Francie Fitzgerald

Francie Fitzgerald is a health care social worker at Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After graduating from the University of Notre Dame where she studied neuroscience, she pursued her Masters in Social Work at the University of Pennsylvania. Since being diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome at the age of 15, Francie has devoted herself wholeheartedly to bettering the lives of those affected by dysautonomia and related conditions. Francie was ultimately diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome after developing multiple pain syndromes and immune-mediated co-morbidities. She is active in the review of research proposals to private philanthropies and nonprofit organizations. Her professional passion is adapting empirically supported mental health therapies to chronic illness patient populations. Francie currently lives with her partner, Mark, service dog, Paddy, and kitten, Lisko, all of whom bring her endless joy and provider her beautiful care in their special way.