MDS Pan American Section Nominees

As I begin my role as PAS-Chair Elect, I would like to look forward to the future and envision how can I  help to the International Parkinson´s and Movement Disorder Society (MDS) and to the PAS Section to create the next steps to fulfill its Mission and Assignments.

Significant  achievements have already been made, including increased  membership representation, greater balance in regional educational activities and committees, and enhanced participation of researchers, allied health professionals, neuropediatricians and geneticists.

However, we are also facing challenging times. It is essential that we continue to contribute to the education of the next generation of movement disorders clinicians, who will need to learn complex skills, for instance, how to integrate genetics, imaging, artificial intelligence and digital technologies into the traditional way of evaluation and diagnosis of Movement Disorders. 

Another important aspect, is how to reshape the ongoing educational and outreach programs to address these evolving needs, that include minimizing the existing disparities in access to care of patients and education in an heterogeneous region as the PAS Region.

I am a proud member of the Society and deeply honored to continue serving. I am committed to helping promote it as the Premier educational source on Movement Disorders, to build partnerships with foundations and patient organizations and with regional congresses, to increase access to care and education at all levels. Moreover, I hope to contribute to enhancing the MDS Scientific profile, in terms of research collaborations and publications.

Dr. Cecilia Peralta is an associate professor of Neurology and Chair of the Parkinson´s Disease (PD) and Movement Disorders Clinic at CEMIC University Hospital,  School of Medicine, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Dr. Peralta completed her residency in Neurology and Movement Disorders Fellowship at the Centro Neurológico Dr. Thomson, French Hospital, under the direction of Professor Oscar Gershanik. 

She then pursued additional training through  an international Fellowship under the direction of Professor Werner Poewe at the Medical University of Innsbruck from 2003 to 2005. She developed there research projects focused on Vascular Parkinsonism, the association of valvular heart disease with dopamine agonists  and the relationship  between PD and Restless Legs, collaborating with Dr Birgit Högl, Dr Gregor Wenning and Dr Klaus Seppi.

She conducted the first research study using FDOPA-PET imaging in PD in Argentina.

Throughout her career she has served as a member of the MDS-Neuroimaging Study Group, and as a member of the PAS-MDS Executive Committee, Education and Awards Committe. She has also served as Chair of the 5th PAS Congress Scientific Program Committee.

I am deeply grateful to the MDS for the invaluable opportunities it has provided me since I first attended the Congress in 2008. Over the years, MDS has been a cornerstone of my professional development, offering training, collaboration, and global networking. My recent experience on the MDS PAS Executive Committee has been especially enriching—allowing me to work alongside dedicated colleagues committed to advancing our shared goals.

Building on this foundation, I am eager to contribute at a new level—as Secretary—to help drive the vision of MDS PAS in alignment with the Society’s broader mission. My priority is to promote more equitable participation across the Pan American region, with a focus on communities that remain underrepresented in our activities.

I believe strongly that scientists and clinicians across the Americas must engage in meaningful, two-way dialogue to improve care for people with Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders. Including professionals from developing regions in leadership roles enhances the cultural relevance of our strategies and supports broader inclusion. I will continue to foster partnerships with affiliate societies and expand regional outreach. Education is central to the MDS mission. I plan to champion diverse strategies to increase engagement with the RoadMAP platform and ensure a balanced offering of educational activities for both early-career and advanced professionals.

With growing leadership and management experience, and a strong commitment to the values of equity, inclusion, and excellence, I am ready to invest the time and energy required to support the evolving goals of MDS PAS.

Mario Cornejo-Olivas is a clinical scientist and senior researcher/attending neurologist at the Neurogenetics Research Center of the Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Neurológicas (INCN) in Lima, Peru. He also serves as a Research Professor at Universidad Cientifica del Sur, where he leads the Neurogenetics Working Group.

