MDSI, led by Presidents Dr. Bhaskar Ghosh, Dr. G.M. Wali, and Dr. Asha Kishore, is dedicated to promoting awareness, research, and education in the field of Movement Disorders in India.
“MDSICON exemplifies our commitment to comprehensive education spanning the entire spectrum of Movement Disorders. Previous presidents have also been instrumental in the society's growth,” Dr. Wali said.
The 2024 conference commenced with pre-conference workshops on botulinum toxin injections and deep brain stimulation (DBS) programming.
“The hands-on DBS workshop provided pragmatic training that will directly enhance patient care,” said MDSI treasurer Dr. Prashanth LK. Over the following three days, attendees participated in plenary sessions, parallel tracks, knowledge cafes, debates, grand rounds, the MDSI Quiz, and other interactive sessions. Highlights included “Video Akhada,” the video challenge, which brought to life classic and atypical movement disorder phenotypes in an informal competitive spirit. The scientific program covered topics such as hyperkinetic and hypokinetic disorders, genetics, neuroimaging, and more. It also included 140 abstracts across platforms and poster sessions. MDSI also awarded fellowships to its founding members, acknowledging their pioneering work in establishing the society.
International faculty included Prof. Marie Vidailhet (France), Prof. Kailash Bhatia (UK), Dr. Shekeeb Mohammad (Australia), and Dr. Shivam Om Mittal (UAE).
“Their global perspectives brought important context to regional challenges in India,” said MDSICON organizing chairman Dr. Soaham Desai. “The attendees benefited from the insights of global experts in pattern recognition, diagnosis, and treatment.”
A special DBS lunch symposium, sponsored by Medtronic India, explored future technologies for neuromodulation. Another lunch symposium moderated by Dr. Asha Kishore and Global Parkinson's Genetics Program (GP2) invitee Mr. Sumit Dey informed attendees about global Parkinson's disease initiatives. MDSICON organizing secretary Dr. Mitesh Chandarana acknowledged the role of the MDS Outreach Program in sponsoring and facilitating the travels of the international faculty.
Social events promoted movement disorder awareness locally. A 5K run raised visibility for Parkinson's disease. Patient education, awareness, and support programs were also held in parallel to the conference.
“Connecting with patients and caregivers reflects our commitment to a multidisciplinary approach and advocacy,” said MDSI secretary Dr. Hrishikesh Kumar.
From skills workshops to cutting-edge scientific updates, MDSICON 2024 embodied MDSI's vision of advancing movement disorder education across all fronts. The comprehensive program was well-liked by all attendee delegates, who praised its diverse offerings and applicability. This is expected to significantly improve the quality of movement disorders care in the region.
“We thank attendees, faculty, sponsors, and the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society for supporting this successful event,” said MDSICON organizing secretary Dr. Narendra Barad.
Looking ahead, MDSI will continue promoting training, research, and public engagement under the leadership of its current president, Dr. Asha Kishore, and President-Elect, Dr. Pramod Pal. The society remains committed to improving the lives of those affected by movement disorders in India and beyond.