Movement Disorders Society of the Philippines
In 1999, there was a felt need for an organization to address movement disorders in the Philippines. This concept was specifically enhanced in view of the indigenous presence of X-linked Dystonia Parkinsonism (XDP) in the Panay region of the country. The council of elders – past presidents of the Philippine Neurological Association (PNA), were convened and those who were interested were invited to become members of the organization.
In 1999, a set of officers, with Dr. Mayvelyn D. Gose as President, were elected in the newly organized Movement Disorder Society of the Philippines (MDSP). A simple ceremony was held at the Pan Pacific Hotel that same year to swear-in the new officers and board of directors of MDSP, with the inducting officer being then, the incumbent PNA President, Dr. Ramon S. Javier. Through an agreement between the MDSP President and Ms. Rosemarie Ong, then Corporate Relations Manager of Servier Philippines, Inc, an allocated first revolvingfund of the association was provided for, as a grant for educational campaign. The Securities and Exchange Commission of the Philippines eventually approved the MDSP as a non-profit organization, the following year. It was in 2005 that the MDSP became officially recognized as an affiliate organization of the PNA, through a memorandum of agreement struck with then PNA President, Dr Romeo Enriquez.
Actually, from years 2001 to 2007, there was a lull in the MDSP activities partly due to an illness in the immediate family of the incumbent President Dr. Mayvelyn D. Gose, and in 2007, she herself, became unfortunately stricken by an illness, that led to her having to pass the presidency to then Vice President, Dr. Raymond L. Rosales. Since then, the latter tried to revive the organization, while pursuing the goals initially set by his predecessor.
The MDSP started by initiating a lecture series on common movement disorders encountered in neurology in the different medical schools with no neurology programs:
Oct. 15, 2007 - Fatima College of Medicine
Oct. 11, 2007 - FEU College of Medicine
Oct. 29, 2008 - Chong Hua Medical Center, with Cebu Neuroscience Group of PNA
In 2009, an educational activity was launched in cooperation with PNA and the Movement Disorders Council of the Philippines. This was the first national MDSP Scientific Activity entitled ‘Movement Disorder in Focus’ and supported by the international movement disorders society (MDS)-Asian Oceanian Section (MDS-AOS), held at the Waterfront Hotel, Cebu City on Nov. 18-19, 2009. This close collaboration with the activities of the MDS-AOS, eventually led the MDSP to become an officially recognised affiliate society of MDS, during the same Cebu occasion. No less than the then MDS President, Dr. Philip Thompson, did the honors of inducting and affirming the set of officers, advisers and directors of MDSP
Indeed, one of the main reasons for establishing the MDSP was to help the research investigations of patients with XDP, through the strategic collaboration with the XDP Study Group led by Dr. Lillian V. Lee. Dr Lee also became the local adviser of MDSP, together with Dr. Hubert Fernandez, as international adviser.
In 2010, quarterly video sessions by movement specialists of different centers were undertaken with the support of Boehringer Ingelheim. Since then, collaborative efforts have been developed with known centers in Japan, USA and Germany, in order to enhance genetic, diagnostic, therapeutic and surgical studies aimed at improving the quality of lives of the XDP patients. In 2011 Dr. Lillian V. Lee was appointed chairman of the movement council of the PNA and was tasked to develop clinical guidelines for common movement disorders. In order to enhance the awareness on pediatric movement disorders, Dr. Lee initiated dedicated educational sessions at the Philippine Children’s Medical Center. In 2012, MDSP has also launched its website through educational grants from GSK.
Thus far, the MDSP has come a long way and in 2012, the first MDSP, standalone national convention was held in Aug. 25-26 at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza. This activity saw the active participation of experts in the Asian and Oceanian region, including the opening ceremonies done with the MDS-AOS Chair Robin Wu. In fact, the MDSP has continuously lent collaborative efforts with the MDS-AOS through membership of its officers (Drs Lillian Lee, Raymond Rosales and recently Dominic Jamora) in the Educational and Executive committees.