"Parkinson's Disease Summer School was the point of change in my life and my study. I benefited a lot. It is building the future scientists. I enjoyed with new friends from countries around the world and social programs associated with the Summer School. There were really unforgettable days." Abdullah AlQahtani, 5th year medical student, King Khalid University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

"I participated at 1st PDSS in Adana, Turkey and it was one of the most unforgettable events during my study. Spending time with students of different healthcare professions from different countries was a great experience. The Summer School gives an opportunity to analyze Parkinson's disease from different points of view, to discuss all problems with professionals, to carry on personal and professional development with a help of trainers and is a good opportunity to start new friendships. I enjoyed it so much!" Ewa Gromadko, graduated pharmacist at Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland

“Looking back at the summer and the roads on which it took me, I can't really see a coherent picture behind it all... it just falls apart into tens of puzzle pieces that don't fit together at all, no matter how much you try to put them together. But even so, there is one easy step to start off with... put the one with PDSS in the center of the table and continue from there...

Ideas, dreams and experiences that Warsaw and the wonderful people I met there gave me, haunted my imagination and myself - view from the first minutes I stepped out of the plane, when I arrived back home. And why is that?... Because I learned that you are not alone and running in your intellectual endeavors, whatever they may be. There are many smart and creative minds, which inhabit funny and "culturally-different and all the more reason more interesting" brains (just to make things clear... I'm not a dualist!  It’s just a metaphor) with whom you can work, ask, get depressed and anxious, party and collide. These all are contextual synonyms for "being passionate and inspired".

It's unbelievable how much you can grow in just 9 days, how impossible and forced feels the request that the trainers will push you day-in & day-out with, at the beginning: "Create an original & great research proposal that maybe could even cure a dreadful disease!" (Yeah, like Leonardo da Vinci was ever under such pressure). Yet it naturally fits in the end into the complex net of information you gathered so far. It's not at all a chore, it's stems out of creativity, out of "Aha !" moments, out of the empathy you feel for the patients you've met or just read about. Standing in the end in front of a football size amphitheatre, a row of experts and 4 live cameras feels like you're on top of the world. You and your team worked so hard...and the idea sounds so great... it's just a matter of time till everybody will see it.

I wanted my testimonial to be more experiential, in the thought that all the other down-to-earth details can be read from the site but it won't hurt to reinforce them: great food and dorms, fantastic, good-looking city with a chic attitude and a friendly weather, modern and comfortable working environment but most of all... cool and intelligent participants and warm, dedicated and professional trainers.

And just to prove that all that sounds well ends well, even from the pragmatical perspective, the gifts I received from this experience are just off the hook... A great master-PhD proposal on neurological research which I might just accept, and travel & expenses grant to the "World Parkinson's and Related Movement Disorders", the Congress which will be held in....tam,tam,tam (these are the drums kicking in).... Shanghai, China!

I will end with a quote from Umberto Eco: "this I recommend to you, sons and daughters of knowledge".” Dragos-Mihai Malaia, 5^th year medical student, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania

The Parkinson’s Disease Summer School was a very outstanding and challenging experience for me. I participated there shortly after my graduation from Medical School and it highly encouraged me in defining and realizing my future research interests and career decisions.

Creating a new research project in a very short time and getting associated leadership training was extraordinarily demanding and rewarding. I was amazed by the inspiring and motivating interdisciplinary work environment.

This atmosphere was still enriched by discovering the fascinating city of Warsaw during the spare free time.

Particularly, I met lots of interesting, talented and dedicated people there. I hope to stay in touch with those for creating further scientific projects, enhancing world-wide information exchange and friendships.

Monika Rabenstein, M.D., University of Marburg, Germany

First off, let me shout it at you, I am glad I was part of the 3rd PDSS. It is a brilliant place to learn about Parkinson's disease with team of dedicated students, and under the guidance of experienced and  professional  trainers (who later become your friends as well).

I traveled all the way from India to be a part of 3rd PDSS and today  I am glad I didn't have a second thought before registering. The format of PDSS is tailored in such a way that not only it contributes professionally  but also towards leadership and personal development.

Working with a team of dedicated students from different healthcare professions and countries towards problem solving and presentations in front of professional experts is an opportunity one cannot afford to miss. All this happens under the guidance of professional trainers who will be around all the time. Who knows, at the end of the Summer School you might find a topic for your PhD or even get a sponsor for your research proposal. And if not,  you will be sure in a position to come up with another research topic of your own about Parkinson's disease or related disorder.  But then, it’s not only about the "Work Hard" thing, but on top of this "Play Hard"  is equally exciting . Hang out's till late midnight around the beautiful city of Warsaw will become your routine :)

Next to this , I can't forget to mention about the dorm.  We were staying close to metro station in the heart of Warsaw, right on the 16th floor with a magnificent view of the city  but more important it was about the typical Polish food we had.  Make sure you’re a foodie before you join.

Aasim Amin, Graduated in Pharmaceutical Sciences University of Kashmir, India