Getting to know...Chloe

Alongside her clinical work, Chloe is a media spokesperson for the British Dietetic Association (BDA) and is passionate about raising awareness of lesser-known and often poorly understood conditions. As a Trustee of Mast Cell Action, she hopes to use her clinical experience, dietetic expertise and patient advocacy work to support the charity’s mission and help improve the lives of people affected by MCAS.

What's your favourite thing about being involved with our charity? 

Knowing that the work we do can make a real difference to the lives of people struggling with MCAS. I also love working alongside the wonderful Mast Cell Action team and other health professionals who share the same passion for improving understanding, support and care for people living with the condition.

Can you share a fun or interesting fact about yourself that others might not know? 

Before having my son, I was very involved in amateur dramatics and loved performing. In fact, before I qualified as a dietitian, I spent one summer working as an entertainer at a holiday park – dressed as a pirate mouse! It was definitely one of the more unusual jobs I’ve had.

Do you have any hobbies or interests outside of your work with the charity? 

Life is pretty busy these days, so I don’t have quite as much time for hobbies as I used to! I love being outdoors, particularly spending time in the forest or at the beach. I’m also drawn to anything that helps my very busy brain switch off for a while, so I enjoy things like yoga and Pilates when I get the chance.

What's a book, movie, or podcast you've recently enjoyed, and why? 

With a six-year-old, my movie choices are usually dictated by my wonderful son! That said, I actually really enjoyed Wonka. It was fun, uplifting and imaginative – and one of those family films that adults can genuinely enjoy too.

Is there a particular quote or saying that resonates with you and influences your approach to life? 

“People may forget what you said, people may forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou

Can you share a memorable moment from your time volunteering or working with our charity? 

One of the most memorable things for me has been doing the diet webinars over the last few years and seeing how much of a difference it can make when people with MCAS finally feel heard and understood. Through my work with Mast Cell Action, I’ve had the opportunity to support education around diet and MCAS and to help translate what can be a very complex and confusing area into practical information for patients and healthcare professionals. Seeing that information genuinely help someone feel more confident about managing their condition is incredibly rewarding.

If you could meet any historical figure, who would it be and why? 

I’d choose Florence Nightingale. She is best known for nursing, but she was also an incredible advocate for using evidence and data to improve healthcare. I think it would be fascinating to talk to her about how she challenged accepted thinking and pushed for change when the evidence showed that things could be done better – something that still feels very relevant in healthcare today.

What's something on your bucket list that you hope to accomplish someday? 

I’d love to write a book. Ideally, something that takes the science around nutrition and these complex, overlapping conditions and makes it genuinely accessible and useful to the people living with them. There is so much confusing and conflicting nutrition information out there, and I’d love to create something that helps people feel more confident about food rather than more afraid of it.