MDS-Africa
Shaimaa El-Jaafary, MD
Cairo University
I'm Shaimaa El-Jaafary, associate professor of Neurology & movement disorders specialist at Cairo University, Egypt. I was graduated from the Faculty of Medicine Cairo University. I obtained my master's and MD degrees in Neurology from the same University. I've joined MDS in 2015, as an active member, I joined the MDS- Middle East task force in 2017. I joined the steering committee of the of MDS young members group in 2019. My main interest is raising awareness about Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease and dementia, to erase their stigma, helping patients and their family to live better finding the support they need, I'm also interested neurosonology with its different applications in movement disorders. I'm so much interested in medical education and keen on engaging medical students in various activities related to movement disorders, with whom we did a good job in raising awareness about PD among other students & medical community. I'm working hard to be a future distinguished movement disorders specialist, able to educate others in my region, and to lead research projects aiming at better characterization of the movement disorders (genotypic-phenotypic variability in Africa). I like pets and my hobbies are reading, listening to classic music and playing violin.
Yared Zewde, MD
Addis Ababa University
Yared Zenebe grew up in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He received his medical degree from Jimma University in 2012. Then he served as a general practitioner and inpatient director at Ataye Hospital for two years. Following this, he joined the Department of Neurology at Addis Ababa University as a faculty and completed his neurology residency in 2017 with distinction. Since then he is working as an Assistant Professor at the Department of Neurology, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia. His professional interest is to continue his fellowship training in movement disorders and advance the clinical care of Ethiopian movement disorders patients, where there is a dearth of such specialist. He has a keen research interest in movement disorders, epilepsy, and stroke. Currently, he is conducting clinical research to understand the non-motor features of PD in Ethiopian patients and the perception of PD patients and their caregivers toward the illness. Also, he leads the Ethiopian section of the International Parkinson's Disease Genomic Consortium (IPDGC) - Africa study, to explore the genetic risk loci among Ethiopian PD patients. Besides, he is actively participating in teaching and mentoring the young Ethiopian neurologists. Yared's hobbies are outdoor activities like hiking, biking, and traveling.
MDS-AOS
Kai-Hsiang Chen, MD
National Taiwan University Hospital
My name is Kai-Hsiang Stanley Chen, I come from Taiwan and grow up in Taichung, a beautiful city always full of sunshine and energy. I received medical education in Taipei medical university and completed neurologist residency training in National Taiwan University Hospital. After then, I learned how to conduct and program DBS for two years and built a comprehensive DBS team with my neurosurgeon colleague in my currently worked hospital in Hsin-chu. At the same time, I learned transcranial magnetic stimulation techniques from professor Ying-Zu Huang and conducted some interesting TMS studies together. To strengthen my knowledge in electrophysiology, I started my one-year-fellowship supervised by professor Robert Chen from 2018 to 2019 in Krembil institute, Toronto. In Dr. Chen's lab, luckily, I got the opportunity to learn my third neuromodulation skill with manipulating focused ultrasound effect on human motor cortex. My professional practices are electrophysiology and both invasive and non-invasive neuromodulation in movement disorders. Constantly searching for the answers to abnormal motor control circuits is like the endless enthusiasm in my career. My personal interest is outdoor activity, including basketball, swimming, jogging, and I also have some experience in indoor parkour or indoor rock climbing.
Ryan Davis, BSc (HonsI), PhD
University of Sydney
I was born and raised in Nelson, New Zealand. I attended Otago University in Dunedin, New Zealand for my Undergraduate Honours degree in Anatomy and Structural Biology. I then undertook a PhD in Molecular Pathology at Otago University, Christchurch, New Zealand.
In 2011 I moved to Sydney, Australia, with my wife, a native Sydney-sider who is a consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist. I have been working as a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Neurogenetics at the Kolling Institute, University of Sydney and Royal North Shore Hospital, since moving to Australia. I am the President elect of the Australian Society for Medical Research and serve on the MDS Web-based learning sub-committee.
My work focusses on bridging basic and clinical research of mitochondrial diseases and Parkinson's disease (PD). My current research includes investigating the microbiome in Parkinson's disease and mitochondrial diseases, the genomics of mitochondrial diseases, genetic mechanisms in early-onset Parkinson's disease and metabolomics for mitochondrial disease diagnosis. My research aims to translate findings into the clinic for better patient outcomes.
I spend my "spare time" with my sons, Patrick (aged 2) and Thomas (aged 5). They enjoy going to playgrounds and the beach and I enjoy watching Tom play rugby.
Chaewon Shin, MD, PhD
Chungnam National University Sejong Hospital / Chungnam National University
I graduated from the Seoul National University (SNU) College of Medicine in Republic of Korea in 2006. I completed internship and resident training in the Department of Neurology at the Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH). After three years of military duty service, I finished a fellowship training at the Movement Disorder Center of SNUH in 2015, following the PhD thesis on neuroscience for the study on the peripheral synucleinopathy in 2018 at SNU.
