Allergy, Asthma, Immunology & Rheumatology


University Pediatricians | Michigan

About the Division of Allergy, Asthma, Immunology and Rheumatology

The Allergy, Asthma, Immunology and Rheumatology Division at the Children’s Hospital of Michigan has a long history of excellence in the care of patients with asthma, allergies, immunodeficiencies, autoimmune and rheumatologic diseases.

The focus of the Allergy, Asthma, Immunology and Rheumatology Division at the Children’s Hospital of Michigan is to:

  • Provide compassionate, state-of-the-art diagnosis and treatment for patients of all age with allergic and immunologic diseases, including asthma, and children with autoimmune and rheumatologic diseases.
  • Train physicians for academic careers in allergy, asthma, and immunology or subspecialty clinical practice.
  • Promote and conduct basic, clinical, and translational research in allergy, asthma, clinical immunology and rheumatology.
  • Be a local, regional, and national source for the specialty and collaborate with others  to expand and share knowledge in allergy, asthma, clinical immunology, and pediatric rheumatology.

Leadership

The Chief of Allergy, Asthma, Immunology and Rheumatology Division, Pavadee Poowuttikul, MD, along with three board certified allergists/immunologists and one board certified pediatric rheumatologist, all have faculty appointments at Central Michigan University College of Medicine. All faculty are actively involved in teaching medical students from Central Michigan University and Wayne State University, pediatric and internal medicine residents, and allergy/immunology fellows. The division also includes a specialized nurse practitioner, nine specialized nurses, and two specialized social workers.


Allergy, Asthma, Immunology and Rheumatology Clinical Programs

The Asthma, Allergy and Immunology Section treats children and adults with allergic disorders and asthma. We offer evaluation, treatment and participation in research studies for patients with asthma and a wide range of allergies, including food allergy, environmental allergy, drug allergy, insect sting allergy, angioedema, anaphylaxis, hives, eczema, and other allergic skin conditions. In office pulmonary function testing and allergy skin tests can be completed during a clinic visit. Advanced treatment plans are available for specific conditions including allergen immunotherapy and monoclonal antibody treatment.


The Immunology Section offers a Primary Immune Deficiency Clinic for children and adults. Primary and secondary immune deficiency disorders evaluated and treated include: agammaglobulinemia, specific antibody deficiency, common variable immune deficiency, IgA deficiency, hyper IgE syndrome, hyper lgM syndrome, chronic granulomatous disease, severe combined immune deficiency, Wiskott–Aldrich syndrome, Mendelian susceptibility to mycobacterial diseases, Chronic Mucocutaneous Candidiasis and DiGeorge syndrome. We also serve as a diagnostic and referral center for patients with complex medical conditions involving the immune system. The division is the coordination center for the Primary Immunodeficiency Newborn Screening Center for the State of Michigan.


The Pediatric Rheumatology Section offers a rheumatology clinic and vasculitis clinic for children and adolescents. Conditions evaluated and treated include childhood autoimmune diseases such as juvenile idiopathic arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, vasculitis and juvenile dermatomyositis; and autoinflammatory disorders such as periodic fever syndromes, and autoinflammatory disorders of the bones. 


Our faculty are familiar with the most recent advances and recommendations in the management of allergic, immunologic, and rheumatologic conditions and offer comprehensive and patient-centered services geared towards their diagnosis and treatment. The team of dedicated nurses work on obtaining prior authorizations for expensive medications deemed necessary for management of the patients in order to provide them the most cost-effective therapy. Outpatient appointments are available Monday-Friday and some Saturdays. Same-day appointments are available for patients requiring urgent evaluations.

Our specialized clinics include:

  • Drug Challenge Clinic:

    Only about 10% of patients who believe they are allergic to penicillin truly are. Labeling patients “allergic” when they are not can cause a burden both for patients and our health care system. Patients may not be able to get a first-line drug for treatment, leading to the use of more expensive antibiotics, and the risk of developing antibiotic resistant infections.