Mario spearheads several national research initiatives on the genetics of Huntington’s disease (Enroll-HD) and Parkinson’s disease (LARGE-PD), and directs a specialized neurogenetics outpatient clinic focused on Huntington’s disease, repeat expansion disorders, and ataxias—recently designated a NAF Ataxia Center of Excellence. His work on SCA10 and other inherited ataxias has significantly advanced the understanding of genetic epidemiology in Latin America. He also oversees the Peruvian DNA Bank for neurogenetics research. As part of his commitment to health equity, Mario has received training in global health research with a focus on reducing disparities in the diagnosis and care of movement and rare neurological disorders in underserved regions.

A former Fellow of the MDS LEAP Class of 2018, Mario remains actively involved in the Society through various leadership and educational roles. He currently serves on the MDS PAS Executive Committee, the PAS Congress Scientific Program Committee, and the MDS Scientific Issues Committee.

Professor Piemonte is confident that she can play a crucial role in expanding and consolidating initiatives aimed at increasing the participation of Allied Health Professionals from the Pan-American section of the MDS, especially those from Latin America. With her extensive experience in multidisciplinary care, she is well-positioned to promote greater involvement of physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, and other healthcare professionals in MDS activities.

To accomplish this, she has several actions in mind. Firstly, she plans to advocate for developing educational programs customized for Allied Health Professionals in Latin America. These programs will address the specific challenges they encounter in clinical practice and research. Providing content in Spanish and Portuguese will make these initiatives more accessible to professionals in the region.

Furthermore, Professor Piemonte intends to promote increased collaboration among Allied Health Professionals in Latin American countries. This may include establishing a regional network within the MDS to facilitate sharing knowledge and best practices. 

One of our main goals is to enhance the quality of patient care in Latin America by acknowledging and accommodating the region's cultural and social differences. By comprehending these distinct aspects, healthcare professionals can provide more personalized and effective treatments that better meet the needs of the local population.

Professor Piemonte obtained her Physiotherapy degree from the University of São Paulo in 1991, followed by a master’s degree in Neuroscience in 1998 and a doctorate in Neuroscience in 2003 from the same institution. She is currently an Associate Professor at the Medical School of the University of São Paulo, responsible for Physiotherapy in Neurology disciplines and Neurology Physiotherapy Services. For over 20 years, she has directed the Postgraduate Course in Neurological Physiotherapy at the General Hospital of the Medical School. In addition to her academic roles, Professor Piemonte is actively engaged in research on motor and cognitive rehabilitation for individuals with Parkinson’s disease. She is Chair of the Scientific Department of Neurofunctional Physiotherapy for Adults and Elderly at ABRAFIN and leads the Committee for Multiprofessional Care in ABN. She also contributed to the WHO Development Group for the Rehabilitation Package for Parkinson’s Disease. Since 2014, she has worked to expand the role of health professionals in MDS-PAS, mentoring many future leaders in Parkinson’s rehabilitation in Brazil.

My academic background and clinical training in movement disorders have equipped me with a strong clinical and translational research foundation. Throughout my career, I have been involved in studies investigating the pathophysiology of movement disorders, particularly for tremors, dystonia, and Parkinson’s disease, and developing novel neuromodulation-based therapeutic interventions. 

I have worked on multidisciplinary team-based projects that bridge neuroscience and clinical practice to translate research findings into improved patient outcomes. As an MDS-PAS Officer, I plan to fully and actively engage in the governance and policy-making activities of the Section. I am particularly committed to fostering collaboration across centers in the region, identifying critical knowledge gaps, and creating targeted educational platforms that address the unique needs of patients and providers in the Pan-American region. I aim to contribute to the development of scientific programs and educational courses that promote standardized clinical care for movement disorder neurologists and trainees, while also engaging the broader healthcare team, including essential allied health professionals. I look forward to working with the vibrant community of clinicians and researchers across the Pan-American region and learning from the diverse perspectives and expertise that strengthen our shared mission.

Dr. Aparna Wagle Shukla is a movement disorders neurologist and physician-scientist at the University of Florida, USA. She earned her medical degree in India, completed neurology training in both India and the United States, and pursued a fellowship in movement disorders in Toronto, Canada. She is a Professor of Neurology and currently serves as the Division Chief for Movement Disorders (Research) at the University of Florida.

