Mark Hallett Tribute

Dear Members,

It is with great sadness that we are letting you know of the passing of our beloved founder and friend, Dr. Mark Hallett. He is survived by his wife, Judy and children Nick and Vicky, and grandchildren Flora and Celeste.

Dr. Hallett, a world-renowned neurologist and pioneer in the field of movement disorders, passed away on November 2, 2025, at the age of 82. His career spanned more than five decades, including 38 years of distinguished service at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), where he elevated the study of neurological disease to global prominence.

Born in 1943, Dr. Hallett graduated Magna Cum Laude from Harvard College in 1965 and Cum Laude from Harvard Medical School in 1969. After his internship in Boston, he began his research career at the National Institute of Mental Health before completing a neurology residency at Massachusetts General Hospital and a fellowship at the Institute of Psychiatry in London under Professor C.D. Marsden, a founder of the movement disorders field. He later directed the Neurophysiology Laboratories at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and rose to Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School before joining NIH in 1984.

Dr. Hallett’s research focused on the physiology of voluntary movement and its pathophysiology in disorders such as dystonia, Parkinson’s disease, cerebellar ataxia, myoclonus, essential tremor, tics, stroke, and functional (psychogenic) movement disorders. He pioneered the use of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and introduced botulinum toxin therapy for motor disorders. His work also advanced non-invasive techniques such as EEG/MEG, MRI, and PET for studying human physiology. Among his notable discoveries was cross-modal plasticity, demonstrating the brain’s ability to reroute sensory processing—a finding published in Nature and cited over 700 times.

Dr. Hallett authored more than 1,200 manuscripts and reviews, edited nearly 30 books, and served on the editorial boards of over 40 major neurology journals, including Annals of Neurology, Neurology, Brain, and Movement Disorders. He was Editor-in-Chief of Clinical Neurophysiology for eight years and Associate Editor of Brain. His leadership extended to professional societies as past president of the Movement Disorders Society, International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology, and the Functional Neurological Disorder Society. He also served as Vice President of the American Academy of Neurology and held numerous roles in the World Federation of Neurology.

Throughout his career, Dr. Hallett received countless honors, including the World Federation of Neurology Medal for Contributions to Neuroscience and honorary memberships in leading neurological societies. His work not only advanced scientific understanding but also improved patient care worldwide, particularly for those with complex movement disorders and functional neurological conditions.Throughout his career, Dr. Hallett received countless honors, including the World Federation of Neurology Medal for Contributions to Neuroscience and honorary memberships in leading neurological societies. His work not only advanced scientific understanding but also improved patient care worldwide, particularly for those with complex movement disorders and functional neurological conditions.

On May 2, 2025, the Functional Neurological Disorder Society presented Dr. Hallett with the Founder Award. You may view the presentation of the award here and view the Mark Hallett Founder Awardee Book the Society presented to him in Boston, this past June where he participated as the keynote speaker for the FNDS Functional and Epileptic Seizure Course. 

Dr. Hallett is remembered as a brilliant scientist, visionary leader, and compassionate physician whose legacy will endure through his transformative contributions to neurology and the generations of clinicians and researchers he mentored. In recent weeks, his former fellows met to share stories with him on zoom and the consistency of all the messages was incredible. He will continue to inspire into the future, and he will always be remembered for his generous spirit, his kind and gentle manner, and his incredible mind. His memory is a blessing for all of us to cherish. 

Barbara Dworetzky, MD
FNDS President