    We offer a Drug Challenge Clinic focused on testing for drug allergies. Patients will have an initial evaluation to determine if the test and/or challenges are appropriate and will be referred to the Drug Challenge Clinic if needed. In this clinic we will complete an extensive allergy skin test including skin prick testing followed by intradermal skin testing. If both tests are negative, we will do an oral challenge with close supervision followed by a period of observation. If no reactions occur in one hour, we can remove the drug from the patient’s allergy list.


    We also provide an evaluation for aspirin allergy and aspirin desensitization for patients with Aspirin-Exacerbated Respiratory Disease (AERD). Other medication challenges are also possible depending on the types of the reactions. Venom testing for patients with an insect sting allergy is also available.

  • Eosinophilic Esophagitis Clinic:

    The Multidisciplinary Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE) Clinic at Children’s Hospital of Michigan is a multidisciplinary clinic with the Division of Gastroenterology, the Division of Allergy and Immunology and a certified dietitian. The disease is characterized by elevated eosinophils in the esophagus and symptoms of difficulty with swallowing, vomiting, and/or failure to thrive. The clinic allows the patients to see multiple specialists in a single visit who can easily collaborate to form a care plan that encompasses all aspects of this complex disease.

  • Food Challenge Clinic:

    Food allergies affect 5.6 million children in the U.S. Symptoms of food allergy range from mild to life threatening. Many children will outgrow a food allergy. The Allergy and Immunology Division at

    Children’s Hospital of Michigan helps patients find out if they have outgrown a food allergy or if the patient is truly allergic to certain foods. Once the patient is evaluated during the initial clinic visit and determined that an oral food challenge is indicated, the patient will be referred to the Food Challenge Clinic. During the Food Challenge Clinic, the reintroduction of the food will be performed under close monitoring. Each oral food challenge appointment takes approximately four hours, as the food will be introduced gradually. A successful food challenge confirms that the patient has outgrown the food allergy and the food can be safely reintroduced into their regular diet. While allergy testing alone can fail to define food tolerance, oral food challenges provide an effective and definitive way to rule out food allergy. We also perform evaluation and early introduction of peanuts to infants who may be at high risk. Peanut-allergic patients, who are qualified for peanut oral immunotherapy (OIT), will be offered this therapy and receive their initial doses of peanut in the Food Challenge Clinic as well.

  • High-Risk Asthma Clinic:

    The high-risk asthma clinic offers comprehensive medical and psychosocial support to children with severe, difficult-to-control and/or high-risk asthma. Research studies with an emphasis on adherence to medication and identification of stressors are available to patients with asthma and interested families. The program involves a multidisciplinary team, including asthma/allergy specialist, asthma nurse educator, and social worker, that assists in addressing treatment barriers and comorbid conditions that can contribute to asthma severity. We take a patient centered approach to improve asthma control and the quality of life of our patients and families with particular emphasis on follow-up, daily care, asthma control, asthma education, and action planning. Our goal is to work with families to help minimize the effect of asthma on children by creating detailed treatment plans to prevent symptoms, to identify and prevent asthma triggers, and to create response plans to treat asthma flare-ups.

  • Primary Immunodeficiency Clinic:

    At Children’s Hospital of Michigan, our Immunodeficiency Clinic provides diagnostic and treatment services for children and adults with suspected or known primary or secondary immunodeficiency disorders. We serve as a referral center to help families and physicians in the evaluation and care of individuals with immunodeficiency disorders. Our program is one of the three coordination centers for the severe combined immune deficiency screening program for the State of Michigan. Our multidisciplinary team includes a clinical immunologist, immunology nurse educator, and social worker, and offers comprehensive medical and psychosocial support and resources to patients with immunodeficiency and their families. We work closely with infectious disease specialists and Hematology/Oncology Transplant medicine specialists to provide access to the latest treatment options. Our program is a member of the United States Immunodeficiency Network (USIDNET) and Immunodeficiency Foundation (IDF). We welcome the opportunity to provide a second opinion on the diagnosis and/or treatment plan for primary immunodeficiency disorders.