Dr. Wagle Shukla has been awarded numerous research grants from the Dystonia Coalition, Dystonia Medical Research Foundation, Blepharospasm Research Foundation, National Organization for Rare Disorders, and the NIH/NINDS—including KL2, K23, and R01 awards—to support her research endeavors. She has presented her work at national and international conferences and has authored over 160 peer-reviewed publications.

She believes that 'do no harm' is one of the most important tenets of clinical practice. While providing high-quality care to patients with Parkinson’s disease, dystonia, tremors, chorea, and other movement disorders, outside of her clinical and research responsibilities, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, listening to podcasts on human psychology and social science, and traveling to cities rich in history and architecture.

As an active member of the MDS, Dr. Wagle Shukla has served multiple study groups, special interest groups, and committees. Her roles as project leader and member have resulted in several collaborative publications. She has also contributed significantly to MDS educational initiatives—serving as regular faculty for the MDS Education Series for movement disorder fellows, as a faculty speaker for MDS-supported educational webinars, and most recently, as a faculty speaker for the MDS-PAS Educational Course focused on bridging basic and clinical science.

My vision for the MDS is to be the most important Hub between clinicians and researchers worldwide, helping them accomplish their career objectives: better caring for people living with PD and other neurodegenerative diseases. The PAS suffers from disparities in health care and research between northern countries and Latin America. This situation was widely recognized during the 2024 PAS meeting in Colombia.

However, we should treat the situation not as a problem but as a new era of opportunities for our region. Human problems have become global; thus, finding solutions is a collective endeavor. Latin Americans could benefit from the proficiency and experience of their North American colleagues while they can enrich themselves with the creativity, energy, and out-of-the-box thinking of people in Central and South America. I’m committed to fostering the research capabilities of Argentina and other Latin American countries. I trained with top researchers from Argentina, Europe, and the US. My mentors have given me so much; now, it is my turn to give. This is way I invest a lot of time in training young researchers and fostering the creation of new research groups in my community. If selected to serve at the PAS Executive Committee, I will devoutly work to boost research activities and foster researchers’ capabilities in Latin America, closely working with mentors in North America.

Santiago Perez-Lloret, MD PhD, is a leading expert in neurophysiology and neuropharmacology with more than 140 papers published in international medical journals (Scopus H-index=38). He edited the book entitled “Clinical Trials in Parkinson’s Disease” (Springer-Verlag, 2021). After obtaining his MD and PhD at the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina, he pursued master's degree courses in pharmacoepidemiology, clinical pharmacology, and biostatistics at the Universities of Toulouse, Bordeaux, and Paris (France). He has trained under the supervision of Dr. Marcelo Merello (Argentina) and Dr. Olivier Rascol (France). Dr. Perez-Lloret is an assistant professor of neurophysiology at the University of Buenos Aires's Medicine School and a senior researcher at the Argentinean National Research Council. He is the director of the Data Science Research Laboratory at the Catholic University of Argentina and Editor-in-Chief of the Neurodegenerative Diseases International journal. He has been a Fulbright Scholar since 2022 under the sponsorship of Dr. Christopher Goetz (Chicago, IL). He has served as faculty in many MDS international congresses and participated in many Society committees and working groups.

I am seeking a position on the MDS-PAS Executive Committee to bring a fresh perspective as a young clinician and researcher, with a proven record of commitment to the MDS. My involvement includes developing and chairing the MDS peer review program, participating in the MDS-LEAP initiative, and serving on the Publication Oversight Committee and the Moving Along Editorial Board. These roles reflect my dedication to advancing movement disorders research and care.

Having lived and worked in Brazil, Canada, and the USA, I offer a unique global perspective on the diverse challenges and opportunities in the Pan-American region. This international experience, combined with my passion for collaboration and innovation, positions me to contribute meaningfully to the continued growth of the MDS-PAS.

