“The immune system generally likes to be a well-balanced machine. It’s kind of like Goldilocks — too much is no good, too little is no good, and it’s finding that balance.” Dr. Vy Kim Tregs have been called therapists, peacekeepers, and now—thanks to this year’s Nobel Prize—front-page immunology. Dr. Vy Kim joins Dr. Mariam Hanna to unpack why these cells might hold the key to everything from tolerance to therapy response, and what allergists should be watching for next. How Tregs bridg...

“Don't just rely on the textbook definition of when the pollen seasons are. You need to have reliable data to know when the pollen seasons are starting, when they're ending, and when they're peaking.” Dawn Jurgens Allergy season may be winding down, but for allergists, the work never really stops. This is the moment between ragweed and winter — a brief respite before the cycle begins again. On this episode, Dr. Mariam Hanna is joined by Dawn Jurgens, Director of Operations and Quality M...

“Vaccine counseling is really a team sport. — Dr. Anne Pham-Huy Vaccines can stir anxiety for patients and confusion for clinicians, especially when biologics enter the mix. Dr. Mariam Hanna is joined by Dr. Anne Pham-Huy, clinical immunologist at CHEO, member of the Special Immunization Clinic Network, NACI member, and chair of Immunize Canada. Together, they break down the science of vaccine responses and tackle some of the trickiest questions allergists face in daily practice. On this epis...

“Atopic dermatitis is not just about what you see on the skin. It's about what the patient's experiencing.” Dr. Melinda Gooderham Eczema care has become a world of creams, cleansers, oils, and myths — but what actually works? Dr. Mariam Hanna is joined by Dr. Melinda Gooderham, assistant professor at Queen’s University and consultant physician at the Peterborough Regional Health Centre. As principal investigator for more than 250 clinical trials, Dr. Gooderham brings both evidence and practic...

“You will think it is mastocytosis much more often than you'll actually diagnose mastocytosis.” — Dr. Matthieu Picard Mastocytosis is rare, complex, and often confused with other mast cell disorders. To help clinicians cut through the confusion, Dr. Mariam Hanna welcomes Dr. Mathieu Picard, allergist and clinical immunologist, who has built a dedicated practice caring for patients with mast cell diseases. Together, they explore what physicians need to know about diagnosis, monitoring, and man...

“At least 60% don't respond to anything or who have been to somebody else before and they've come to me and they've tried everything and failed” — Dr. Imran Satia Dr. Imran Satia, Respirologist and Associate Professor at McMaster University and Canada Research Chair in Chronic Cough, joins Dr. Mariam Hanna to walk clinicians through a practical, evidence-based approach to diagnosing and managing chronic cough. With decades of research and clinical experience, Dr. Satia explains how to define ...

“Putting yourself out there online as a doctor is not easy. But staying silent while misinformation spreads—that felt worse.” —Dr. Amiirah Aujnarain Dr. Amiirah Aujnarain has built a community of 80,000 followers by blending evidence-based allergy education with a candid, human presence online. On this episode of The Allergist, she joins Dr. Mariam Hanna to examine how social media is shaping allergy conversations—sometimes for better, sometimes for worse. From Benadryl challenges to dupiluma...

“I can’t think of any medical condition where you can have this type of fry but not that type of fry.” —Dr. Vish Avanashi Pediatric gastroenterologist Dr. Vish Avinashi joins Dr. Mariam Hanna for an episode that jumps head first into the overlapping world of allergy and GI. From ARFID to EOE, they talk about the murky middle ground where food fears, immune triggers, and gut symptoms collide—and how allergists can better navigate it all with the help of a friendly gastroenterologist. How to re...

“They may worsen, they may improve, or they might not change at all, and it really is patient-dependent.” —Dr. Lana Rosenfield On this episode of The Allergist, Dr. Mariam Hanna welcomes Dr. Lana Rosenfield to unpack the complexities of managing allergic conditions during pregnancy and postpartum. With hormones shifting, the immune system recalibrating, and anxiety about medication safety running high, allergic disease can be especially tricky to manage during this time. Dr. Rosenfield offers...

“Have a high clinical suspicion for contact allergens or irritants in anyone presenting with eczematous rash.” —Dr. Rebecca Pratt Creams that sting and rashes that won’t quit —welcome to the complex world of contact dermatitis. Dr. Rebecca Pratt joins Dr. Mariam Hanna to unpack why diagnosing and managing this condition is anything but straightforward. Dr. Pratt is an allergist and clinical immunologist in St. Catharines, Ontario, with a passion for dermatoimmunopathology and practical tools ...

