Meet the Board: Michael S. Blaiss, MD

Key takeaways:

• Blaiss’ concerns include the lack of insurance coverage for many Americans.
• Asthma and atopic dermatitis present a high burden of disease.
• Biologics and JAK inhibitors are promising in AD care.

Careers in allergy and asthma can take physicians into private, corporate or academic work as well as into professional organizations. Michael S. Blaiss, MD, a new member of Healio’s Allergy/Asthma Peer Perspective Board, has done it all.

Blaiss is a clinical professor of pediatrics at Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University. He has held positions with Merck and in private practice too.

Also, Blaiss is a past president and former executive medical director of the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, which honored him with its Gold Headed Cane Award in 2013.

This broad background gives Blaiss a comprehensive perspective of the state of the specialty.

“Our health care system needs an overhaul,” Blaiss told Healio.

“Health care outcomes in the U.S. continue to worsen even with the amount of money spent each year compared with other developed countries,” he continued. “It is so disturbing that many Americans have no coverage, public or private, to care for their medical needs.”

Healio spoke with Blaiss to find out more about his history, his opinions of current breakthroughs, and what may be next for allergy and asthma care.

Healio: How did you come to pursue allergy/asthma as your specialty?

Blaiss: During my pediatric residency, I was exposed to three allergists, Henry G. Herrod, MD, Lloyd V. Crawford, MD, and Phil L. Lieberman, MD, who were terrific teachers and showed me the excitement of caring for patients with allergy and immune problems.

I can say that allergy was never a specialty I thought I would ever consider but spending time with these three legends in allergy convinced me that this field was the best choice. I have never regretted becoming an allergist.

Healio: Do you have a particular area of allergy/asthma that you enjoy the most?

Blaiss: I like it all, but I have to say nothing gives me more pleasure than improving the life of patients with asthma or atopic dermatitis. AD and asthma are so rewarding because of high burden of disease the patient and their families endure. With new therapies and better understanding of the disease process, we as allergists vastly improve their quality of life.

Healio: What challenges do you face regularly in practice that keep you up at night?

Blaiss: I think for all allergists, it is the continued loss of control in the care of our patients, which leads to much of the burnout happening in the specialty. We are restrained by employers, insurance companies, government agencies, and others in providing appropriate treatment and receiving proper compensation for our services.

Healio: What do you like to do outside of clinical practice?

Blaiss: Hobbies are so important. I enjoy painting. I find it relaxing and it lets me show my creativity side.

Healio: What would you say has been the most exciting development in allergy/asthma over the last decade?

Blaiss: There have been some exciting developments in the last decade. I have to say that biologics and JAK inhibitors in atopic dermatitis is the one that I think is the most exciting. Before these agents, so many of our patients suffered with poor outcomes and terrible side effects from the agents used.

Healio: What advances are you most looking forward to over the next 10 years?

Blaiss: It would be wonderful if ongoing studies show early treatment in children with biologics would prevent development and/or progress of type 2 diseases. Hopefully, we will see treatments for food allergies that are truly curative.

For more information:

Michael S. Blaiss, MD, can be reached at michael.blaiss@gmail.com.