As part of the Executive Committee, I would prioritize expanding outreach by engaging underrepresented countries and increasing membership in regions where MDS-PAS has less presence, fostering a more diverse and inclusive community. I also aim to enhance educational opportunities, particularly for young professionals and early-career members, to ensure the next generation of specialists is equipped to lead our field. Lastly, I would advocate for initiatives that improve patient care, utilizing research, education, and best practices to positively impact outcomes for individuals with movement disorders.

My commitment to scientific growth, diverse background, and clear insight would enable me to make meaningful and objective contributions to the MDS-PAS section.

Dr. Di Luca serves as a movement disorders neurologist and Assistant Professor of Neurology at Washington University in St. Louis. He is originally from Brazil, but has subsequently served as a Chief Neurology Resident at the University of Miami and Movement Disorders Fellow at the University of Toronto under the mentorship of Dr. Lang and Dr. Fox.

During his fellowship, he developed and launched the MDS Peer Review Program along with Dr. Goetz. This program has trained members on how to peer review, in addition to the creation of a MDS podcast series. Additionally, he has been part of the Neurology Education and MDS Moving Along editorial boards. 

He is part of several MDS working groups and leadership committees, including the Publication Oversight committee. Moreover, he was part of the MDS-LEAP cohort of 2024. Being originally from South America, trained partially in Canada, have travelled in Central America, and now living in the US,  Dr. Di Luca might be able to move effectively and with agility in serving all communities represented by the PAS.

Over the past 15 years, I have been actively engaged with the MDS as an allied health professional, witnessing firsthand the value the Society brings to clinicians and researchers across the globe. Through this long-standing involvement, I’ve gained deep institutional knowledge and built a broad, collaborative professional network—assets that I believe will serve the Executive Committee well. I take pride in being a reliable team player, capable of contributing meaningfully to the Committee’s ongoing initiatives and strategic goals.

Looking ahead, my vision centers on expanding the global reach and inclusivity of the MDS—particularly through the smart use of emerging technologies. A recent initiative led by the Web Editorial Board to build web resources for underserved regions made clear the pressing disparities many members face in accessing MDS content and programming. I want to build on that work by supporting tools and strategies that enhance accessibility—whether through natural language processing (NLP) to improve multilingual content search, or more fully leveraging platforms like Zoom and Basecamp to facilitate cross-regional collaboration and communication.

Simple yet impactful projects—such as an expert-led webinar series to share best practices, or structured project management to support collaborative research and educational efforts—can unlock the tremendous talent and energy within our membership while increasing equity in access to resources and opportunities.

I am also deeply passionate about the evolving role of technology in movement disorders research and care. In recent years, I’ve contributed to the expansion of the MDS Digital App Repository, which helps our members navigate the growing landscape of digital tools for Parkinson’s and related conditions. As new technologies rapidly enter clinical and research spaces, the MDS is uniquely positioned to help shape best practices and quality standards. With my background spanning both clinical practice and health technology innovation, I am well-positioned to help the Society chart a thoughtful, forward-looking path that maximizes benefit while minimizing risk.

Through service on the Executive Committee, I hope to support MDS’s mission by building bridges—across professions, regions, and technologies—to ensure that our Society continues to grow in relevance, accessibility, and global impact.

I am a speech-language pathologist (SLP) specializing in Parkinson’s disease and related movement disorders since 2007. Over the course of my career, I have founded and directed a network of interdisciplinary Parkinson’s rehabilitation teams for a national U.S. healthcare provider, served in senior leadership as Director of Healthcare Strategy and Technology at a national nonprofit, and co-founded two Parkinson’s-focused healthtech startups. One of these was featured at the 2015 Blue Ribbon Highlights session of the MDS International Congress for its (at the time) pioneering use of smartphone technology to assess Parkinson’s symptoms.

I am an active member of the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society (MDS), currently serving as Chair of the Allied Health Professionals Special Interest Group (2021-2025) and Co-Chair of the Web Editorial Board (ongoing). I am also currently leading a section of an upcoming collaborative publication for the Voice, Speech, and Swallowing Study Group and contributed to the initial position paper for the Technology Study Group. Additionally, I’ve helped develop educational content and served as faculty for MDS learning initiatives.

