We continue our tradition of interviewing the incoming president of the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology to learn what is top of mind for the field and what it means for patients and families.

Dr. Cherie Zachary joins us to share her personal journey into allergy and immunology as both a lifelong patient and clinician. She explains what the ACAAI does and why increasing representation in medicine is critical for improving allergy outcomes. The conversation also tackles the allergist shortage, how physicians are trained, and what is being done to expand fellowship opportunities and improve access to care.

• What the ACAAI actually does for allergy care: How the College supports clinicians and provides patients with trusted, evidence-based education.

• How lived experience shapes leadership: How Dr. Zachary’s own allergic diseases influenced her path into allergy and immunology.

• Why representation matters for allergy outcomes: How culturally responsive care and physician diversity improve trust and health outcomes.

• Why there are not enough allergists: How training bottlenecks contribute to long wait times and limited access to care.

• Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs): Her focus on expanding exposure to allergy through HBCUs and the ACAAI SPARK program.

• American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology

• Listen: Ep. 77: Food Allergy and Its Impact on the Black Community

• Listen: Ep. 108: Interview with Dr. James Tracy

• Listen: Ep. 66: Interview with Dr. Gailen D. Marshall, Jr.

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Made in partnership with The Allergy & Asthma Network.

We thank the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology for their support of Allergy & Asthma Network and this podcast.

Allergy & Asthma Network has spent more than four decades helping people living with asthma, allergies, and related immune conditions navigate care, access trustworthy education, and make their voices heard.

In this episode, we talk with Lynda Mitchell, CEO of Allergy & Asthma Network. Lynda shares how becoming a food allergy and asthma mom in the early 1990s shaped her career and led her into patient advocacy work. We get into how Allergy & Asthma Network supports patients and families through four mission pillars: education, outreach, advocacy, and research.

• Trusted Messengers and culturally responsive education, and why information is more effective when it comes from people who reflect and understand the community
• Free virtual asthma coaching, and how one-on-one self-management education helps people improve daily asthma control and reduce emergency care
• Patient voice research, what it is, how it differs from clinical trials, and why diversity in clinical trial participation matters
• Advocacy efforts like Capitol Hill Day and PALI, and how patient stories influence laws and policies that affect asthma and allergy care
• Ways to get involved, including resources for patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers who want to support or participate in Allergy & Asthma Network’s work

• Allergy & Asthma Network
• Sign-up for the Allergy & Asthma Network’s Newsletter
• Get involved with clinical trials and research
• More about the PALI information session (February 18, 2026)
• Advocacy information
• Virtual asthma coaching program (free asthma self-management education)

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Made in partnership with The Allergy & Asthma Network.

Asthma is one of the most common long-term conditions in children. It is a leading cause of missed school and emergency room visits. Doctors use tools (validated questionnaires) to assess how well a child’s asthma is controlled and whether their medicine is helping. Some tools only ask about symptoms, which can miss children who are still at risk for asthma attacks.

The lead author, Dr. Kevin Murphy, joins us to talk about “Pediatric Asthma Impairment and Risk Questionnaire: A Control Assessment for Children Aged 5 to 11 Years,” published July 2025 in Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice.

The Peds-AIRQ was designed to improve how doctors identify uncontrolled asthma in children by asking about both current symptoms and past asthma attacks. This approach helps avoid missing children who may seem okay day to day but are at higher risk for future flare-ups.

• Why asthma control in children can be hard to measure
• What “controlled asthma” really means
• Why past asthma attacks matter, even when symptoms seem mild
• What the Peds-AIRQ is and how it works
• How this tool may support better conversations between families and doctors

DOWNLOAD THE INFOGRAPHIC

• Take the Peds-AIRQ questionnaire
• What is asthma?
• Asthma in Babies and Children
• Childhood Asthma: A Complex Condition That Doesn’t Have to Be So Complicated - video

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The Itch Review, hosted by Dr. Gupta, Kortney, and Dr. Blaiss, explores allergy and immunology studies, breaking down complex research in conversations accessible to clinicians, patients, and caregivers. Each episode provides key insights from journal articles and includes a one-page infographic in the show notes for easy reference.

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Made in partnership with The Allergy & Asthma Network.

Thanks to AstraZeneca for sponsoring today’s episode.

This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not substitute professional medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider for any medical concerns.