Regional perspectives: Strengthening the pediatric movement disorders community in Latin America 

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The Latin American pediatric movement disorders community has reached a significant milestone in its mission to foster regional collaboration and academic excellence. In March 2026, Buenos Aires served as the host city for “Pediatric Movement Disorders in Latin America: Bridging Gaps, Building Networks,” a landmark gathering that brought together specialists from across the continent to discuss the evolving landscape of neurological care in the region.  

A Hybrid Milestone in Buenos Aires 

The recent meeting successfully brought together colleagues participating both in person and virtually, combining regional clinical experience with high-level scientific exchange. This format expanded accessibility, enabling practitioners from across Latin America to actively engage alongside those gathered in Argentina. 

A total of 201 participants attended the meeting (98 in person and 103 virtually), mainly from Argentina and Chile, alongside colleagues from Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Uruguay, Paraguay, Venezuela, and several Central American countries. The broad regional representation reflected the growing interest in pediatric movement disorders across Latin America. 

Discussions focused on the realities and challenges of movement disorders in our region while delivering state-of-the-art educational content. Key outcomes included: 

• Addressing Local Realities Through Advanced Education: 
  The meeting highlighted regional clinical, social, and healthcare challenges, while providing up-to-date perspectives in pediatric movement disorders, advanced therapies, and neurorehabilitation. 

• Strengthening Professional Networking and Regional Collaboration: 
  Connections among clinicians, therapists, and researchers created opportunities for interdisciplinary exchange and long-term collaboration across the region. 

• Laying the Foundation for Local Collaborative Research: 
  Participants established the basis for future multicenter initiatives, encouraging the development of regional research networks and providing tools to strengthen scientific activity throughout Latin America. 

Empowering the Latin American Group 

This initiative serves as a key platform for the Latin American Pediatric Movement Disorders Group, increasing the visibility of pediatric movement disorders across the region while strengthening the group’s presence within the framework of the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society (MDS). By consolidating a growing network of experts, the group seeks to foster collaboration and expand educational and research opportunities, while highlighting the clinical and scientific contributions emerging from Latin America on an international stage.  

The initiative is also committed to: 

• Reducing disparities in specialized training and access to education across the region. 
• Facilitating the adaptation and implementation of international guidelines into local clinical practice. 
• Encouraging the active participation of young neurologists and allied professionals in global MDS initiatives. 
• Strengthening regional networking and creating opportunities for collaborative research and mentorship throughout Latin America. 
• Addressing a major global knowledge gap in pediatric movement disorders by improving epidemiological data through the analysis of local and regional cohorts. 

Looking Ahead 

The success of the meeting reflects the growing momentum, collaboration, and shared commitment of the Latin American pediatric movement disorders community. Moving forward, the focus will remain on fostering sustainable partnerships and strengthening the region’s contribution to the global discourse on movement disorders. 

We warmly invite the international MDS community to engage with and support these ongoing initiatives as we work toward a more connected, collaborative, and globally visible pediatric movement disorders network in Latin America.