.png)
Dawn Douglas
Community Builder. Patient Mentor. Relentless Advocate.
Dawn Douglas is the founder and lead administrator of the Tarlov Cyst Society group serving Australia and New Zealand. Based in the stunning Blue Mountains of New South Wales, west of Sydney, Dawn has become a cornerstone of support, guidance, and unity for patients across the region.
Diagnosed with Tarlov Cyst Disease in 2009 after years of living with significant back and chronic nerve pain, Dawn’s early search for information was met with silence. Medical guidance was scarce, support was limited, and patients were left to navigate the condition alone. That silence led to action—Dawn founded the original Australian support group to ensure others would not face the same isolation.
With a professional background in Higher Education Administration (now retired), Dawn brings deep organizational skills, empathy, and leadership to her role. She is a tireless advocate for patient empowerment and encourages others to never stop seeking the right doctors and support systems for their care.
Through her leadership, the Australia & New Zealand group has become a lifeline for patients, offering understanding, direction, and community in a medical landscape that too often lacks all three.