The International Parkinson & Movement Disorder Society- European Section, 3rd annual MDS-ES Winter School for Young Neurologists in Belgrade, Serbia, was held from February 28th to March 2nd , 2014.

The course was held at the School of Medicine and Neurology Clinic in Belgrade, Prof. Vladimir Kostić, MD, PhD, Prof. Angelo Antonini, MD, PhD, and Prof. Kailash Bhatia, MD, FCRP were served as the Course Directors. Forty-eight participants from 29 countries attended the MDS-ES Winter School. The participating faculty were Alberto Albanese, MD, PhD (Milano, Italy), Angelo Antonini, MD, PhD (Venice, Italy), Paolo Barone, MD, PhD (Naples, Italy), Kailash Bhatia, MD, DM, FRCP (London, United Kingdom), Vincenzo Bonifati, MD, PhD (Rotterdam, The Netherlands), Nataša Dragašević Mišković, MD, PhD (Belgrade, Serbia), Nir Giladi, MD, PhD (Tel Aviv, Israel), Vladimir Kostic, MD, PhD (Belgrade, Serbia), Olivier Rascol, MD, PhD (Toulose, France), Evžen Růžička, MD, PhD (Prague, Chech Republic), Elka Stefanova, MD, PhD (Belgrade, Serbia), Pile Taba, MD, PhD (Tartu, Estonia), Eduardo Tolosa, MD, PhD (Barcelona, Spain), Marie Vidailhet, MD, PhD (Paris, France).

The first day in the morning, focus was on the basics of movement disorder topics, through 7 plenary lectures on hypokinetic movement disorders like Parkinson’s disease with motor and non-motor symptoms, pharmacological treatment options, hyperkinetic movement disorders, and atypical parkinsonian syndromes. Further on, an expert guided patient examination tour was performed in the afternoon. The participants were able to examine 10 patients guided by expert faculty members. In the evening, during the Video dinner, the faculty members presented interesting video-cases with a round table discussion of cases that succeeded.

The second day included the large group lectures on hyperkinetic movement disorders - dystonia, chorea, tremor, gait, and DBS in movement disorder. The special session “Bring your own case” was designed to give the chance to the participants to share their own patient videos with their fellow participants. The faculty then met privately to discuss the student presentations. Later in the afternoon the parallel session with two lectures presented took part, the first was Introduction to imaging of movement disorders and the second one Introduction to genetics of movement disorder. At the same time the participants had the opportunity to meet 5 patients, guided by expert faculty members. The evening concluded with the Group dinner in the exciting atmosphere, and the top ten student presentations were announced.

The third day addressed the ataxia disorders, myoclonus, secondary movement disorders, and psychogenic movement disorders. Ten finalists then presented their cases to the other participants, who choose their top three cases. Congratulations to Panagiota Tsitsi (Greece), Miguel Grilo (Portugal), and Alessandro Capuano (Italy) who received first, second, and third place, respectively. The winner was awarded with free registration to the 18th International Congress of Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders in Stockholm, Sweden.

Evaluations showed marked improvement in participants’ confidence in examining a patient with a movement disorder, making a diagnosis on straightforward movement disorders cases, and presenting a movement disorders case history. All participants agreed that the course was relevant to their practice and would enhance their professional effectiveness and their care of patients. Overall, the course was a great success.

Thank you to all who participated and come back to Belgrade soon!