  • Vasculitis Clinic:

    Systemic vasculitis in children is a complex group of diseases affecting multiple organ systems. Comprehensive care may require coordinated treatment across multiple specialties including pediatric rheumatology and pediatric nephrology. The Vasculitis Clinic at Children’s Hospital of Michigan is a cooperative effort of physicians to allow the patient to see both specialists in a single visit for ease of collaboration onsite, and to form a care plan that encompasses all aspects of this complex group of diseases.

Appointments with the Allergy, Asthma and Immunology experts are available at five convenient Children's Hospital of Michigan locations throughout the metropolitan area listed below. Pediatric Rheumatology appointments are available at Children's Hospital of Michigan Specialty Center – Detroit and Troy location. Families can call 313-745-KIDS or 313-832-8550 to schedule an appointment.


Faculty

Faculty


Advanced Practice Providers

Want to learn more about our distinguished specialists? Click the button below to be taken to our Faculty Directory.

Faculty Directory →

Education

At the Children’s Hospital of Michigan, our goals are to prepare our fellows to pursue future careers in academic medicine or subspecialty clinical practice and to qualify for the American Board of Allergy and Immunology. The program is ACGME accredited and offers comprehensive, balanced clinical training in allergy/immunology in both adults and pediatric patients, with emphasis on evaluation and management of allergic disorders, asthma and primary immunodeficiency disorders. We prepare our fellows for a strong foundation in the basic and clinical immunology important to understanding and managing allergic/immunologic disorders.


The institution is a major pediatric tertiary referral center and is the coordinating center for the Severe Combined Immune Deficiency Newborn Screening Program for the State of Michigan. Fellows gain additional experience in dedicated clinics for inner-city asthma, eosinophilic esophagitis, and primary immunodeficiency disorders with specialized nursing staff and social workers. Elective rotations in ENT, dermatology, rheumatology, pulmonology, and infectious disease are available in both adult and pediatric specialties. Other elective rotations include clinical immunology laboratory and allergen extract preparation. Fellows will be proficient in allergen immunotherapy, monoclonal antibody treatments, immunoglobulin replacement therapy, and other treatment modalities available for primary immunodeficiency disorders.


Fellows will learn to design and conduct allergy and/or immunology research under the supervision of research mentor(s) who are fellowship program faculty. Research resources are available through the Children’s Research Institute of Michigan and the Children’s Hospital Foundation. Fellow research projects are involved in QI, translational, and clinical research. Fellows are expected to present their research at national meetings and in peer-reviewed publications.


For more information, please refer to the Allergy/Immunology Fellowship Training Website—click here or on the button below to visit the site.

Allergy/Immunology Fellowships →
  • Trainees Accepted Each Year

    1 per year

  • Duration of Fellowship

    2 years

  • Number of Graduates Last 5 Years, and Subsequent Career Choice

    2016-2021

    7 graduates (3 academic, 4 private practice)

  • Application Deadline

    Please refer to the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) website for fellowship match information in regards to the fellowship timeline, application deadlines and additional important dates.

  • Electives for Residents and Students

    Yes

  • Special Requirements

    ABIM or ABP eligible or certified

  • Program Information and Contacts

    Division of Allergy, Immunology, and Rheumatology

    Children's Hospital of Michigan

    3950 Beaubien Blvd.

    Detroit, MI 48201


    Phone: (313) 745-5751 and (313) 832-8506

    Fax: (313) 993-7118

    Email: ppoowutt@dmc.org


    Program Website: https://www.childrensdmc.org/health-professionals/just-for-doctors/fellowships/allergy-immunology


    Program Director

    Pavadee Poowuttikul, MD

    Phone: (313) 745-5751, (313) 832-8506

    Email: ppoowutt@dmc.org


    Associate Program Director

    Jenny Huang, MD

    Phone: (313) 832-8550

    Email: jhuang2@dmc.org


    Program Coordinator

    Dionne Weathers

    Pediatric Graduate Medical Education

    Phone:  313-745-5751

    313-832-8506 Specialty Center

    Email: Dweather@dmc.org

    Fax: 313-993-7118


Research

Our faculty and fellows are committed to research involving the diagnosis and management of patients with inner-city asthma, primary and secondary immunodeficiency diseases, autoimmune, rheumatologic, and other immunologic diseases, food allergies and other atopic disorders through basic, translational, and clinical research.