I have been employed as Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurology at the Chungnam National University Sejong Hospital and Chungnam National University. I am working as a director of the Neuroscience Center at my hospital. My main clinical and research interests are biomarkers of Parkinson's disease (PD) and prodromal PD, cognitive functions and pathologies in movement disorders, and gait disorders. I am an active member of the Korean Movement Disorder Society (KMDS) and International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society. I have been also serving in the various committees of KMDS.
My hobbies include jogging, watching movies, and driving outside with family.
Christine Wools, MBBS (hons) FRACP M.Phil
The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Calvary Healthcare Bethlehem Hospital
Dr Christine Wools completed her medical degree at the University of Melbourne and affiliated Melbourne hospitals. Following general medical and Neurology training she completed a clinical fellowship in Neurogenetics and Movement disorders with a Masters research thesis in the area of clinical aspects of Primary Mitochondrial disease. Christine worked under the direction of Professor Carolyn Sue and Dr Andrew Evans during fellowship years. She currently practices at the Royal Melbourne, Calvary Healthcare Bethlehem, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear and Epworth hospitals with clinical practice in Movement disorders, Neurogenetics, Neurodegenerative diseases and General Neurology. She holds investigator roles for multiple local and sponsored clinical research projects.
In her spare time Christine enjoys spending time with her two young children and their golden retriever dog.
MDS-ES
Conor Fearon, BE MB PhD
Toronto Western Hospital
I am a graduate in engineering and medicine from University College Dublin, Ireland. I subsequently undertook my neurology residency at the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland. I completed my PhD at Trinity College Dublin which focused on understanding the mechanisms that underpin freezing of gait in Parkinson disease. I have always enjoyed the diagnostic challenge of movement disorders, as well as the close relationship one develops with patients. I am currently an Edmond J. Safra fellow in movement disorders at Toronto Western Hospital under the mentorship of Prof. Anthony Lang. Coming from a technical background, I am particularly interested in how technology can be used to greater understand and treat Parkinson disease and other movement disorders. Although early in my career, the MDS LEAP program is a remarkable opportunity for me to develop the leadership skills necessary to become an advocate for advancing clinical care and critical research in movement disorders as well as to learn from a global network of leaders within the International Parkinson and Movement Disorders Society. I am looking forward to becoming more involved in the society and using the skills obtained in this program to help patients with movement disorders around the world.
Michele Matarazzo, MD
HM CINAC
Michele Matarazzo started his medical training in Naples (Italy) and after attending his first DBS surgery in a Parkinson's patient at the Piti-Salptrire Hospital in Paris (France), where he studied for 1 year, he decided to pursue a career in movement disorders. He obtained his medical degree at the Complutense University of Madrid (Spain), where he also completed his neurology training. After collaborating on an MIT project to study typing patterns in Parkinson, in 2017 he was awarded with a Parkinson Canada grant to complete a 2-year Movement Disorders Fellowship at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver (Canada). During the fellowship he oriented his research on PET imaging in parkinsonisms.
In 2019 he joined the HM CINAC in Madrid where he currently attends movement disorders patients, while his research focus is on neuroimaging and focused ultrasounds, both at UBC and at the HM CINAC.
He is the co-founder and co-host of the MDS Podcast and serves in the steering committee of the MDS young members group and in the new technologies committee of the Spanish Neurological Society.
In his free time, he enjoys hiking, cooking for his family and friends and he is an avid jazz music listener.
Alastair Noyce, PhD, MRCP
Barts Health NHS Trust
Alastair is a Clinical Senior Lecturer at the Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine, Queen Mary University of London, and a Consultant Neurologist at Barts Health NHS Trust.
Alastair was born in 1983 and was raised initially in London, before moving to Cheshire in the north west of England, where he attended Altrincham Boys Grammar School until the age of 18. He returned to London in 2001 to study Medicine and graduated from 'Barts and the London' in 2007. He pursued integrated clinical and research training via a National Institute of Health Research Academic Clinical Fellowship at University College London (UCL). In August 2012, he started a PhD in Neuroscience at UCL which was awarded in 2016, and between 2014-2016 he undertook an MSc in Epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. He returned to clinical training at Barts Health, which he completed in August 2020, and he has been appointed as Consultant Neurologist.
His main interests are Parkinson's disease and related disorders, particularly early identification and epidemiology, including environmental, clinical and genetic determinants, and fostering equitable access to care. In his spare time, Alastair likes to run, ski and spend time with his wife and two children.
Katarzyna Smilowska, MD, PhD
Radbound University Medical Center
Dr. Katarzyna Smilowska was born in Katowice, Poland. She completed her medical training and obtained a PhD at the Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland. In 2017 Kasia, was awarded with a EAN research fellowship at the Department of Neurology, Radboud University in Nijmegen, The Netherlands, under supervision of Prof. Bastiaan Bloem. Then, she undertook a fellowship at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery at the Clinical Movement Disorders Group of Prof. Kailash Bhatia.
