There was a changing of the guard in advocacy during the College’s 2021 Annual Scientific Meeting. James M. Tracy, DO, FACAAI completed his term as chair of the Advocacy Council. It is with sincere appreciation and gratitude that we thank Dr. Tracy for sharing his expertise and leading us through some very uncertain times over the past two years.
The Advocacy Council Board has selected Warner W. Carr, MD, FACAAI, as their chair for the next two years. Dr. Carr is the president and chief executive officer of Allergy and Asthma Associates of Southern California and medical director of Southern California Research. He is also founder of the Food Allergy Center at Allergy and Asthma Associates of Southern California Medical Group in Mission Viejo, California, where he practices both adult and pediatric allergy.
Dr. Carr served 17 years in the Armed Forces and is a decorated combat veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Recognized as a leader in the field of allergy and immunology, he has been on several national boards, including ACAAI’s Board of Regents and the College’s Advocacy Council. He is past president of the California Allergy Society and the Western Society of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. In addition, he has extensive experience in the field of clinical trials, having served as a medical officer at the Food and Drug Administration and as the principal investigator for numerous clinical trials. His interests include asthma, allergic rhinitis, food allergy, and allergic skin diseases.
As founder and director of the Food Allergy Center, Dr. Carr has successfully desensitized hundreds of children with food allergies and has a passion for the advancement of treatments in this area.
“My primary reasons for serving on the Advocacy Council are my desires to preserve, protect and advance the private practice of allergy,” Dr. Carr said. “Doing so ensures that our patients will have access to an allergist in all practice settings. Understanding the complex issues that confront the practicing allergist and being able to advocate on a national level sit close to my heart.”
Dr. Carr defined five areas he thinks can impact the private practice of allergy:
- Physician health.
- Health of allergy as a specialty.
- Important partnerships with outside groups.
- Practice management.
- Fixing the MOC process to support the practicing allergist.
In addition to a new chair, the Advocacy Council has a new logo and tagline – Advocating for Allergists and Their Patients. Watch for the big reveal soon!
