By Joseph A. Bellanti, MD
ACAI President, 1991-1992
The American Association of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (AACIA) was a pivotal professional organization formed in the 1960s during a critical time in the maturation of the field of allergy and immunology in the United States. The AACIA played a foundational role in shaping the academic, clinical, and certifying structure of the specialty.
Key Contributions of AACIA: Establishment of a Separate Certification Board
One of the AACIA’s most impactful legacies was its instrumental leadership in advocating for and helping to establish a separate certifying board in allergy and immunology. Prior to this, the specialty lacked formal recognition as an independent entity, and physicians often came from backgrounds in internal medicine, pediatrics, or otolaryngology without a unified training or certifying process. The efforts of the AACIA together with the American College of Allergy Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) and the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) culminated in the formation of the American Board of Allergy and Immunology (ABAI) in 1971, a conjoined joint board of the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) and the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP).
Educational Programs and Postgraduate Training of the AACIA
AACIA was a trailblazer in developing comprehensive postgraduate courses, which became the blueprint for future educational offerings. A landmark event in this regard was the first postgraduate course held in July 1972 in Seattle, Washington, with distinguished faculty—including Joseph A. Bellanti, MD; Raymond G. Slavin, MD; William T. Kniker, MD; and Wilbur G. Avery, MD—paving the way for standardized and advanced education in the specialty.
The important leadership role of the AACIA in establishing a separate certification board for allergy and immunology and in developing premier education programs cannot be overstressed. I was privileged to serve on the faculty of the premier postgraduate course organized by the AACIA which was the first of what was to become a prototype for a series of CME courses which were subsequently developed by the AACIA and the ACAAI during the 1970s.
These programs emphasized a rigorous clinical immunology curriculum, providing attendees with emerging insights into allergic and immunologic disorders and the basic science underpinning them. This educational initiative would eventually evolve into collaborative efforts with the ACAAI and AAAAI.
Unifying Clinical and Laboratory Immunology
The AACIA served as a bridge between clinical allergy and emerging immunologic science, emphasizing the role of immune mechanisms in allergic diseases, autoimmunity, and immunodeficiency. Its members included thought leaders who emphasized the integration of immunodiagnostics and immunotherapy into clinical practice. The strength and vision of the AACIA lay in its leadership, comprising highly respected allergists and immunologists from across the country. The leadership of this organization is shown in Table 1.
Legacy and Historical Impact of the AACIA
The leaders of the AACIA were subsequently absorbed in the ACAAI as honorary presidents. Although the AACIA no longer exists as an independent organization, its legacy persists in:
- the development of board certification and formal training pathways;
- influencing the curricula of allergy-immunology fellowship programs;
- laying the groundwork for collaborations between academic institutions and professional societies; and
- promoting the concept of a clinician-scientist model, combining bedside care with immunologic investigation.
Table 1. Leadership of the
American Association of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (AACIA)
| President | Presidential Year(s) |
|---|---|
| Stanislaus H. Jaros, MD | 1964-67 |
| James E. Stroh, MD | 1967-68 |
| Johnny A. Blue, MD | 1968-69 |
| Mason I. Lowance, MD | 1969-70 |
| Alex S. Friedlaender, MD | 1970-71 |
| Boen Swinny, Jr., MD | 1971-72 |
| Richard H. Jackson, MD | 1972-73 |
| Robert J. Brennan, MD | 1973-74 |
| John L. Dewey, MD | 1974-75 |
| Lester W. Mittelstaedt, MD | 1975-76 |
| Alexander McCausland, MD | 1976-77 |
| Gustav J. Beck, MD | 1977-78 |
| Stanley L. Goldman, MD | 1978-79 |
| William H. Wilson, MD | 1979-80 |
| Walter R. MacLaren, MD | 1980-81 |
| Warren J. Raymer, MD | 1981-82 |
| Sidney Friedlaender, MD | 1982-83 |
| Burton M. Rudolph, MD | 1983-84 |
| Albert G. Corrado, MD | 1984-85 |
| Donald L. Unger, MD | 1985-86 |
| Donald C. McLean, MD | 1986-87 |
