What is Allergy and Immunology?

Allergy and Immunology is a field that diagnoses and manages disorders involving immune system conditions in both adults and pediatric patients such as asthma, anaphylaxis, rhinitis, eczema, and adverse reactions to drugs, food, and insect stings. It also specializes in immune deficiency diseases and problems related to autoimmune diseases. Certain allergies and immune conditions can affect multiple parts of the body, therefore, allergists and immunologists often evaluate and treat patients in conjunction with other specialties such as otolaryngologists, dermatologists, and gastroenterologists. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, more than 50 million people in the U.S. are affected by some type of allergy every year. Allergies and the immune system can affect the entire body and this field allows one to care for symptoms all over the body- including the eyes, scalp, skin, nasal passages, lungs, and even bone marrow. 

Why should you choose to become an allergist/immunologist?

This field allows you to work with patients with commonly seen diseases such as allergic rhinitis, asthma, atopic dermatitis, and immune-mediated food hypersensitivities. The field is rapidly advancing and there are new therapies being developed everyday. Allergy and immunology allows you the creativity to tailor therapies for individual patients including but not limited to biologic agents such as monoclonal antibodies and oral or sublingual immunotherapy. 

Allergy and Immunology is also one of the few fields that allows you to see both pediatric and adult patients. This gives you the ability to follow individuals throughout their lives and provide care to other family members of all ages who have the same or similar conditions. 

Some specialists choose more clinical based careers in private offices or teaching hospitals while others are involved primarily in research as physician-scientists in medical schools or in government/industry. Academic allergy and immunologists combine patient care with teaching and research. 

How to become an allergist and immunologist? 

You must first complete a residency in either internal medicine, pediatrics, or combined medicine-pediatrics and pass an examination to be board certified in either Pediatrics or Internal Medicine. Fellowships for allergy and immunology typically last between two to three years of additional training depending on the program. Following the fellowship program you must also successfully pass the certification examination by the American Board of Allergy and Immunology (ABAI). 

For more information on how to apply for fellowship and statistics please click on our page labelled apply. 

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