Our active clinical research trials/projects include:

  • The Use of Picture-based Asthma Action Plan and Mobile Health Application to Improve Asthma Care in Inner-City Children-A Randomized Control Trial
  • Extent of Immunosuppression from Oral Steroid Bursts in Inner-City Asthma Children
  • The Effect of an Asthma Smartphone App on Patients in a High-Risk Asthma Clinic
  • Visual Recognition of Asthma Medication in Inner-City Asthma Children and Caregiver
  • COVID-19 Vaccination Perception Among Patients and Families of the Asthma and Allergy Clinic in an Urban Hospital
  • Comparison of Mortality of Matched Newborn Infants with Low T-Cell Receptor Excision Circles (TRECs) Levels of Unidentified Etiology
  • The Evaluation of Treatment and Outcomes in Patients with Eosinophilic Esophagitis
  • Epigenetics and the Development of the Atopic March

Recent Faculty Publications

  • Basil Fathalla, MD

    • Fathalla BM, Elgabaly EA, Tayoun AA. Coexistence of a novel WISP3 pathogenic variant and an MEFV mutation in an Arabic family with progressive pseudorheumatoid dysplasia mimicking polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Pediatr Rheumatol Online J. 2020 Sep 7;18(1):69.
    • Kashyape P, D'Souza AP, Fathalla B. En coup de sabre presenting as status epilepticus. Clin Rheumatol. 2020 Dec; 39(12):3885-3886.
    • Mathew A, Abuhammour W, Fathalla B, Otour B. Parvovirus B19 Infection Mimicking Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia in an Immunocompetent Child. Cureus. 2020 Jun 26;12(6):e8854.
    • Mahfouz NA, Kizhakkedath P, Ibrahim A, El Naofal M, Ramaswamy S, Harilal D, Qutub Y, Uddin M, Taylor A, Alloub Z, AlBanna A, Abuhammour W, Fathalla B, Tayoun AA. Utility of clinical exome sequencing in a complex Emirati pediatric cohort. Comput Struct Biotechnol J. 2020 Apr 22;18:1020-1027.
    • Al-Mayouf SM, Almutairi A, Albrawi S, Fathalla BM, Alzyoud R, AlEnazi A, Abu-Shukair M, Alwahadneh A, Alsonbul A, Zlenti M, Khawaja E, Abushhaiwia A, Khawaja K, AlMosawi Z, Madan W, Almuatiri M, Almuatiri N; for Pediatric Arab Rheumatology Group (PRAG). Pattern and diagnostic evaluation of systemic autoinflammatory diseases other than familial Mediterranean fever among Arab children: a multicenter study from the Pediatric Rheumatology Arab Group (PRAG). Rheumatol Int. 2020 Jan;40(1):49-56.
  • Jenny Huang, MD

    • Huang, Jenny; Kaur, Bani; Farooqi, Ahmad; Miah, Tayaba; McGrath, Eric; Seth, Divya; Secord, Elizabeth; Poowuttikul, Pavadee. Elevated Glycated Hemoglobin Is Associated with Reduced Antibody Responses to Vaccinations in Children. Pediatric Allergy, Immunology, and Pulmonology. Accepted 2020; in press.
  • Milind Pansare, MD

    • Summer Buzz: All You Need to Know about Insect Sting Allergies. Pansare M, Seth D, Kamat A, Kamat D. Pediatrics in Review, Jul 2020, 41 (7) 348-356
  • Pavadee Poowuttikul, MD

