He is Past President of the Movement Disorder Society, Past President of the International Society of Motor Disturbances and Past Treasurer of the American Neurological Association. He has been named an Honorary Member of the French Neurological Society, an honorary fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of the United Kingdom (FRCP (hon), was the recipient of the Presidential Award from the Movement Disorder Society, and was the recipient of the Movement Disorder Research Award from the American Academy of Neurology. He serves on the Board of Directors of the National Space Biomedical Research Institute, is a member of the executive committee of the Michael J Fox Foundation Scientific Advisory Board, is the past Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Bachmann-Strauss Foundation and has served on numerous additional medical and scientific advisory boards. He has served on several editorial boards including as Editor-in-Chief of the journal Movement Disorders.
His clinical and basic science research efforts are directed toward defining more effective therapies for Parkinson’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. Dr. Olanow has authored more than 350 publications, and was ranked #1 in the United States in citations for Parkinson’s disease during the past quarter century. He has lectured on movement disorders at Universities and Conferences throughout the world.