Class of 2025
Isabel Wurster, MD
University of Tübingen Tübingen, Germany
Fascinated by Neurons As a kid living in a small German town, I knew I wanted to work with people, but I never imagined becoming a physician. I’ ve always been curious about others— what they think, what they experience, who they are.
My turning point came during biology class in my senior year of secondary school. There was a magical moment that sparked my joy for the neuron. As we learned how a neuron works, I became fascinated by how a cell could communicate both electrically and biologically. Around the same time, my father was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. These intellectual and personal connections to the brain felt like fate, and medicine suddenly felt like the right direction.
After an internal medicine internship, I got accepted to medical school at the University of Tübingen. My wonderful neuroanatomy professor brought the brain to life. He was strict but taught with such joy, and made a huge impression on me, solidifying my focus on neurology.
Learning from Listening As an Edmond J. Safra Fellow, I’ ve had the freedom to dive deeply into patient-oriented care and patient-oriented science. In addition to running an outpatient clinic for patients with tremor, I’ ve worked on longitudinal studies such as the Parkinson’ s Progression Markers Initiative
( PPMI) and The Michael J. Fox Foundation Consortium on PRKN and PINK1. I do lumbar punctures, clinical exams and testing, and I follow patients over time— not just for data, but to ensure they receive the best possible treatment beyond medication. That can include physical and occupational therapy, nutrition and understanding the full picture of a person’ s life. I’ ve learned how critical it is to listen— not just to check boxes, but to understand what really matters to the individual.
The Fellowship also allowed me to look beyond my own limits for perspectives on how other countries are approaching Parkinson’ s care. I was able to better comprehend the disease by absorbing different ideas from around the world.
Staying Curious, Staying Close Soon, I’ ll finish my specialization exam to become a full senior neurologist. I’ ll continue at the University Clinic of Tübingen Center for Neurology. I want to keep working with patients and supporting new studies that will help us provide truly personalized care.
People with Parkinson’ s are well informed; they know better than anyone else about their disease and they’ re always up to date on the literature. I love their dedication to their own care. They’ re my favorite patients.
14 The Edmond J. Safra Fellowship in Movement Disorders