Incoming ACAAI president discusses goals, highlights from annual meeting

Luz Fonacier, MD, professor at NYU Long Island School of Medicine, will be installed as president of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology on Saturday, Nov. 14, during the organization’s annual scientific meeting, held virtually from Nov. 13 to 15.

Fonacier, an allergy and immunology specialist, will be the fourth woman and first Asian American to serve as president of the ACAAI.

“I am proud to be the first Asian American president of the College and equally proud to be one of three women in leadership who are allergists,” Fonacier told Healio Primary Care. “Along with me, Dr. Susan Bailey is currently president of the American Medical Association and Dr. Mary Beth Fasano is president of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.”

Priorities as president

In her year as president, Fonacier said she will lead efforts to continue to “innovate, diversify and expand” the practice of allergy in the organization.

“The growth of women in allergy is phenomenal,” she said. “College membership is now 42% women and current new committee appointments are 58% women, but only 5% of leadership roles are filled by women. I will focus on ways to increase diversity in leadership positions, keeping in mind that diversity is not only in gender or race, but also in geography, culture and practice of medicine.”

Fonacier will also prioritize efforts to address disparities in health care, which she said “do exist and need our attention.”

“COVID-19 has affected our specialty, practices and personal lives,” Fonacier said. “The College will continue to develop resources to help our members — and their practices — thrive through the pandemic and beyond.”

She further vowed to continue advocating on behalf of ACAAI members, stating the organization’s advocacy efforts are one of its greatest strengths.

“It’s exciting to belong to a specialty with so much passion and promise,” she said. “Our practice has expanded, and we’re involved in so many clinical areas — from immunotherapy to biologics and from asthma to allergic dermatosis. I look forward to being a part of our continued expansion, which will provide even more opportunities to help our patients live their best lives.”

ACAAI meeting highlights

This year’s ACAAI Annual Scientific Meeting will address “ongoing topics of concern,” Fonacier said. There will be several sessions and abstracts that focus on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with allergies and asthma.

“Our afternoon session on Friday, ‘COVID-19 and Its Impact on Our World, Our Patients and Ourselves,’ and several highlighted abstracts examine how those with allergies and asthma are affected not only by the virus itself, but how contact dermatitis might be affected by mask-wearing and other personal protective equipment,” Fonacier said.

Racial disparities across the allergy spectrum, particularly in asthma, atopic dermatitis and food allergies, will also be an important area of focus during the meeting, she said.

Additional sessions that Fonacier highlighted include the Presidential Plenary, which will take place Nov. 13, and the “Not on Thursday” programs, taking place Nov. 14.

“Our ‘Not on Thursday’ programs give the latest information on two important topics: the diagnosis and treatment of cough and the utilization and cost-effectiveness of biologics for various allergic conditions,” Fonacier said. “Expert plenary speakers will focus on key issues such as payment systems, approaches to diagnostics and testing, and implementing clinical guidelines.”