Connecting Across Communities at the EDS Conference

An inside look at the EDS conference through the experience of TMS staff member Isabelle Charlot

This year, I had the opportunity to attend the Ehlers-Danlos Society’s Global Learning Conference, where I represented The Mast Cell Disease Society in the Comorbidity Corner. Throughout the conference, I spoke with attendees about mast cell diseases, shared TMS resources, and introduced many people to the programs we offer.

One of my favorite moments was meeting our Community Engagement Intern, Calla Mace, in person for the first time (pictured above). It was wonderful to finally meet after working toward the same mission from afar.

I also attended several sessions focused on mast cell disease. Hearing directly from patients about their experiences was incredibly insightful. Listening to their stories offered a deeper understanding of the challenges many people face and reinforced why patient education continues to be such an important part of TMS’s work.

The Comorbidity Corner created meaningful opportunities to connect with organizations that support people living with related conditions. It was also great to see familiar faces from the TMS community while meeting individuals who were discovering our organization for the first time.

Thank you to The Ehlers-Danlos Society for welcoming TMS to this year’s conference. Every conversation reminded me how important it is to work together so patients have access to trusted information, meaningful support, and a community that understands their journey.