Young Members Group

Group Mission

The primary aim of the MDS Young Members Group is to support and expand the network of outstanding young neurologists, basic scientists and other allied health care providers who have an interest in the field of Movement Disorders. The focus will be on advancing collaborations amongst young members and focus on educational activities and training.  

An Action Plan has been approved by the MDS Officers to guide Young Members Group activities.

Read the Action Plan »

Current: 

• Create and maintain a database of MDS Young Members to foster interaction and networking amongst the MDS Young Members from all regional sections and to facilitate their active involvement in MDS activities.
• Create and maintain an informational page within the MDS website to centralize data about educational courses, fellowships, MDS visiting trainee grants, MDS outreach education, exchange programs, bursaries, research and travel grants, congresses, and employment opportunities.
• Promote an annual face-to-face meeting at the MDS International Congress to discuss ongoing and future roles and projects for the group, with oversight by the MDS Education Committee Chairs.
• Participate in MDS educational activities such as the Web-based Learning Modules (previously named Coffee Break CME). A member of the MDS Young Members Committee will serve as a co-director of the program, and other members will be invited to publish texts and videos in the modules. Contact education@movementdisorders.org if you are interested in partipating.

In Development: 

• Create regular surveys of past MDS-Schools for Young Neurologists in order to analyze the impact that the School has had on their careers. An initial survey was conducted in 2014 and a follow-up survey was completed in 2017.
   
  Read the 2015-2017 abstract and paper

   

  Update on the Web-Based Survey on the Impact of the MDS Schools for Young Neurologists: 2014-2017 Data

  Authors: Nirosen Vijiaratnam, BBS, BMedSci, FRACP, Thiago Cardoso Vale, PhD, Santiago Perez-Lloret, MD, PhD, Tomás de la Riestra, MD, Shaimaa Ibrahim El-Jaafary, MD, Margherita Fabbri, MD

  ABSTRACT

  Background: The International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society (MDS) Schools for Young Neurologists have been held since 2008 for young clinicians with a special interest in the field of movement disorders (MD).

  Objective: To update and confirm the results of our previous survey on the perception of the impact of these courses on attendees’ careers.

  Methods: A web-based survey was performed. All participants from previous MDS Schools for Young Neurologists (2015-2017) were invited to participate in a web-based questionnaire.

  Results: A total of 152 out of 644 (23.6%) participants completed the survey. Over 88% considered that the course had a direct impact on their involvement in the MD field. The percentage of participants who identified as a movement disorders specialist increased substantially after the survey (9.2% to 23.9%).  Accordingly, the proportion with at least 25% of their weekly time spent practicing MD increased from 32.9% to 55.9% and MD was the main area of interest for 86.7%. Involvement in academic and teaching activities in MD increased from 15.9% up to 47.7%. Finally, 60.4% of participants were members of the MDS at the time of the course and that number increased to 85.2% at the time of the survey.

  Conclusions: Our results continue to support the positive impact of the MDS School for Young Neurologists as an effective educational tool for young physicians and health care professionals. The benefits to the participants’ careers of their participants include strengthening their interest in the MD field and becoming keener to MDS.

  See the Full Paper I Table 1
  
   

  Read the 2008-2014 abstract and paper

   

  Impact of MDS Schools for Young Neurologist Careers, MDS-YMG Paper

  Authors: Thiago Cardoso Vale, MD, Msc; Santiago Perez-Lloret, MD, PhD; Margherita Fabbri, MD; Tiago Teodoro, MD, PhD; Tomás de la Riesta, MD; Sergio A. Rodriguez-Quiroga, MD; Miryam Carecchio, MD; Joaquim J Ferreira, MD, PhD; Wassilos Meissner, MD, PhD; Charles H. Adler, MD, PhD. 

  ABSTRACT

  Background: The International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society (MDS) Schools for Young Neurologists have been held since 2008 for young clinicians with a special interest in the field of movement disorders (MD).

  Objective: To evaluate the participants’ perception of the impact of these courses on their careers.

  Methods: A web-based survey was performed. All participants from previous MDS Schools for Young Neurologists (2008-2014) were invited to participate in a webbased questionnaire.

  Results: A total of 283 out of 650 (43.5%) participants completed the survey.

  Almost 80% considered that the course had a direct impact on their involvement in the MD field. Of the 75 participants who had completed residency at the time of the survey, the number of those who are working as MD specialists increased from 34 (43.3%) at the time of the school to 72 (96%) at the moment of the survey. Accordingly, the proportion with at least 25% of their weekly time spent practicing MD increased from 48.7% to 70% and MD was the main area of interest for 77.2%. Involvement in academic and teaching activities in MD increased from 48.6% up to 92.7%. Finally, 39.6% of participants were members of the MDS at the time of the course and that number increased to 87.4% at the time of the survey.

  Conclusions: Clinicians with a special interest in MD reported a significant impact of attending a MDS School for Young Neurologists. Following completion of the schools, they have continued to be involved in the field by joining MDS, becoming MD specialists and engaging in specialized academic and teaching activities.

  See the Full Paper | Table 1 | Table 2
   

  
  Contact education@movementdisorders.org if you are interested in partipating in this activity.
   
• Participate in the MDS Outreach Education Programs (DWEP courses, Visiting Professor Program and Ambassador Program). Members would collaborate in program initiatives, and could participate as tutors, assisting physicians and healthcare professionals in countries where movement disorders specialists are lacking. 
• Promote the translation of educational materials in movement misorders to different languages.

Card Activities

The Young Members Group has developed two card activities that challenge your knowledge of movement disorders:

• Test Your Vocabulary 
• What Am I? 

These activites were designed by Sara Schaefer and Ana Vives Rodriguez. Please provide any feedback that you have on the activities here.

Presentations

 "How to Become a Successful Movement Disorder Specialist"

A presentation by Prof. Claudia Trenkwalder during the 2017 MDS Congress. View now »
 

 PAS Fellowships

Explore Pan American fellowship opportunities in this brief presentation (PDF) by Prof. Thiago Vale during the 2018 PAS Congress. View now »