Pediatric asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases in children. There is a continued need to understand best practices to improve the care of these children. Understanding how the environment plays a role in pediatric asthma is a key in providing better control of our patients. How does climate change effect pediatric asthma? How can we improve the indoor environment to decrease flare-ups of pediatric asthma? Biologics are playing a major role in severe asthma in adults but where do they play a role in children with asthma. What are the benefits and risks in the pediatric population. What are the new biologics we may see in children? With the Asthma Controller Step Down Yardstick in Pediatric Asthma, how does an allergist decrease medications in asthma in the pediatric population? When is it safe to decrease controller treatments, and how do you monitor the child after you decrease it?

Moderators: William C. Anderson, MD, and Alan Goldsobel, MD, FACAAI

The advent of targeted therapies and further understanding of the microbiome offer exciting opportunities for new approaches to patients with asthma and allergic conditions. However, knowledge gaps continue to exist. This session will review what we've learned, what we have yet to learn and, most importantly, what can be implemented now.

Moderator: Mark L. Corbett, MD, FACAAI

Each of the 7 presenters will have only 11 minutes to deliver insightful, targeted and dynamic information on their assigned topics.

Moderators: Todd A. Mahr, MD, FACAAI

This session will help participants recognize the key features that impact the disease burden and outcomes for patients with primary immune deficiencies. Early recognition of these issues can help to reduce their impact on patient's well-being and, by reducing disease related morbidity, improve patient outcomes.

Moderators: Purvi S. Parikh, MD, and Kenneth Paris, MD, MPH

Any allergist that mixes allergy vaccines should be following the guidance of USP 797. Recent issues, unrelated to allergy vaccine preparation, have caused the USP to alter its requirements for drug compounding. Though initially allergy mixing seemed as though it might be consumed by the "compounding" controversy, the ACAAI and others worked to demonstrate the differences between mixing allergy vaccines in an allergist's office and the compounding of pharmaceuticals by commercial compounding companies. Although, the efforts of the ACAAI Advocacy Council and others were largely successful, changes to the USP 797 requirements for the mixing of allergy vaccines did occur. This symposium will review the history of the issue, address the changes and suggest operational recommendations for implementation of these changes.

Moderators: Richard G. Gower, MD, FACAAI, and Erika Gonzalez-Reyes, MD, FACAAI

Transition is challenging for anyone and different ages present different needs. This session will review unique aspects affecting children, adolescents, and elderly patients who have asthma, food allergies, and other allergic conditions. From discussion with caregivers to practical tips to help prepare for self-management, this session will provide an overview and a blueprint that attendees can immediately apply to patient care.

Moderators: Dana V. Wallace, MD, FACAAI, and Kelly M. Maples, MD, FACAAI

Limit 40. Seats available on first-come, first-served basis.

An interactive PBL presentation of an older asthmatic patient with poor adherence to asthma medication and inadequate communication will be presented. These are critical problems in asthma care in the older patient because they contribute poor asthma to morbidity and mortality through poor control, frequent asthma exacerbations, acute care visits and oral corticosteroid usage. The elderly asthmatic is particularly vulnerable and needs a shared decision-making to improve adherence. To improve patient adherence in the older asthmatic, clinicians need to consider a variety of factors and implement strategies directly targeting underlying issues that may be specific to the older patient. Strategies will be discussed, including customizing and simplifying learning and intervention regimes, identifying barriers to adherence and addressing them, ensuring patient support structures are in place and improving self-efficacy and health literacy through shared decision-making.

Moderators: Ray S. Davis, MD, FACAAI

Clinicians are often presented with patients complaining of recurrent infections; however, basic workup including serum immunoglobulins and specific antibodies may fail to demonstrate evidence of any immune deficiency. This clinical conundrum will review the presentation of these causes and the diagnostic workup. Treatment may include supportive therapies, and this clinical conundrum will review treatment options.

Moderators: Sami L. Bahna, MD, DrPh, FACAAI, and Erinn Gardner, MD

New discoveries in atopic dermatitis are advancing our understanding of the underlying causes of this complex disease, as well as its role in allergic disease. New therapies give clinicians a wider range of treatment options to target specific manifestations of the disease and implement possible prevention strategies. This symposium will report on what we are learning from the new frontier of atopic dermatitis toward optimal care of the patient.

Moderators: Todd A. Mahr, MD, FACAAI, and Ignacio J. Ansotegui, MD, PhD

It has been well established that 10% of the general population reports having a penicillin allergy, but 90% of those individuals are not truly allergic. Allergists can be exceptionally useful in the education surrounding penicillin allergy and assessment through skin testing and oral challenges. This symposium will discuss how allergists can serve as experts and advocates in their community, regardless of their practice setting, in the communication and development of a penicillin allergy reconciliation program.

Moderators: David R. Stukus, MD, FACAAI, and Allison Ramsey, MD, FACAAI

Limit 40. Seats available on first-come, first-served basis.

Following a real-time assessment of the audience discussion of the PBL case, Dr. Meadows, Dr. Gross and the audience will interactively discuss proper coding and documentation for the patient.

Moderator: Don A. Bukstein, MD, FACAAI

The technology involved in telemedicine, direct-to-consumer platforms and case examples of actual technology will be discussed and reviewed. This expert presentation will spark your interest is exploring the future of telemedicine.

Moderators: Jay M. Portnoy, MD, FACAAI, and Justin C. Greiwe, MD, FACAAI

Town Hall Meeting hosted by House of Delegates
4:45 – 5:30 pm

Annual Business Meeting
5:30 – 6:30 pm