    • Huang, J., Kaur, B., Farooqi, A., Miah, T., McGrath, E., Seth, D., Secord, E., Poowuttikul, P. Elevated Glycated Hemoglobin Is Associated with Reduced Antibody Responses to Vaccinations in Children. Pediatr Allergy Immunol Pulmonol. Accepted for publication Nov 20.
    • Alvarez, A., Gupta, M., Poowuttikul, P., Baptist, A. Are primary care physicians following National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease guidelines for the prevention of peanut allergy? A survey-based study. Allergy Asthma Proc. 2020 May 1;41(3):167-171. doi: 10.2500/aap.2020.41.200019. PMID: 32375960
    • Darian, T., Freij, J., Seth, D., Poowuttikul, P., Secord, E. A Review of Primary Immune Deficiency Disorders. EMJ Allergy Immunol. 2020;5[1]:70-77.
    • Poowuttikul, P., Seth, D. New Concepts and Technological Resources in Patient Education and Asthma Self-Management. Clin Rev Allergy Immunol. 2020 Mar 25. doi: 10.1007/s12016-020-08782-w. Review. PMID: 32215784
    • Seth, D., Poowuttikul, P., Pansare, M., Kamat, D. Food Allergy: A Review. Pediatr Ann. 2020;49(1):e50-e58. doi:10.3928/19382359-20191206-01. PMID: 31930423
  • Divya Seth, MD

    • Seth D, Poowutikul P, Pansare M, Kamat D. Food Allergy: A Review. Pediatr Ann. 2020; 49(1):e50-e58. PMID: 31930423. Impact Factor 0.636(Role: First author, initial manuscript preparation)
    • Poowuttikul P, Seth D. New Concepts and Technological Resources in Patient Education and Asthma Self-Management. Clinical Reviews in Allergy & Immunology 2020; 59(1):19-37 Impact factor:6.990 (Role: Senior Author, Initial Manuscript preparation and Review)
    • Darian T, Freij JB, Seth D, Poowuttikul P, Secord E. EMJ Allergy Immunol. 2020; 5(1): 70-77. (Role: Co-author, Participated in study design, and manuscript preparation)
    • Pansare M, Seth D, Kamat A, Kamat D. Summer buzz: All you need to know about insect sting allergies.  Pediatrics In review. July 2020; 41(7): 348-356. (Role: Co-author, Participated in study design, and manuscript preparation)
    • Huang, Jenny; Kaur, Bani; Farooqi, Ahmad; Miah, Tayaba; McGrath, Eric; Seth, Divya; Secord, Elizabeth; Poowuttikul, Pavadee. Elevated Glycated Hemoglobin Is Associated with Reduced Antibody Responses to Vaccinations in Children. Pediatric Allergy, Immunology, and Pulmonology. Accepted 2020; in press.

    Abstracts/Presentations (National)

    • Saini S, Navalpakam A, Tran C-L, Huang J, Seth D, Poowuttikul P. A Quality Improvement Initiative to Improve Resident-Physician Practices Regarding Peanut Introduction in Infancy. Accepted for poster presentation at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) 2021 Virtual Annual Meeting
    • Navalpakam A, Saini A, Tran C-L, Huang J, Seth D, Poowuttikul P. A Quality Improvement Initiative to Improve Resident- Physician Practices Regarding Flu Vaccine Administration in Individuals with Egg Allergy. Accepted for poster presentation. Accepted for poster presentation at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) 2021 Virtual Annual Meeting
    • Huang JY, Hurden I, Kleyn M, Andruszewski K, Wood W, Miah M, Ruehle M, Seth D, Long P, Chu R, Savasan S, Abdel-Mageed A, Hartog N, Walkovich K, Lugt MV, Michniacki T, Poowuttikul P, Secord E. Comparison of Mortality of Matched Newborn Infants with Low TREC Levels of Unidentified Etiology. Accepted for poster presentation at the Clinical Immunological Society Meeting, April 2020

Recent Faculty Abstracts/Presentations (National)

