About the Society
More than 12,000 movement disorders professionals across the globe in working to disseminate knowledge and promote research to advance the field.
The International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society (MDS) is a professional society of clinicians, scientists, and other healthcare professionals who are interested in some of the most challenging diseases to diagnose and treat: movement disorders, including Parkinson's disease, related neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disorders, hyperkinetic movement disorders, and abnormalities in muscle tone and motor control. MDS operates exclusively for scientific, scholarly and educational purposes.
In order to serve our purpose and mission, MDS is working to:
Serve as a Global Voice
______
MDS provides a platform for more than 11,000 professionals worldwide to channel our collective influence to enhance Movement Disorders care.
Foster collaboration across all global regions, facilitating more than 50 dedicated volunteer groups to advance the society's mission.
Convene more than 10,000 diverse professionals across the globe to connect and share ideas at Congresses and other forums.
Provide support to bring movement disorders education to areas where it is most needed, and least often available.
Advance Research
______
MDS serves as a catalyst for scientific endeavors to advance the neurological understanding and practices pertaining to movement disorders.
Manage and oversee two high-impact journals committed to publishing top-quality peer-reviewed articles.
Develop industry-leading clinical assessments and scales that uphold high scientific research standards across the field.
Develop and provide access to tools like the MDSGene mutation database, Prodromal PD Calculator and more.
Disseminate Knowledge
______
MDS serves as an essential link between physicians and the rapidly growing information about how to improve diagnosis and treatment of patients.
Bring together leading experts to develop immersive courses for more than 26,000 professionals each year.
Engage the community through a variety of programs to develop both the field and its emerging professionals.
Publish resources committed to high scientific standards, including peer-reviewed articles, a 1,500+ video case library, a podcast, and more.
Who We Are
Our members work tirelessly to help fulfill the mission of the Society. The leadership consists of several bodies around the world, working together to advance care and treatment of movement disorders.
History and Legacy
MDS was founded in 1985 on the initiative of Professors Stanley Fahn and C. David Marsden, whose leadership and vision guided the expansion of clinical expertise and research in this field. It merged in 1992 with the International Medical Society for Motor Disturbances. Publication of the journal Movement Disorders began in 1986, and the first International Congress was held in 1990.
In 2013, The Movement Disorder Society officially changed its name to the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society, in order to recognize the growing importance of Parkinson’s disease care and research within the field of Movement Disorders.
MDS Oral Histories Project
Because the Society is driven by our members, the MDS Oral Histories Project captures personal accounts of advances in the field of Movement Disorders.
Awards and Honors
MDS honors impactful contributions to the field and the outstanding professionals working to elevate movement disorders care around the globe.
MDS Policies
- MDS Diversity and Inclusion Statement
- MDS Supported and Endorsed Meetings Policy
- MDS Code of Conduct (Members Only)
- MDS Statement on Wars and Aggressions
Education
The following Ambassador, Visiting Professor, DWEP and Virtual Professor programs were approved by the IEC on September 20, 2017.
Website
MDS-UPDRS