Class of 2026
Sanne Meles, MD, PhD
University Medical Center Groningen Groningen, Netherlands
Rooted in Curiosity, Driven by Connection My path to neurology wasn’ t entirely traditional. My parents are stage actors, and growing up, I was surrounded by conversations about movement, expression and observation. My father, in particular, taught courses analyzing theater, sometimes using scientific material— even neurology— to understand how people move and behave.
While some patients progress quickly, others remain stable for years, and that variation raises questions that drive my research.
For me, clinical care and research constantly inform each other. What I see in patients inspires new ideas, whether that means exploring the role of the immune system or how lifestyle factors like diet might influence disease.
I remember watching fragments of documentaries with him, including work by Oliver Sacks, and becoming fascinated by what the brain makes possible. That was the beginning of my interest in neurology, and specifically movement.
From Observation to Understanding I entered medicine knowing I wanted to become a neurologist. At first, I was primarily interested in research, but I realized medicine would allow me to combine clinical work with scientific inquiry. My first patient encounter during training was someone with Parkinson’ s disease, and I was struck by its impact on daily life.
Over time, that interest deepened. During a research experience in New York, I began studying Parkinson’ s through neuroimaging, trying to understand how changes in the brain relate to symptoms and disease progression.
Growing Into the Specialty As a fellow, having protected time to focus on both Parkinson’ s care and research has been essential. It has allowed me to continue my work in neuroimaging, build international collaborations, and expand into new areas. More than anything, it has given me the space to grow into a more confident specialist in movement disorders.
Now, as I move into a staff role, my focus is on continuing that momentum, caring for patients, advancing research and helping to build capacity in a field where there is still so much to understand. What I value most is being part of a broader international community united by the same purpose: improving patients’ lives and moving research forward. Despite differences across countries and systems, that shared purpose creates an alignment that is both rare and motivating. Being part of that is something I don’ t take for granted.
12 The Edmond J. Safra Fellowship in Movement Disorders