About the Tarlov Cyst Disease Foundation

Our Vision

A future where Tarlov cyst disease is fully understood, accurately diagnosed, effectively treated, and ultimately cured.

Our Mission

To improve the lives of people affected by Tarlov cyst disease by accelerating research, educating the medical community, and providing evidence-based information and support.

Our Values

• Compassion. A deep commitment to listening to, validating, and supporting everyone affected by Tarlov cyst disease.
• Scientific Integrity. A dedication to credible, evidence-based information and rigorous, high-quality research.
• Clarity. A responsibility to make medical information accessible and understandable to people living with Tarlov cyst disease, caregivers, and the medical community.
• Collaboration. A commitment to bringing the patient community, researchers, medical professionals, and other individual stakeholders and organizations together to advance shared goals.
• Innovation. A relentless pursuit of breakthroughs in research, treatment, and patient support.

Our 2026-2029 Goals

1. Accelerate research that advances the understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of Tarlov cyst disease.
2. Educate the medical community to dramatically reduce diagnostic delay and improve quality of care.
3. Empower the patient community with clear, evidence-based information and meaningful support.
4. Convene the patient community, clinicians, researchers, and partners to advance shared progress.
5. Build a sustainable, professionally led Foundation positioned to deliver on this Strategic Plan.

Our Board

Iris Kachuck, PhD, President

Iris received her Ph.D. in science and mathematics education from the University of California, Berkeley. Though now retired, she spent her 40-year career in the field of education serving in a variety of roles including: high school teacher, school principal, researcher, and college professor. After being diagnosed with symptomatic Tarlov cysts in 2005, she volunteered her support for the newly-created Tarlov Cyst Disease Foundation and currently serves as President of the Board of Directors.

Cathy Carlomagno, Treasurer

Cathy Gray Carlomagno has more than 35 years of medical communications experience.

Her work has included serving as the primary spokesperson, senior public relations counsel and strategist, and publications editor for a regional pediatric medical center and for an international, professional/scientific society for respiratory and critical care physicians. She has also served as a communications consultant for several national health organizations.

Currently, Cathy is the managing editor of a peer-reviewed, medical/scientific journal. Cathy joined the TCDF board in 2006 at the request of TCDF founder, Reta Hiers, Cathy’s former colleague. Cathy is married with one daughter and lives in Atlanta, Georgia.

Andy Tompsett, MPH, Secretary

Andy Tompsett is a public health professional with nearly twenty years of experience designing, managing, implementing, and evaluating public health programs across the non-profit and public sectors, both domestically and internationally. A results-oriented leader and skilled strategist, facilitator, and design thinker, Andy serves as Executive Director and Secretary of the Board of Directors for the Tarlov Cyst Disease Foundation. He holds a Master of Public Health in Community Health Promotion and Global Health from the University of Minnesota, a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from St. Olaf College, and a design thinking certificate from MIT's Sloan School of Management. Andy is committed to advancing the Foundation's vision of a future in which Tarlov cyst disease is well understood, accurately diagnosed, and effectively treated.

Our Staff

Andy Tompsett, MPH,
Executive Director

Bridget Higginbotham, MPH, Communications Consultant

Debbie West, RN, BSN, RNFA,
Clinical Consultant