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International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society

Leadership Elections

Take an active role in selecting the next leaders for MDS. 

Main Content

The next election cycle will be in 2025

Elected Leadership Bodies

Central Leadership

Oversees the activities and management of the Society. This includes the Officers and 10 International Executive Committee (IEC) members.

View positions and criteria

Regional Section Leadership

Each of the 4 global Regional Sections are represented by their own regional Officers and Executive Committee. 

View positions and criteria

 

Nomination and Election 

Elected leadership roles open on a rotating basis per position, with an election cycle to fill open seats every 2 years. 

To provide the MDS Membership an opportunity to be involved in the Society’s nomination process, the MDS Nominating Committee invites Members to submit candidate names for consideration.

The Nominating Committee reviews all proposed candidate names and prepares the slate of nominees for MDS member approval. The Nominating Committee evaluates candidates based upon pre-defined criteria. The committee’s goal is to prepare a diverse slate that is poised to work well as a team and bring forward their individual expertise to advance MDS and provide the best experience for our membership. 
 

2022-2023 Election Timeline: 

  1. Candidate Profile Submissions for Central MDS Positions: July 1 - August 31, 2022 
  2. Candidate Profile Submissions for Regional Section Positions: September - October 2022 
  3. Nomination Committee Deliberations: October 2022 - March 2023 
  4. Slate of Nominees given to Officers and IEC for Ratification: March 2023 
  5. Slate of Nominees shared with Membership: May 1, 2023 
  6. Opportunity for additional Nominees from Members: May 1 – July 1, 2023 
  7. Final ballot shared with Members: July 10, 2023 
  8. Proxy ballots due: August 10, 2023 
  9. Final voting during the MDS International Congress in Copenhagen: August 2023 
  10. MDS Annual Business Meeting: August 28, 2023 
  11. New Officers and IEC Members begin term: August 31, 2023 

Nominating Committee 

The MDS President appoints the Nominating Committee every two years by taking into account the international scope of the Society and ensuring there is broad representation on the Committee. 

Nominating Committee
  • Eduardo Tolosa, Spain, Chair 
  • Jonathan Carr, South Africa 
  • Andrew Lees, Canada 
  • Janis Miyasaki, Canada 
  • Marcelo Merello, Argentina 
  • Raymond Rosales, Philippines 
  • Rachel Saunders-Pullman, United States 
  • Pille Taba, Estonia 
  • Claudia Trenkwalder, Germany 
  • Mitsutoshi Yamamoto, Japan 
  • Ruey-Meei Wu, Taiwan  

 

Regional Nominating Committees

MDS-AS Nominating Committee
  •  Albert Akpalu, Chair
  • Njideka Okubadejo
  • Lorraine Audrey Chishimba
  • Samia Ben Sassi
  • Maouly Fall
  • Augustina Charway-Felli
  • Jonathan Carr*
MDS-AOS Nominating Committee
  •  Roongroj Bhidayasiri, Chair
  • Nobu Hattori
  • Beon Jeon
  • Eng-King Tan
  • Louis Tan
  • Carolyn Sue
  • Ruey-Meei Wu*
MDS-ES Nominating Committee
  • Joaquim Ferreira, Chair
  • David Burn
  • Elena Moro
  • Olivier Rascol
  • Evzen Ruzicka
  • Claudia Trenkwalder*
MDS-PAS Nominating Committee
  • Jennifer G. Goldman, Chair
  • Jorge Juncos
  • Mario Cornejo-Olivas
  • Davide Martino
  • Oksana Suchowersky
  • Sarah Pirio Richardson
  • Marcello Merello*

 

Central Leadership Qualifications

It is the responsibility of every member of the IEC to fully and actively participate in the governance and policy-making activities of the Society. The expectations include regular attendance at meetings and timely responses to polls and governance-related requests. All IEC and Officers must be current MDS Members. 

