PESI
Information
Rethinking Food Allergy: Accurate Diagnosis, Evidence-Based Anaphylaxis Management, and Biologic Integration
Copyright :
Description
- Evidence-based epinephrine prescribing and anaphylaxis management updates
- Practical integration of biologics and oral immunotherapy principles
- Diagnostic strategies that prevent overdiagnosis and unnecessary food avoidance
- Comorbidity optimization (asthma, atopic dermatitis) to reduce severe reaction risk
- Shared decision-making tools to improve adherence, safety, and patient confidence
Food allergy management has evolved rapidly from strict avoidance alone to early introduction with an active, individualized, and pharmacology-driven approach. Primary care clinicians are often the first to diagnose suspected food allergy, prescribe epinephrine, counsel families, and coordinate specialty referrals. However, significant practice gaps remain in diagnostic interpretation, risk stratification, biologic therapy integration, and patient education leading to both overdiagnosis and under-treatment.
This advanced, clinically practical session equips nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and physicians with up-to-date prescribing strategies for acute anaphylaxis management, maintenance therapies, and comorbidity optimization. You will strengthen the ability to interpret diagnostic testing appropriately, avoid unnecessary elimination diets, select and counsel on epinephrine devices, understand the evolving role of biologic therapy such as omalizumab, and implement shared decision-making strategies that improve outcomes and patient confidence. Leave with actionable tools that can be applied immediately to practice.
Speakers
Sonal Patel, MD
Sonal Patel, MD, is a clinical allergist and immunologist with over 20 years of experience caring for patients across the lifespan. She practices at the Huntington Asthma and Allergy Center in Pasadena, California, and previously spent 11 years at Adventist Health White Memorial. Her community commitment extends beyond the clinic through participation in international medical missions to Peru, El Salvador, and Mexico.
She has devoted many years to teaching and mentoring internal medicine residents and medical students - many of whom have gone on to become practicing allergists - served as faculty for MedStudy internal medicine board review courses. Dr. Patel currently serves as President of the California Society of Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology and is immediate past President of the Los Angeles Society of Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology.
She is a double board‑certified physician in Allergy and Clinical Immunology and Pediatrics, completed her fellowship in Clinical Allergy and Immunology at the UCLA School of Medicine, and holds a Master of Science in Clinical Research from Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science.
Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Dr. Sonal Patel has employment relationships with Huntington Asthma & Allergy Center and Kids and Teens Medical Group. She serves as a consultant for AristaMD and RubiconMD. Dr. Patel is an allergist with Kaiser Permanente and receives speaking honoraria from Sanofi, Genentech, GSK, and Regeneron. She receives a speaking honorarium from PESI, Inc. All relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations have been mitigated.
Non-financial: Dr. Sonal Patel is a member of the American Academy of Allergy and the American College of Allergy.
