Why See an Allergist?
Many people begin by “self-treating” their allergies with over-the-counter medications. If your allergy symptoms don’t improve or if the symptoms persist, you may be wondering if you should see an allergist. You may even wonder what an allergist does. An allergist diagnoses, treats, and manages allergy-related conditions like allergic rhinitis, asthma, food allergies, and eczema. Through testing, an allergist can identify the allergens that cause your symptoms or determine if you have allergies or not; since many of the symptoms of allergies are mimicked by non-allergic causes. Your allergist can also help manage medication side effects and offer advice on immunotherapy options (allergy shots or drops). By controlling your nasal symptoms we may prevent the need for surgery for chronic ear and sinus problems.
What is an Allergist?
An allergist or immunologist is a physician who has specialty training in the diagnosis and treatment of allergic diseases, asthma and diseases of the immune system. To become an allergist, an individual must graduate college( 4 years), medical school (4 years), undergo residency training in either Internal Medicine or pediatrics
( 3 years), and complete an Allergy and Immunology fellowship (2 years). Upon completing the fellowship they must then pass a comprehensive exam directed exclusively over the field of allergy, asthma, and immunology. Dr. Priyanka Gupta has completed the above training, passed the comprehensive exam, and is Board Certified in Allergy and Immunology.
Why see a Board Certified Allergist?
It usually takes at least nine years of training after a physician receives a bachelor’s degree from college to become an Allergist/Immunologist. After completing medical school (about four years) and graduating with a medical degree, a physician seeking to specialize in allergy/Immunology must next undergo three to four years of residency training either in internal medicine or pediatrics or med-peds (which is a combination of both). Once the primary specialty training is complete, the Allergy/Immunology candidate has to pass the certification exam of the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP), the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) or both. To further specialize, the candidate then must complete at least two additional years as a fellow in an accredited allergy Immunology training program. This qualifies the individual to sit for the American Board of Allergy and Immunology (ABAI) certification exam. This shows the Allergist/Immunologist has the knowledge, skills, and experience to provide high quality care to patients with allergic and immunological disorders.
What Board Certification means
Board medical specialty certification in the United States is a voluntary process. While medical licensure sets the minimum competency requirements to diagnose and treat patients, it is not specialty specific. Board Certification demonstrates a physician’s exceptional expertise in a particular specialty and/or subspecialties of medical practice. Certification by an ABAI Member Board involves a rigorous process of testing and peer evaluation that is designed and administered by specialists in the specific area of medicine. Certification Matters! If your doctor is certified by an ABAI ( American Board of Allergy And Immunology) Member Board, it means he or she is dedicated to providing exceptional patient care through a rigorous, voluntary commitment to lifelong learning through board certification and ABAI. In addition to completing years of schooling, fulfilling residency requirements and passing the exams required to practice medicine in your state, your Board Certified specialist participates in an ongoing process of continuing education to keep current with the latest advances in medical science and technology in his or her specialty as well as best practices in patient safety, quality healthcare and creating a responsive patient-focused environment.
