The Allergy and Immunology (A/I) Fellowship is a 2-3 year ACGME-accredited program for pediatric-trained physicians seeking specialization in:
✔ Allergic diseases (asthma, food allergies, atopic dermatitis)
✔ Primary immunodeficiencies
✔ Autoimmune disorders
✔ Immunotherapy advancements
Key Features
Dual patient focus: Trains physicians to treat both pediatric and adult populations
Board eligibility: Prepares for ABAI certification exams
Flexible career paths: Academic medicine, private practice, or research
Clinical Training Curriculum
Core Rotations
Rotation
Focus Areas
Adult Allergy
Drug allergies, chronic urticaria
Pediatric Allergy
Food challenges, eosinophilic disorders
Immunodeficiency
IVIG therapy, genetic testing
Pulmonary
Severe asthma management
Procedural Competencies
Skin prick testing
Spirometry
Drug desensitization
Biologic therapies administration
Notable Programs:
Boston Children’s/Harvard (Strong pediatric focus)
Johns Hopkins (Leading immunotherapy research)
National Jewish Health (Pulmonary-allergy integration)
Research Component
Timeline
Year 1: Clinical immersion + project development
Year 2: Dedicated research months (typically 6-12 months)
Year 3: Manuscript preparation
Current Research Frontiers
🔬 Oral immunotherapy (OIT) for food allergies
🔬 Biomarkers for asthma phenotyping
🔬 Gene therapy for primary immunodeficiencies
✅ Continuity with pediatric training
✅ Procedural + cognitive specialty balance
✅ Growing field with 12% job growth projected (2020-2030)
✅ Lifestyle advantages over general pediatrics
Fellow Testimonial: “Transitioning from gen peds to A/I let me deepen my impact on chronic conditions while maintaining work-life balance.”
— Dr. Sarah Kim, UCLA graduate
Application Process
Key Requirements
Completed pediatrics residency
USMLE/COMLEX scores
3-4 LORs (including PD letter)
Personal statement highlighting A/I interest
Match Timeline:
July: ERAS opens
Sept-Nov: Interviews
December: Match Day
Fellowship Comparison: Peds vs IM Trainees
Aspect
Pediatric-Trained
Internal Medicine-Trained
Patient Comfort
Stronger with kids
More adult experience
Common Focus
Food allergy
Drug allergy
Career Paths
Often academic
More private practice
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I do both adult and pediatric allergy?
A: Yes! Most programs train for both (required for board certification)
Q: What’s the call schedule like?
A: Typically home call for severe reactions (better than residency!)
Q: How competitive is the match?
A: ~75% match rate (less competitive than cardiology)
Dr. Mitra Tafakori Delbari is a board-certified allergist and immunologist in Tehran specializing in: ✔ Asthma & respiratory allergies ✔ Pediatric and […]
