The congress' contributors

Lara Bloom is the President and CEO of The Ehlers-Danlos Society and responsible for globally raising awareness of rare, chronic, and invisible diseases, specializing in the Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS), hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD), and related conditions. Lara leads coordinated medical collaboration, raising funds for research and focuses on global progression, education and awareness.

Her passion is pushing boundaries and fighting for progression in Patient Engagement and Global Collaboration, and she was officially appointed an Academic Affiliate Professor of Practice in Patient Engagement and Global Collaboration at Penn State College of Medicine, USA, in March 2020, which commemorated ten years in the field of patient engagement and advocacy leadership. She is a published author in various renowned journals and speaks worldwide at conferences, policy meetings, corporate and fundraising events and academic lectures as an expert keynote speaker.