Movement Disorders: Current Concepts and Practice
- Continuing Education
Enhance your clinical expertise in diagnosing and managing complex movement disorders with this immersive, evidence-based course led by leading neurologists from Harvard Medical School, featuring real patient cases, expert insights, and practical strategies for improving patient outcomes.
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Overview
The goal of this course is to improve the ability of clinicians in primary care, neurology, and psychiatry to recognize clinical features of common and uncommon movement disorders, use testing to aid diagnosis, and manage complications of both disease and treatment. The evaluation and management of movement disorders depend upon targeted, historical assessment and physical examination of the patient. Conditions, such as essential tremor and Parkinson's disease, are common and can produce significant disability and disease burden on patients and their caregivers.
Though Parkinson's disease and essential tremor are two well-known disorders commonly encountered by the general practitioner and neurologist, a considerable percentage of cases are misdiagnosed. In addition, other highly treatable disorders, such as drug-induced movement disorders, dystonia, and tics, can be difficult to recognize, which can pose an obstacle to initiating proper treatment. There have been considerable advances in our understanding of certain complex movement disorders, such as Parkinson's disease. We will also focus attention on the non-motor aspects of Parkinson's disease, which are increasingly being recognized as important determinants of quality of life.
The course will cover current concepts on pathophysiology of the various movement disorders, evidence-based evaluation and treatment recommendations, clinical practice guidelines as well as experience-based recommendations. Numerous patient videos will be shown throughout the presentations. Finally, the course will culminate with an interactive discussion of video-based case examples.
Learning Objectives
- Evaluate and diagnose movement disorders, such as Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, dystonia, tremor, myoclonus, tics, gait disturbances, chorea, tardive dyskinesia, and other disorders of the basal ganglia, in different settings (emergency, inpa
- Summarize treatment options and considerations in the management of movement disorders.
- Recognize pitfalls in making an erroneous diagnosis in Parkinson’s disease, tremor or dystonia.
- Describe the pharmacology and side effects of commonly used medications for treatment of various movement disorders.
- Interpret the role of dopamine blockers in disease pathophysiology and management of tardive dyskinesia and drug-induced parkinsonism.
- Integrate physical examination techniques into practice to aid in the diagnosis of a movement disorder.
- Summarize diagnostic criteria and genetic counseling principles necessary for evaluating patients with suspected hereditary chorea or ataxia.
- Explain a clinical evaluation method for gait disorders as well as diagnostic “red flags” that aid in the diagnosis of atypical parkinsonism.
- Identify relevant components of the basic anatomy and pathophysiology of the basal ganglia as it pertains to movement disorders.
- Assess potential therapeutic uses of botulinum toxin injections for dystonia, hemifacial spasm, and related disorders.
- Discuss patient factors in the screening of candidates for deep brain stimulation.
- Identify relevant issues regarding pre-operative evaluation and post-operative care for patients receiving deep brain stimulation.
- Examine physical examination techniques and history taking skills in making the diagnosis of a psychogenic movement disorder.
- Describe common non-motor aspects of Parkinson’s disease, including mood disorders and cognitive impairment, and summarize treatment options and best practices.
Developed and Offered By:
Continuing Education courses are developed by faculty from Harvard Medical School's teaching hospitals and accredited by Harvard Medical School. This course is offered by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.
Participant Types
Primary Care Physicians, Pharmacists, Specialty Physicians, Physician Assistants, Psychologists, Nurse Practitioners, Nurses, Movement Disorder Fellows, and Others
Schedule
All agenda sessions are in Eastern Time.
