Remembering Dr Doug MacMahon

A founder, mentor and pioneer of Parkinson’s education

On Friday, members of the Neurology Academy family gathered to celebrate the life of Dr Doug MacMahon, one of the four founding faculty members of the Parkinson’s Academy, whose vision and leadership have influenced Parkinson’s care across the UK and far beyond.

Doug was far more than a founder of our Academy. He was one of the pioneers who recognised that improving outcomes for people living with Parkinson’s required more than new treatments — it required better education, stronger multidisciplinary teams and clinicians who were equipped not only with knowledge, but with the confidence to transform services.

Alongside fellow founders David Stewart, Peter Fletcher and Sue Thomas, Doug helped establish what would become the Parkinson’s Academy over two decades ago. Their ambition was simple but powerful: to bring together healthcare professionals from across the UK to learn from one another, challenge existing practice and return home inspired to improve care for people living with Parkinson’s. That vision remains at the heart of everything we do today.

Doug’s influence on Parkinson’s care extended well beyond the Academy. During his clinical career he pioneered the UK’s first Parkinson’s specialist nurse post, recognising the essential role specialist nurses would play in improving patient care. He contributed to national guidelines, published extensively, helped shape research into Parkinson’s treatments and quality of life, and played a leading role within Parkinson’s UK and numerous national professional groups. His work has left a lasting legacy that continues to benefit thousands of people living with Parkinson’s every day.

Those fortunate enough to work alongside Doug will remember not only his immense knowledge, but his generosity with it. He was an exceptional teacher, a thoughtful mentor and someone who always had time to encourage others. He believed passionately that education should be practical, collaborative and focused on improving patient care, principles that continue to define every Parkinson’s Academy programme.

Today, Sarah Gillett joined his wife, Andrea, the three remaining founding faculty members, together with many current and former faculty, speakers and colleagues, to pay their respects and celebrate Doug’s extraordinary life. It was a fitting reflection of the friendships, respect and admiration he inspired throughout the Parkinson’s community.

Doug often spoke about wanting to leave Parkinson’s care in a better place than he found it. There can be little doubt that he achieved exactly that. Through the Academy he helped create, the clinicians he mentored, and the countless services that have been transformed through education, his impact will continue to be felt for many years to come.

Everyone at Neurology Academy extends our deepest condolences to Doug’s family, friends and all who had the privilege of knowing and working with him.

Thank you, Doug, for your friendship, your wisdom, your leadership and your unwavering commitment to improving the lives of people living with Parkinson’s. Your legacy lives on in every clinician you inspired and every patient who benefits from the better care you helped make possible.

For those wishing to honour Doug’s memory, his family have established a tribute page where donations can be made in his memory: https://www.justgiving.com/page/andrea-lindahl