  • Jenny Huang, MD

    • Huang, Jenny, et. al: Comparison of Mortality of Matched Newborn Infants with Low TREC Levels of Unidentified Etiology. Abstract accepted for Clinical Immunology Society, April 2020 meeting cancelled.
  • Milind Pansare, MD

    • Survey exploring barriers to allergy clinic visits in an urban pediatric Subspecialty center. Saini, S. Agarwal S, Pansare M. Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, Volume 125, Issue 5, S45, Nov 2020 presented at National meeting of American College of Asthma, Allergy, and Immunology. Virtual meeting, Nov 2020.
  • Pavadee Poowuttikul, MD

    • Poowuttikul, P.; Implementation and Dissemination of Picture-Based Asthma Action Plan to AAAAI and SAMPROTM. Oral presentation. 2020 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) virtual annual meeting, Philadelphia, PA 03/2020 
    • Navalpakam, A., Saini, S., Seth, D., Huang, H., Poowuttikul, P. A Quality Improvement Initiative to Improve Resident- Physician Practices Regarding Flu Vaccine Administration in Individuals with Egg Allergy. Accepted in 11/2020 for 02/2021 AAAAI virtual annual meeting 2021.
    • Saini, S., Navalpakam, A.,Seth, D., Huang, H., Poowuttikul, P. A Quality Improvement Initiative to Improve Resident-Physician Practices Regarding Peanut Introduction in Infancy. Accepted in 11/2020 for 02/2021 AAAAI virtual annual meeting 2021. 
    • Saini, S., Huang, J.Y., Seth, D., Secord, E., Poowuttikul, P. Pulmonary Sclerosing Hemangioma in a Young Adult with Coexisting 22q11.2 deletion, Evans Syndrome and CVID with MALT1 variant. 03/2020 AAAAI virtual annual meeting 2020. Philadelphia, PA 
    • Alvarez, A., Gupta, M., Poowuttikul, P., Baptist, A. Knowledge Assessment of Addendum Guidelines for the Prevention of Peanut Allergy in the United States Among Pediatric Primary Care Providers. 03/2020 AAAAI virtual annual meeting 2020. Philadelphia, PA

Recent Faculty Grants

  • Pavadee Poowuttikul, MD

    Role: Grant Director, Percent Effort: 35% 

    Title: "Primary Immunodeficiencies Coordinating Center for Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Newborn Screening Program" Source: Michigan Department of Community Health-SCID NBS 

    Total Period of Support: 1 year 10/2020-09/2021 

    Total Funding: $232,380/year Total Direct Cost: $71,569/year 


    Role: PI, Percent Effort: 10% (no salary support) 

    Title: "Immunosuppression from Systemic Steroid Bursts in Asthma" Source: Children's Hospital of Michigan Foundation R1-2020-78 

    Total Period of Support: 2 year 01/2020-12/2021 

    Total Funding: $48,640


    Role: PI, Percent Effort: 10% (no salary support) 

    Title: "Picture-based Asthma Action Plan" Source: American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) 

    Total Period of Support: 3 year 11/2017-11/2020 

    Total Funding: $6,000



Recent Faculty Awards & Other Professional Accomplishments

  • Milind Pansare, MD

    Other Professional Accomplishments:

    • Manuscript reviewer for Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. Reviewed 5 manuscripts in year 2020. 
    • Abstract reviewer for American Academy of Asthma, Allergy and Immunology (AAAAI).6 abstracts in year 2020. 
    • Group leader for In-Training Examination committee-Wrote and reviewed in-training examination questions(Total-50Q) for fellows-in-training. Oct 2020 to Dec 2020. 
    • Faculty and Mentor in the 2020 Online Workshop (July 13th - August 8th) 
    • In Global Health Research & Fieldwork Practices organized by the Global Health Research Collaborative & the Wayne State University School of Medicine. Lead a group discussion on pediatric anaphylaxis and areas of research Mentor/Advise-latex allergy for researcher from Central America
  • Pavadee Poowuttikul, MD

