After her recovery from a severe case of Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS) in 1990, Patricia Blomkwist–Markens founded the Dutch GBS|CIDP support group (which later merged with Spierziekten Nederland, the Dutch neuromuscular patient organization). In 1991, she was appointed as volunteer (liaison) of the GBS|CIDP Foundation International and some years later as Regional Director, responsible for the Foundation’s volunteers outside of the United States and Canada. Since 2005, she has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Foundation and in recent years, Vice–President for International Activities. As patient representative, Patricia has been involved in several workshops of the European Neuromuscular Center, has co–authored publications and is currently a member of the Task Forces for the development of EAN/PNS Guidelines for GBS and CIDP.
