-- An effort to upgrade the medical science education research and medical care level to link up with the world class movement disorder science
Yih-Ru Wu, MD
Associate Professor, Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang-Gung University College of Medicine
No. 199, Tun-Hwa North Road, TAIPEI, TAIWAN
The Taiwan Movement Disorder Society (TMDS) was officially founded on April 7, 2007. The aim of TMDS is to integrate the neurology in Taiwan, boost the research and education of movement disorders, as well as provide world standard medical care for patients with movement disorders through organization of a patient society in Taiwan. The same effort is also intended to set up the Parkinson's disease medical treatment networks to make comprehensive care for the patients possible. The successful founding of the TMDS should be attributed to the persistent leadership of Dr. Ruey-Meei Wu, the Director of Centre of Parkinson's and Movement Disorder and Professor of National Taiwan University Hospital, alongside a number of senior neurologists in Taiwan.
2009 Meeting
TMDS has regularly held the Movement Disorder Continuing Medical Education Program, joined with the Taiwan Neurological Society's annual meeting and held the annual Video Session of Movement Disorders. From April 7, 2007, there were a lot of world-renowned movement disorder neurologists subsequently coming to Taiwan to deliver expert reports regarding the most up-to-date research and treatment for movement disorder related diseases.
World renowned scholars and experts included: Dr. Zbigniew K. Wszolek and Dr. Robert A. Hauser from the United States, Dr. Murat Emre from Turkey, Dr. Nobutaka Hattori from Japan, Dr. Elena Moro from Canada, Dr. Werner Poewe from Austria, Dr. Vincenzo Bonifati from Netherlands, Professor Heinz Reichmann from Germany, Prof. Eduardo Tolosa from Spain, Professor Gerard E Francisco from USA, Prof. Kailash Bhatia from UK, Professor Angelo Antonini from Italy and Professor Beom S. Jeon from Korea. They teamed up with their Taiwanese counterparts in in-depth medical science interchange and discussion.
On February 15-17, 2009, TMDS appointed representatives to participate in the 2nd Asian and Oceanian Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Congress (AOPMC) and 7th International Symposium of the Asian and Pacific Parkinson's Association (APPA) held in India. The group also included parkinsonian patients and families. TMDS was at that time officially appointed to be the Organizer of the 3rd AOPMC and 8th International Symposium of the APPA to be held in Taipei in 2011.
On April 10, 2010, the TMDS held the first nationwide activity for Parkinson's patients in Chung Hsing Village, Nantou County. Around 300 people participated in this great event. The attendants included PD patients and their caregivers, and a multidisciplinary focus group of professionals in counseling, nursing and rehabilitation. Several associations from Northern, Middle, Southern and Eastern Parts of Taiwan joined in this meaningful activity.
On March 25, 2011, the first educational book edited by TMDS entitled "Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders - selected case studies", was published. This book included 57 interesting cases, which was divided into 6 chapters; and a Video CD that accompanied it.
On March 25-27, 2011, the Asian and Oceanian Section of the Movement Disorder Society (MDS-AOS) and the TMDS co-organized the 3rd Asian and Oceanian Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Congress (AOPMC), together with the 8th International Symposium of Asian and Pacific Parkinson Association (APPA), which was held at the Taipei International Convention Center (TICC) in Taipei, Taiwan. TMDS took this opportunity to invite over 1000 domestic and international delegates, young clinicians and allied health professionals, known for their contributions in the field of Parkinson's disease and movement disorders to come to this Congress. Participants from 30 different countries presented their perspectives, networked with fellow colleagues, and experienced the vibrant city, making this congress very successful.
The TMDS shoulders four significant missions of boosting the research and development of movement disorders education, promoting the latest know-how, enhancing communications between doctors and researchers and improving medical treatment and care to patients. It is our earnest hope that through united teamwork, Taiwan will live up to the world-class level with its medical science research on movement disorders. In turn, movement disorder patients will receive upgraded medical care. In the foreseeable future, we hope the nationwide Parkinson's Disease medical treatment networks can be organized, and that community medical education and care can be substantially promoted. With this, Taiwan will be better equipped to provide comprehensive medical care for movement disorder diseases.