Building the future of movement disorders care together

Parkinson Canada, the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation Canada, and the Huntington Society of Canada are pleased to launch the Clinical Movement Disorders Fellowship Program. This collaborative initiative brings together three of Canada’s leading movement disorder organizations to address the critical shortage of specialized clinicians trained in the comprehensive care of complex neurological conditions.

The partnership establishes a co-funded fellowship program designed to train the next generation of movement disorder specialists who will support communities across Canada. By pooling resources and expertise, these organizations will provide comprehensive training that spans the full spectrum of movement disorders, ensuring fellows receive exposure to Parkinson’s, dystonia, Huntington disease, and related conditions.

Investing in clinical excellence

Through this collaboration, the partners will co-fund a clinical fellowship in 2026-2027, awarding $80,000 to support an exceptional candidate pursuing specialized training in movement disorders. We are pleased to jointly award this fellowship to Blanche Perraud, who will train at one of the leading movement disorder institutions.

This significant investment will enable fellows to gain hands-on experience at leading Canadian academic centres, while developing expertise in diagnosis, treatment, and best care practices across multiple movement disorder conditions.

The program addresses a critical need in the Canadian healthcare landscape, where many patients with movement disorders face long wait times and limited access to specialized care.

A unified vision for better care

“Access to specialized movement disorder care remains a major challenge for many people across Canada. By working together to support clinical fellowship training, our organizations are investing in the specialists who will improve diagnosis, treatment, and long-term care for Canadians living with movement disorders,”

– Ko Currie, Director of Research Programs and Partnerships, Parkinson Canada

“Collaborations like this are especially important for smaller communities such as dystonia,” says Archana Castelino, National Director of the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation (DMRF) Canada. “Together, we are expanding training opportunities for future specialists in movement disorders and saving valuable time and other resources for fellows and host institutions. As DMRF Canada marks 50 years of advancing care and research for dystonia, we remain committed to continuing this work alongside our partners.”

“Partnering with other leading movement disorder organizations in Canada to train the next generation of clinicians is a giant step toward a more collaborative model of improved health care for Canadians,” says Shelly Redman, CEO of the Huntington Society of Canada. “We are excited to positively impact the level of care Canadians with movement orders will receive.”

Strengthening the movement disorders community

This partnership reflects a growing recognition that movement disorders share common features, challenges, and care needs. By working together, the three organizations can maximize their impact while reducing duplication of efforts to benefit everyone affected by movement disorders across Canada.

The collaboration sets a powerful precedent for how disease-specific organizations can work together to address shared challenges and advance care for all people living with movement disorders across Canada. By investing in the next generation of specialists, Parkinson Canada, the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation Canada, and the Huntington Society of Canada are building a stronger, more integrated care system that will benefit patients and families for years to come.

For more information about the Canadian Movement Disorders Joint Fellowship Program, please visit: