2021 Grantees
Marcella Aquino, MD, FACAAI
Multi-level Contributing Factors to Ethnic and Racial Disparities in Urban Children with Asthma and Atopic Dermatitis
Marcella Aquino, MD, FACAAI led a 2-year study that offered an innovative approach to identify multi-level risk and resource factors that may contribute to asthma and AD outcomes in urban minority children. The project focused on behavioral processes, such as adherence to AD and asthma medications and clinical processes such as asthma severity, AD severity, asthma quality of life and dermatologic quality of life. Outcomes that were assessed include lung function via daily spirometry measurements, asthma control, AD control, and asthma and AD healthcare utilization via questionnaire and confirmation from electronic medical record. This novel approach shed light on specific contributors that may increase morbidity in urban minority children with asthma and AD and informed future tailored interventions. Read more about her project in the Fall 2021 issue of College Advantage.
Juan Carlos Cardet, MD, MPH
Impact of Telehealth vs. In-person Appointments on Asthma Outcomes Among African American/Black and Hispanic/Latinx Adults with Moderate to Severe Persistent Asthma
Juan Carlos Cardet MD, MPH led a 12-month study to determine how telehealth vs. in-person appointments impacted asthma-related outcomes among Black and Latinx patients with moderate to severe persistent asthma across the US. This project was built on a large pragmatic trial (PREPARE) that determined whether a patient-guided intervention could improve asthma outcomes in these populations, drawing on extensive clinical and phenotypic data collected at baseline, and prospective asthma outcome data collected through monthly questionnaires during 15 months of follow-up. Results from the study informed community practicing allergists whether transitioning to telehealth platforms provides adequate asthma care. Watch an interview with Dr. Cardet to learn more about his project.
Timothy Chow, MD
Shouldering the Burden of Pediatric Penicillin Allergy Labels:
Delabeling in the Primary Care Setting
Timothy Chow, MD, led a 12-month study that explored the feasibility of implementing a penicillin allergy delabeling protocol for low-risk pediatric patients. The primary aim of the study was to evaluate the number of patients for whom risk-stratification and direct amoxicillin challenge were successfully completed in an outpatient pediatric primary care clinic and assessed barriers for implementation and their impact on referrals for outpatient allergist evaluation. Watch an interview with Dr. Chow to learn more about his project.
Kelsey Kaman, MD
(2021 and 2022 Grantee)
Learning Educator’s Anaphylaxis Response Needs: Optimizing the Safety of Children in Head Start
Kelsey Kaman, MD continued her project (funded as a planning grant in 2021) that ensured early childhood educators serving children in selected underserved communities were well prepared to handle food allergy-related emergencies. In her 24-month “LEARN Early, Next Steps” project, she ensured that participating centers were able to provide food that is safe for allergic children; bridge food allergy knowledge gaps among teachers and staff, particularly as it related to recognizing and responding to anaphylaxis; and provided the necessary information for access to and administration of epinephrine.
She collaborated with Head Start, Code Ana, The Allison Rose Foundation and Food Equality Initiative as well as other partners experienced in providing education, emergency anaphylaxis plans and access to allergen-free foods. They explored means to collectively address barriers to care and foster long-term relationships between community allergists and early childhood educators. Watch an interview with Dr. Kaman to learn more about her project.
Anil Nanda, MD, FACAAI
Development of Educational Modules Regarding Cannabis Questions for Intake Forms for Community-based, Large Practice and University-based Allergists
As cannabis use continues to rise in the general population due to its legalization in the US and around the world, community practicing allergists need to be up to date on the nature, potential benefits, and adverse effects of cannabis use, including cannabis allergy. Anil Nanda, MD, FACAAI, worked with a team of experts that developed educational modules that addressed these topics as well as recognizing and diagnosing cannabis allergy. Additionally, they developed a module specifically focused on how practitioners can discuss cannabis with their patients – i.e., what questions to ask on intake forms to gather the information necessary to start a conversation about cannabis use and its potential benefits and harms among allergic and asthmatic individuals. The project was a collaborative effort with a professionally diverse group of experts consisting of physicians and scientists with extensive background in cannabis basic and clinical research, including cannabis allergy. The educational modules are available in the College Learning Connection at no charge.
Michael Pistiner, MD, MMSc, FACAAI
National Needs Assessment for Infant and Toddler Food Allergy Curriculum for Pediatric Residents
While the prevalence of infant and toddler food allergy is on the rise, there is a shortage of community physicians who are properly trained and comfortable to provide the most current standard of care. Michael Pistiner, MD, MMSC, FACAAI, and his team developed an educational needs assessment that determined and characterized the need for a standard infant/toddler food allergy curriculum for pediatric residents at a national level. The assessment specifically focused on gaps that led to discomfort in the management of infant/toddler food allergy and anaphylaxis, lack of implementation of early peanut feeding guidelines, and ineffective co-management of infant/toddler food allergies alongside primary care physicians. In addition, the assessment provided an opportunity for medical residents to learn more about the field of allergy and potential to pursue a career in the specialty. Read more about his project in the Winter 2024 issue of College Advantage.
“The Allergists’ Foundation has received a strong response to our call for proposals under the Community Grant Program, which makes our job of selecting projects for funding very challenging,” said Todd Mahr, MD, FACAAI, the chair of the Foundation’s Grants Allocation Committee. We are very much impressed with the quality and creativity of the proposals we’ve received so far and we look forward to seeing more project ideas with each new grant cycle.”
To learn more about the Community Grant Program and how you can help support it, download the brochure or contact us for more information.
