VOLUME 29, ISSUE 4 • DECEMBER 2025.
An international leader in Movement Disorders
Martje van Egmond was a gifted neurologist whose work left a lasting impact on the international movement disorders community. After graduating with honors in medicine from the University of Groningen, the Netherlands, she completed her neurology training at the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), followed by a dedicated fellowship in movement disorders.
Her PhD research focused on inherited movement disorders and led to the dissertation “Young-onset movement disorders: genetic advances require a new clinical approach.” Her work reshaped clinical thinking and was recognized with the Dutch Society of Neurology’s award for best scientific article in 2015.
Martje played a pivotal role in developing deep brain stimulation (DBS) care for dystonia at the Center of Expertise for Rare Movement Disorders. Her expertise in hyperkinetic movement disorders gained international recognition, and she presented her work at major congresses in Vancouver, Košice, Copenhagen, and Stockholm. Her presentations were known for their clarity, creativity, and warmth — often featuring humorous and unforgettable visuals, such as birds with neurological symptoms.
She co-organized high-impact educational programs, including the popular annual Masterclass Movement Disorders in Camperduin, the Netherlands, and the internationally acclaimed first MDS School for Neurophysiology for Movement Disorders in Groningen. Her signature use of colored voting cards, hand-cut and reused out of environmental care, became a hallmark of her engaging and personal teaching style.
Martje served on the board of the Dutch Working Group for Movement Disorders, was a member of the Clinical Neurophysiology Working Group of the Movement Disorder Society (MDS), and joined the MDS European Education Committee in 2021. She also contributed to the dystonia group within the European Reference Network for Rare Neurological Disorders (ERN-RND). Her dedication to patient advocacy was honored with a medal of merit from the Dystonia Patients Association.
Martje will be remembered not only for her scientific contributions but for her warmth, creativity, and unwavering commitment to patients and colleagues. Her legacy lives on in the international movement disorders community, and she will be deeply missed.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to her family and to all who loved and admired her.
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