1. How Long Have You Been an Allergist? With Atlanta Allergy & Asthma?
I started in private practice in Marietta after finishing my Allergy Fellowship training at Harvard in Boston, Summer 1978. I joined Atlanta Allergy & Asthma in 1997.
2. Have You Always Wanted to Be a Physician? What Else Did You Consider?
If I hadn’t been a physician, I’d have been a professional musician. I have played drums in a band for many years.
3. What Made You Choose Your Specialty?
While in my Pediatric Residency at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Dr. Joe Ghory, head of the Allergy Division, encouraged me to do research in allergic diseases. He was a wonderful mentor, and the research study was eventually published. I was honored to present it at a National Allergy Meeting in 1975. After that, I was excited to continue learning more about allergy and immunology and eventually pursued an allergy fellowship at Harvard.
4. What Is the Most Rewarding Part of Your Job?
Having a patient tell me how my diagnosis and subsequent treatment plan changed their lives, is by far the most rewarding part of my job. Being able to improve a patients’ quality of life is a wonderful feeling. It has also been rewarding to be an active participant in the growth and development of our specialty. Serving as President of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology was certainly a highlight. It was also professionally gratifying to serve on the Board of the World Allergy Organization.
5. Do You Recall a Patient, or an Experience, That Had a Significant Impact on You?
In my specialty I frequently get to hear positive stories, but two specific patients stand out in my mind. Awhile back I treated a woman who was so grateful for the care she received that when she passed away, she left money in her will for me to invest in research of allergic diseases. I was able to donate that to one of our national allergy organizations for their research efforts. I was also humbled when one of my younger patients was asked to write a paper about his ‘hero’….and he chose his allergist, me! Sometimes we are not aware of the impact we have on our patients.
6. What Do You Like to Do for Fun Outside of Work?
Family is of paramount importance to me. My wife Judy and I were married when we were both students at Emory University and we are about to celebrate 50 years of marriage! After raising 3 children, we are now grandparents to 7 grandsons (yes, all boys!). We enjoy baseball games, water skiing at the lake, and traveling with our family and friends.
7. Tell Us About Some Meaningful Professional and Personal Acknowledgements or Achievement
I have been honored to receive several professional awards including the 2020 AAAAI Outstanding Volunteer Clinical Faculty Award from the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology and the Gold Headed Cane Award from the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology given for Professional Achievement. Others have included the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Southeastern Allergy Society and the Professional Volunteer Award from the Georgia Lung Association. On the personal side, I am proud to say I successfully completed the New York, Boston, Chicago, and Atlanta marathons.
8. You Have Been an Allergist for a Long Time. How Do You Continue to Challenge Yourself Professionally? Do You Use Your Years of Experience to Guide the Next Generation of Allergy Specialists?
It has been amazing to watch, and be a part of, innovations in the field of allergy and immunology. I continue to grow professionally, as well as give back to my specialty, through several academic activities. I teach in the Allergy Division at Emory University School of Medicine, serve as Editor-in-Chief for the publication Allergy Watch, and participate on the editorial boards of the journals Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, Proceedings of Allergy, and the Journal of Asthma. Recently I’ve been recording the podcast Allergy Talk which discusses recent journal articles for allergists. This has been a challenging new endeavor!