    Awards:

    • Hour Magazine "Top Doc" 2020

    Other Professional Accomplishments:

    • American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) Office of School-based Management of Asthma Taskforce 
    • American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases Committee 
    • American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) Fellow-In-Training Examination Committee 
    • American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) Health Informatics, Technology & Education (HITE) Committee
  • Divya Seth, MD

    Other Professional Accomplishments:

    • Approved for Fellow status in American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI)-March 2020


Advocacy & Other Special Areas of Focus

Our faculty are selected committee members in the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) Office of School-based Management of Asthma Taskforce. The Taskforce addresses the needs of asthmatic children by encouraging schools to adopt the AAAAI’s School-based Asthma Management Program (SAMPRO™). SAMPRO™ can help children with asthma live healthier lives by creating a circle of support, developing and sharing an asthma action plan, comprehensive education and assessing the environment.


Our faculty is also selected by the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) Leadership Institute and the AAAAI Website, Internet and Related Technologies (WIRT) as a project leader to lead an innovative project on implementing picture-based asthma action plan for AAAAI and School-based Asthma Management Program. This picture-based asthma action plan is now available for all healthcare providers nationally and internationally with at least yearly update. The goal of this project is to improve provider asthma counseling and achieve an increase in asthma medication adherence.


Our faculty are selected committee members and a section team leader for the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) Fellow-In-Training Examination Committee. Each of our faculty writes 7-10 Allergy/Immunology Fellow-In-Training Examination questions per academic year.


This examination is used at the national level for all Allergy/Immunology training programs in the United States. There are 16-20 committee members/year writing and reviewing these questions out of 5,440 board certified Allergist/Immunologist in the United States.


One of our faculty is also a member of the Test Writing Committee of the American Board of Allergy and Immunology (ABAI). The member is responsible for writing the MOC part 3 examination questions for ABAI recertification.


Our faculty members belong to the AAAAI Committee on the Underserved and have an interest in a project to evaluate food insecurity in patients living in the inner-city with food allergies. Standard food pantries may stock alternative food options for those with food allergies, but they may not have the resources to meet the needs of every family with food allergies who are seeking assistance. Due to the economic hardships brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, it is likely that some families with children suffering with food allergies face food insecurity more than before. Collaborating with the general pediatric clinic, the goal of the project is to evaluate the barriers to obtaining safe alternative foods and to advocate for children with food allergies who rely on food assistance.

 

The Division participates in the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Asthma (ACAAI) Screening Camp. We also participate in the Immune Deficiency Foundation (IDF) activities, including organizing IDF walk yearly in Detroit, Michigan. IDF is a non-profit organization that seeks to improve diagnosis, treatment, and quality of life for people with primary immune deficiency (PID) by fostering a community empowered by advocacy, education, and research. The IDF achieves their goals as a resource for education materials, publications, conferences, provider referrals, research, public policy advocacy, and through health care provider education. The IDF walk is a community event that supports and connects the PID community and also is a major fundraiser to support the mission of the IDF. Our staff coordinated and held the walk on our campus beginning in 2018. We started as a local walk and are now recognized as a national walk site. Our Immunology nurse serves on the Nurse Advisory Committee of the IDF.

 

The Division also participates in the IDF/United States Immunodeficiency Network (USIDNET) registry. The USIDNET is a research consortium established to advance scientific research in the field of primary immunodeficiency diseases with current focus on the primary immunodeficiency disease registry, education and mentoring for young investigators. The USIDNET registry is a national patient consented registry for individuals with primary immunodeficiency diseases. The goals are to advance research in the field and to improve the quality of life of patients. It is managed by leading immunologists and administered by the Immune Deficiency Foundation (IDF). Our faculty and nurses have enrolled patients into the USIDNET/FILL registry, have supported registry development, and the Children’s Hospital of Michigan was the first enrolling site in Michigan. Our faculty serves on the Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Disease specific work group of the USIDNET – IDF.

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