What is an Allergist?

An allergist/immunologist is a physician specially trained to manage and treat allergies and asthma. After medical school, they must do three years of training in internal medicine or pediatrics. Then they must complete a two-year fellowship in the specialty of Allergy/Immunology before being eligible for certification. Allergist/immunologists who are listed as ABAI-certified have passed the certifying examination of the American Board of Allergy and Immunology (ABAI).

Allergist/immunologists are trained in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of immune system problems such as allergies, asthma, and certain immune deficiency disorders. A major focus of the specialty is working to eliminate the causes of allergic symptoms, namely decreasing allergic inflammation. This is done by working with the patient to discover the triggers of their allergy, help teach avoidance measures, and often using allergen immunotherapy (allergy shots) to decrease the allergic response. An allergist/immunologist also has expertise when it comes to all the latest medications used to treat allergy and asthma.