Thursday, October 16, 2025
Welcome, Introductions, and CME Instructions
David K. Simon
8:00-8:05 am
Overview of Movement Disorders
Ludy Shih
8:05-8:45 am
Break
8:45-8:50 am
Clinical Approach to Gait Disorders
Lan Luo
8:50-9:40 am
Morning Break
9:40-9:50 am
Tremor and Myoclonus
Shabbir Merchant
9:50-10:50 am
Break
10:50-10:55 am
Chorea and Huntington's Disease
Samuel Frank
10:55-11:40 am
Break
11:40-11:45 am
Diagnosis of Parkinsonism and Early Treatment
David K. Simon
11:45 am-12:25 pm
Lunch
12:25-1:20 pm
Management of Advanced Parkinsonism
David K. Simon
1:20-1:55 pm
Break
1:55-2:00 pm
Nonmotor Aspects of Parkinsonism
Veronique VanderHorst
2:00-2:50 pm
Afternoon Break
2:50-3:00 pm
Atypical Parkinsonism
Veronique VanderHorst
3:00-3:50 pm
Break
3:50-3:55 pm
Movement Disorders Video Case Rounds
Veronique VanderHorst; David K. Simon
3:55-4:55 pm
Friday, October 17, 2025
Tardive dyskinesia and other drug-induced movement disorders
Samuel Frank
8:00-8:45 am
Break
8:45-8:50 am
Dystonia: Phenomenology, classification, and treatment
Samuel Frank
8:50-9:35 am
Morning Break
9:35-9:45 am
Clinical Evaluation of Ataxia Syndromes
Jeremy Schmahmann
9:45-10:30 am
Break
10:30-10:35 am
Tourette Syndrome
Kinga Tomczak
10:35-11:15 am
Break
11:15-11:20 am
Restless Leg Syndrome
John Winkelman
11:20 am-12:00 pm
Break
12:00-12:05 pm
Cognitive and Psychiatric Aspects of Parkinson's Disease
Daniel Press
12:05-12:40 pm
Lunch
12:40-1:25 pm
Introduction to Brain Stimulation
Michael Fox
1:25-2:10 pm
Break
2:10-2:15 pm
DBS Surgery: Procedures and Outcomes
Ron Alterman
2:15-2:55 pm
Afternoon Break
2:55-3:05 pm
Functional Movement Disorders
David Perez
3:05-3:50 pm
Break
3:50-3:55 pm
Movement Disorder Video Case Rounds
Samuel Frank; Ludy Shih
3:55-4:55 pm
Concluding Remarks
Samuel Frank
4:55-5:00 pm
Faculty
Harvard Medical School Continuing Education attracts the best and brightest faculty from all around the world. As a student in this course, you’ll have access to outstanding course directors and faculty.
David K. Simon, MD, PhD
Course Director
- Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School
- Chief, Division of Movement Disorders
- Director, National Parkinson Foundation Center of Excellence, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Samuel Frank, MD
Course Director
- Associate Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School
- Director, HDSA Center of Excellence, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Ron Alterman, MD
Chief, Division of Neurosurgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Professor of Neurosurgery, Harvard Medical School
Michael D. Fox, MD, PhD
Associate Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School; Director, Center for Brain Circuit Therapeutics; Departments of Neurology, Psychiatry, Neurosurgery, and Radiology; Brigham and Women's Hospital / MGH / BIDMC
Samuel Frank, MD
Associate Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School; Director, HDSA Center of Excellence, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Lan Luo, MD, MS
Instructor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School; Co-Director, DBS Program, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Shabbir Merchant, MD
Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Movement Disorders Fellowship Director, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
David Perez, MD, MMSc
Director, MGH Functional Neurological Disorders Clinic, Associate Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital
Daniel Press, MD
Associate Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Clinical Director, Cognitive Neurology Unit, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Jeremy Schmahmann, MD
Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School,
Founding Director, Ataxia Unit, Cognitive Behavioral Neurology Unit, Director, Laboratory for Neuroanatomy and Cerebellar Neurobiology, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital
Ludy Shih, MD
Member of the Faculty, Harvard Medical School
David K. Simon, MD, PhD
Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School; Chief, Division of Movement Disorders; Director, National Parkinson Foundation Center of Excellence at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Kinga Tomczak, MD, PhD
Instructor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School
Director, Tic Disorders and Tourette Syndrome Program, Department of Neurology, Boston Children’s Hospital
Veronique VanderHorst, MD, PhD
Associate Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School
John Winkelman, MD, PhD
Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
Chief, Sleep Disorders Clinical Research Program, Massachusetts General Hospital
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Course Fees
Fee Disclaimer
You may register through our secure online environment and will receive an email confirmation upon receipt of your payment. Prices include CME credit, electronic syllabus and access to recordings for 30 days after the course.
At the end of the registration process, a $10 non-refundable processing fee will be added to your registration.
Early Registration Deadline:
| Role | Standard Price |
|---|---|
| Physician (MD/DO) | $575.00 |
| Nurse (RN/APRN) | $425.00 |
| PA | $425.00 |
| Psychologist | $425.00 |
| Resident/Fellow | $425.00 |
| Social Worker | $425.00 |
| Allied Health Professional / Other | $425.00 |
Accreditation
The Harvard Medical School designates this live activity for a maximum of 14.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Harvard Medical School designates this live activity for a maximum of 14.50 ANCC contact hours.
The National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) states that AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ are acceptable for continuing medical education requirements for recertification. We would also suggest that learners check with their state licensing board to ensure they accept reciprocity with AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ for re-licensure.
The American Medical Association (AMA) has an agreement of mutual recognition of continuing medical education (CME) credit with the European Union of Medical Specialties (UEMS). Additional information regarding this agreement may be found on the European Union of Medical Specialties website.
The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada recognizes conferences and workshops held outside of Canada that are developed by a university, academy, hospital, specialty society or college as accredited group learning activities.