Debbie E. Cook

Debbie Cook is the Director of the National Ankylosing Spondylitis Society (NASS). She joined NASS as Director in June 2011. Debbie has her own personal patient journey, which started in her early twenties. After several years of lower back pain and episodes of psoriasis and uveitis, she was advised in 1997 by her then rheumatologist that she had ‘something in the Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) family’. A diagnosis of spondyloarthritis has recently been confirmed.



Debbie worked for 22 years in local government but, during her time at the University of Warwick studying for a Master’s in Public Administration, which she completed in 2009, she began to think about working for a charity – NASS was the obvious choice; AS being a subject she is most passionate about.



Debbie is also on the Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance (ARMA) Board, the Executive of the Ankylosing Spondylitis International Federation (ASIF) and the Council of Governors of the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases in Bath.



Debbie lives in Lincolnshire with her husband, two daughters, a huge Bernese Mountain dog, and many other pets!