Current Leadership: 
Officers  |   International Executive Committee

Positions and Criteria

Open AllClose All
  President

The office of the President is a 6-year commitment:

● 2023-2025 President-elect
● 2025-2027 President
● and 2027-2029 Past President
 

Evaluation Criteria

Technical Skills 

● Long experience within MDS, knowledge of the Society  
● Served as an IEC Member and as an Officers (Treasurer and/or Secretary) or in other key Society Committees and Roles 

Group Skills 

● Ability to work in teams 
● Prioritize Society/group goals over individual goals 

Interpersonal Skills 

● Outstanding scientific and/or clinical reputation  
● Ability to create and maintain relationships within and without MDS 
● Build a climate of trust among Officers and IEC 
● Global mindset and ability to communicate effectively across cultures 

Personal Skills 

● Strategic thinking – "analyze events, perceive trends, anticipate changes, and recognize opportunities and threats" 
● Willingness to innovate and be proactive 

Personal Attributes 

● Affinity to MDS and its mission 
● Honesty and integrity 
● Time and capacity to commit to the organization 
● Ability to represent the Society 

 

  Officers: Secretary and Treasurer

The Secretary position is a 4-year commitment:

● 2023-2025 Secretary- or Treasurer-elect
● 2025-2027 Secretary or Treasurer
 

Evaluation Criteria

Technical Skills 

● Long experience within MDS, knowledge of the Society  
● Served as a member of the International Executive Committee, on MDS Committees as Chairs, and/or have been involved within their Regional Sections  

Group Skills 

● Ability to work in teams 
● Prioritize Society/group goals over individual goals 

Interpersonal Skills 

● Outstanding scientific and/or clinical reputation (expert power) 
● Ability to create and maintain relationships within and without MDS 
● Participate in a climate of trust among Officers and IEC 
● Global mindset and ability to communicate effectively across cultures 

Personal Skills 

● Strategic thinking – "analyze events, perceive trends, anticipate changes, and recognize opportunities and threats" 
● Willingness to innovate and be proactive 

Personal Attributes 

● Affinity to MDS and its mission 
● Honesty and integrity 
● Time and capacity to commit to the organization 
● Ability to represent the Society 

 

  International Executive Committee (IEC) Member

International Executive Committee (IEC) member positions are a 4-year commitment of two 2-year terms. 
 

Evaluation Criteria

Technical Skills 

● Experience within MDS. 
● Served on MDS Committees and have been involved within their Regional Sections 

Group Skills 

● Prioritize Society/group goals over individual goals 

Interpersonal Skills 

● Outstanding scientific and/or clinical reputation  
● Ability to create and maintain relationships within and without MDS 
● Participate in a climate of trust among IEC 
● Global mindset and ability to communicate effectively across cultures 

Personal Skills 

● Strategic thinking – "analyze events, perceive trends, anticipate changes, and recognize opportunities and threats" 
● Willingness to innovate and be proactive 

Personal Attributes 

● Affinity to MDS and its mission 
● Honesty and integrity 
● Time and capacity to commit to the organization 
● Ability to represent the Society 

 

 

 

Regional Section Leadership Qualifications

 

Positions and Criteria

Open AllClose All
  Regional Section Chair

6-year commitment: Chair-elect, Chair, and Past Chair.

The Regional Chairs have typically served as both a Regional Section Executive Committee Member and as a Regional Section Officer (Treasurer and/or Secretary). Function as the primary representative of the Section and provide general oversight, perspective and updates on the Section's education, collaborations, and other activities as associated to the regional strategic action plan, policies and practices of the Society. Work in collaboration with other Society groups on mutual strategic goals. In addition, the Regional Section Chair has the following qualities:

● Long experience within MDS
● Ability to work in teams
● Scientific and/or clinical reputation
● Organized working style, responsive to requests
● Ability to represent the Society and Region
● Representation of different disciplines (Neurology, Neurosurgery, Basic Sciences, etc.)

  Regional Section Officers: Secretary and Treasurer

4-year commitment as Secretary-elect, Secretary or Treasurer-elect, Treasurer.

The Officers have typically served as a member of the Regional Section Executive Committee and have been involved within their Regional Sections. In addition, Regional Section Officers should have the following qualities:

● Long experience within MDS
● Ability to work in teams
● Scientific and/or clinical reputation
● Organized working style, responsive to requests
● Ability to represent the Society and Region
● Representation of different disciplines (Neurology, Neurosurgery, Basic Sciences, etc.)

  Regional Section Executive Committee Members

4-year commitment, two 2-year terms.

The Executive Committee Members have typically been involved within their Regional Sections. In addition, Executive Committee Members should have the following qualities:

● Ability to work in teams
● Scientific and/or clinical reputation
● Organized working style, responsive to requests
● Ability to represent the Society and Region
● Representation of different disciplines (Neurology, Neurosurgery, Basic Sciences, etc.)


Current Section Leadership: African Section  |  Asian & Oceanian  |  European Section  |  Pan American Section

 

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