Currently, Kasia started a fellowship in Christian-Albrechts University, Kiel, Germany, under supervision of Prof. Günther Deuschl and is completing specialization in Neurology in Regional Hospital in Sosnowiec, Poland. Additionally, Kasia has also been an active member of MDS and she is serving in MDS European Education Committee, MDS Rating Scales Translation Committee, MDS Web-based Learning Sub-Committee Meeting. She also joined MDS-NPH task force. Her professional and research interests are in the field of Parkinson’s disease, Dystonia, NPH, Functional Surgery for Movement Disorders and genetics in rare movement disorders. She has two three little children and her hobbies include reading, traveling and skiing.
MDS-PAS
Veronica Bruno, MD, MPH
University of Calgary
Dr. Veronica Bruno is from Argentina. She completed Medicine School at the University of Buenos Aires in 2008 and trained as a Neurologist in FLENI. Between 2013-2015 she completed a Movement Disorders Fellowship in Toronto, Canada, as an American Academy of Neurology and American Brain Foundation Research Fellow. In 2016 she completed a Master of Public Health program in Global Health at Harvard University with support from the Argentine Presidential Fellowship in Science and Technology, part of the U.S. State Department's '100,000 Strong in the Americas' initiative.
Dr. Bruno is currently a Clinical Assistant Professor and Clinical researcher at the University of Calgary in Alberta, Canada. Her professional interests are related to deciphering poorly understood clinical aspects of Parkinson's disease with a particular interest in pain and palliative care in advanced neurodegenerative disorders. Her goal is to help streamline the care of patients with Parkinson's disease through advances in evidence-based medicine and research of non-motor aspects of the disease, having an active role in the MDS groups designed to pursue that goal.
Veronica enjoys international gastronomy and traveling with her family.
Sarah Lidstone, MD PhD
University of Toronto
Dr. Lidstone began her academic career at Queen's University in Kingston, Canada, spending a year at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. She moved to Vancouver to pursue her Ph.D. in Neuroscience, studying the placebo effect in Parkinson's disease. The exposure to movement disorders and researching the doctor-patient relationship solidified her decision to enter medicine. She completed her medical degree at the University of British Columbia, and her residency in Neurology in Toronto. During her fellowship in Movement Disorders in Toronto, Dr. Lidstone piloted a successful integrated clinic for the treatment of functional movement disorders. She additionally undertook a mini-sabbatical in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Switzerland to gain exposure to other models of care.
She was recruited as faculty at the University of Toronto and is currently serving as Director of the Integrated Movement Disorders Clinic, a new program dedicated to the interdisciplinary care and research of movement disorders in a rehabilitation-based model. She completed certification in Quality Improvement.
Her academic interests are in innovation in models of care; patient-provider co-design; and the integrated treatment of functional movement disorders. She enjoys cooking, travel and exploring new places, running, visual art and spending time with family and friends.
Sergio Rodriguez-Quiroga, MD
J.M. Ramos Mejía Hospital, University Center of Neurology, University of Buenos Aires
Sergio Rodriguez-Quiroga was born in Oruro, a city located in Bolivia, he obtained his medical degree from Universidad Mayor de San Simon in Cochabamba-Bolivia and later he completed his residency training in Internal Medicine at National Health Insurance Hospital in the same city. In 2009 he moved to Buenos Aires-Argentina to achieve his main goal: to become neurologist. He started his residency training in neurology at the J.M. Ramos Mejia Hospital in Buenos Aires-Argentina, and later he continued his formation in Movement Disorders and in Neurogenetics as clinical and research fellow in the same hospital.
Currently he works as a neurologist and researcher in the Movement Disorders and Neurogenetics units at the Neurology Division of the J.M. Ramos Mejia Hospital. His main areas of interest are Neurogenetics of the movement disorders, focusing his work and research in the study of hereditary ataxias. He is currently in charge of the Chronic and Progressive Ataxic patients program that was held in his Hospital. He served as a member of the Web-based Learning Sub-Committee and of the MDS Young Members Group (2017-2019).
Sergio’s hobbies include playing soccer, music, rock concerts and spending time with his two little kids.
Kathryn Wyman-Chick, PsyD, ABPP
HealthPartners Department of Neurology
Kate Wyman was born and raised in Boise, Idaho. She earned her doctoral degree in clinical psychology from Pacific University in 2015. In 2017, she completed a 2-year postdoctoral fellowship in clinical neuropsychology within the Department of Neurology at the University of Virginia Health System. In 2019, Dr. Wyman became board certified in clinical neuropsychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology.
She is currently employed as a neuropsychologist at the HealthPartners Neuroscience Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota where she participates in several interdisciplinary clinics, including the Struthers Parkinson's Center and the Center for Memory and Aging. Dr. Wyman has been selected to attend several fully-funded programs for early-career Parkinson's disease researchers including the MDS/Parkinson Foundation "Fostering New Directions" course in 2015 and the junior-investigator training at the Parkinson Study Group meeting in 2017. She was also accepted as a participant in the NIH early-career reviewer program. Dr. Wyman's current research is interdisciplinary and focuses on the cognitive and neuropsychiatric symptoms in the early stages of Parkinson's disease and Lewy body dementia.
She is a multi-instrumentalist and enjoys traveling and collecting vinyl records.