I regularly attend MDS programs—virtually and in person—to stay current, engaged, and connected with the global movement disorders community. I would be honored to contribute further as a member of the Executive Committee.

Over the past 15 years, I have been actively engaged with the MDS as an allied health professional, witnessing firsthand the value the Society brings to clinicians and researchers across the globe. Through this long-standing involvement, I’ve gained deep institutional knowledge and built a broad, collaborative professional network—assets that I believe will serve the Executive Committee well. I take pride in being a reliable team player, capable of contributing meaningfully to the Committee’s ongoing initiatives and strategic goals.

I am committed to providing equal opportunities and ensuring fairness in treatment and representation. It is essential that those who often go unheard, or who feel marginalized, have a voice in shaping the future of movement disorders care and research. I strongly believe that diversity enriches our field and improves outcomes for patients worldwide.

If given the opportunity, I will not use this role solely for my personal career development, but as a way to give back. I will take it seriously and actively participate in efforts to create real, positive change. Through my ongoing work with MDS, I want to continue advocating for equal representation, pushing for inclusive initiatives, and creating pathways for the next generation of neurologists and researchers, with the ultimate goal of helping all people living with movement disorders around the globe equally. 

I was born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina I earned my Doctor of Medicine degree with honors from the University of Buenos Aires, followed by a Neurology residency at FLENI and a Movement Disorders fellowship at the University of Toronto. I also hold a Master of Public Health from Harvard University, awarded with a full scholarship. My involvement with MDS has been pivotal in my career development. Since presenting my first poster at MDS in 2008, I have held several key roles, including Vice Chair of the Evidence-Based Medicine Committee and Steering Committee member of the Women in Movement Disorders Special Interest Group. Through MDS, I have collaborated on global initiatives and contributed to education and research in the field of Parkinson’s disease and movement disorders. Today, I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Clinical Neurosciences at the University of Calgary, specializing in movement disorders. I continue to lead programs focused on advanced Parkinson’s disease care and contribute to the growing body of movement disorders research.

My vision for the MDS-PAS is to create more opportunities for collaboration and career growth throughout the Americas.  By helping to build partnerships, junior faculty and faculty in resource limited areas can have an avenue to promote and present their work and have greater opportunities for career growth.

The cost of conference travel and lack of significant career opportunities can lead to stalled professional growth and burnout.   Potential online video publication of interesting cases and research, courses directed at needs assessment for different regions by engaging local clinical and research leaders, and teaching opportunities for trainee and junior faculty members of PAS are means of sharing work and promoting junior faculty development.   I have collaborative and mentorship experience through my work in various study groups including the Rare Movement Group and my involvement as the Symposia Chair for the Parkinson's Study Group and various work groups for the American Academy of Neurology.  I also have experience with course development and quality improvement patient centered projects both at my institution and through the AAN.  Thus I bring a multi-faceted skill set to the Executive Committee.     Thank you for your consideration.

I am a movement disorders trained neurologist from Mt Sinai Beth Israel during which time I was a DMRF funded fellow. I later joined faculty at Maimondes Medical Center and after two years joined Weill Cornell Medicine.  During my 8+ year tenure at WCM,  I have been a site PI for several disease modifying and surgical trials including those for gene and cell therapies.  In addition to recently being named Chief of the Division of Movement Disorders at WCM I was named Fellow of the AAN.  I have presented numerous abstracts at MDS and at this past Congress  had three oral presentations, two presenting data on a Phase 1 cell therapy trial and another for bilateral HIFU lesioning for ET.  I was also recently faculty at MDS PAS in Cartegena.  I am Chair of the CME Committee and co-Chair of the Rare Movement Group.   In addition I have been an ad hoc member of the CSPC and am an active member of the Technology, Dystonia, Post-Stroke, and Tic study groups.  In addition I have been the steering committee liason for the RMD’s virtual case conference and contributed to the development of the Virtual Dystonia Lecture Series for Ukrainian Neurologists.