“If you're already wondering if a patient has an underlying inborn error of immunity, then it’s worthwhile to do that testing.” — Dr. Catherine Biggs What if that tough case in your allergy clinic isn’t just unusually severe, but fundamentally different? On this episode of The Allergist, Dr. Mariam Hanna speaks with pediatric immunologist Dr. Catherine Biggs about primary atopic disorders, rare inborn errors of immunity that masquerade as everyday allergy but demand a very different app...

“It doesn’t have to start with a huge trial. It starts with a patient and it starts with a problem.” —Dr. Gord Sussman How do we move from the exam room to the frontlines of discovery? On this episode of The Allergist, Dr. Mariam Hanna talks with Dr. Gord Sussman about how curiosity—not a research grant—launched his decades-long contribution to allergy science. From identifying the early signs of latex allergy to shaping the treatment landscape for urticaria and hereditary angioedema, Dr. Sus...

“We have to keep in mind that urticaria has to be treated until it's completely gone. So, absolute control of the disease.” — Dr. Herminio Lima Chronic spontaneous urticaria has long been managed with the goal of complete symptom control. But for many patients, that goal remains elusive. In this episode of The Allergist, Dr. Mariam Hanna talks with dermatologist and clinical immunologist Dr. Herminio Lima about the updated urticaria guidelines—and how new treatment options are giving cl...

"The emergence of biologics has really significantly transformed the management of these patients for me." — Dr. Yvonne Chan When it comes to nasal polyps, the landscape is shifting fast. On this episode of The Allergist, Dr. Mariam Hanna is joined by otolaryngologist Dr. Yvonne Chan to talk about how biologics, surgery, and multidisciplinary care are working together to reshape care for this stubborn condition. From recognizing key symptoms to navigating the latest therapeutic op...

"We are all learning and we are all teaching." – Dr. Lori Connors What makes a great medical educator—and how do you actually become one? On this episode, Dr. Mariam Hanna is joined by Dr. Lori Connors, an allergist, seasoned teacher, and newly appointed Associate Dean of Continuing Professional Development and Medical Education at Dalhousie University. They explore the journey to becoming a great medical educator, how competency by design is reshaping training, and how to support the n...

“We need time to fix our time problem. And we can get stuck in this loop where we’re like, ‘I have no time to find time to make time to fix time.’” – Dr. Scott Cameron Is your schedule running you—or are you running your schedule? On this episode of The Allergist, Dr. Mariam Hanna is joined by ...

"The key to the diagnosis of these disorders is the suspicion of these disorders." — Dr. Luis Murguia Favela Immune dysregulation isn’t just about infections—autoimmunity, inflammation, and even malignancy can be clues that something deeper is at play. With over 500 known inborn errors of immunity, allergists are increasingly on the front lines of identifying these conditions. But when should we suspect immune dysregulation, and what does cutting-edge treatment look like today? Dr. Mariam Han...

“Most penicillin allergy labels are not indicative of any meaningful penicillin allergic reaction, and the vast majority can be de-labelled with direct oral challenges of amoxicillin." — Dr. Kimberly Blumenthal Penicillin allergy is one of the most commonly reported drug allergies—but here’s the twist: most people who carry this label aren’t actually allergic. So how did we get here, and what can be done to fix it? On this episode, Dr. Mariam Hanna sits down with Dr. Kimberly Blumenthal...

"We use thresholds every day without even thinking about it. When we do a food challenge in our office, whether we know it or not, we're relying on the fact that there is a threshold for every patient. Some are going to be on the first dose, some are going to be at the last. And that's just part of what a threshold is." – Dr. Doug Mack Food allergies aren’t one-size-fits-all, but we don’t talk enough about thresholds—the amount of an allergen it actually takes to trigger a reaction. Sho...

"Although omalizumab is not a cure, it's a major step forward for patients as the first monoclonal antibody or biologic therapy to become FDA-approved to treat food allergy." — Dr. Brian Vickery Is omalizumab set to change the food allergy landscape? And how should clinicians use it in practice? On this episode of The Allergist, Dr. Mariam Hanna sits down with Dr. Brian Vickery, professor of pediatrics and chief of the Division of Allergy and Immunology at Emory University, to br...