VOLUME 30, ISSUE 3 • September 2026. Full issue »
Reflections on the Aspen Course: The peak of Movement Disorders education
The Aspen Course entered its 36th year on a beautiful sunny day in the mountains of Colorado. The first day started with a whirlwind of introductions and lectures on phenomenology and Parkinson’s disease that, combined with the altitude, left us a little light-headed. What kept us focused was the palpable excitement in the room. You could feel how energized everyone was to make it to this momentous occasion — one we had heard of since we first considered becoming Movement Disorders specialists. However, one of the beautiful things about the Aspen course is that it brings together people who are not just starting their movement disorders fellowship, but also people who are passionate about this patient population at any stage of their career. Over the following five days, we learned from giants in the field: Dr. Alberto Espay, Dr. Susan Fox, Dr. Jennifer Goldman, Dr. Joseph Jankovic, Dr. Anthony Lang, and Dr. Michael Okun, on topics from across the movement spectrum.
The Aspen course takes learners on a strenuous, guided hike through the many mountains of movement disorders such as tremor, myoclonus, dystonia, chorea, tics, paroxysmal disorders, functional movement disorders, and beyond. The trails that we did not have time to tread in-person were still covered through additional learning in pre-recorded lectures and slide decks. Topics spanned basic phenomenology to cutting-edge research. Each day included hours of lectures, videos, sibling-like banter, great debates, and career advice. As Dr. Tony Lang noted, “Our field should be appreciated as intellectually stimulating, but also the work should be fun.”
After classes, attendees were engulfed in nature. The serenity of the Maroon Bells called to hikers and the whispers of “Take Me Home, Country Roads” echoed in the John Denver Sanctuary. The town of Aspen offers art galleries, live music, and perfectly sweet, cold ice cream to provide relief in the hot summer air. One of the course founders, Dr. Joseph Jankovic, says there was a clear intention of hosting this course in Aspen.
“Aspen is an exceptional setting for a meeting because it combines natural beauty with many other opportunities for meaningful and immersive professional experience that no other destinations can match. We structured the course in such a way that the participants spend their mornings learning and afternoons and evenings taking advantage of the Aspen ambience and various cultural, intellectual, culinary, and other offerings.”
Against this backdrop, camaraderie was forged. In fact, camaraderie was an omnipotent presence throughout the course as the work of those too quickly taken from us, Dr. Mark Hallett, Dr. Kapil Sethi, and Dr. Regina Katzenschlager, was highlighted and celebrated. These beautiful relationships exemplified what was to come for the next generation as we created bonds with other fellows and providers in the midst of learning and adventure.
As we boarded our planes, we all took one final look at the mountains — recognizing the journey that brought us here and the peaks we climbed together. We know that our journey has just begun. By standing on the shoulders of giants and pulling each other up, we cannot be more excited to join this amazing field. We left those mountains with new knowledge, new friendships, and a renewed spirit to continue our climbs. As best put by Dr. Okun, we left “with greater confidence in caring for patients with movement disorders, but just as importantly, with the understanding that being a great movement neurologist means being a lifelong learner, coach, mentor, and advocate. The science matters, but the patient always remains at the center of everything we do.”
Learn more about the legendary Aspen course:
Photos by Rebecca Korduner, PMD Alliance
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