Clinical Immunology and Allergy

The year 2001 was a very productive year for the Division of Clinical Immunology and Allergy. Over 5,000 patients were seen in our outpatient clinics, and the division is nationally recognized for its care of children with primary immune deficiency disorders and HIV/AIDS. Twenty-six residents and fellows rotated through the teaching program, and 80 medical students attended clinics. Approximately 50 lectures and conferences were provided by division members to various audiences within and outside of CHLA. Division attendings had five peer review publications and six abstracts. The Division received approximately $132,000 in extramural funding for research. Collaborations with UCLA, Keck/USC, the Pediatric AIDS Clinical Trials Group, and several pharmaceutical companies are continuing. Importantly, the first clinical trials in the area of asthma and allergy have been initiated.

National and International Recognition

Joseph A. Church, M.D

• Listed in the latest editions of Best Authors in America and America’s Top Doctors.

Publications

Number of articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals 5
Number of abstracts published 6
Number of articles in non-peer-reviewed journals 2

Community Outreach Programs

The Division’s physicians and nurse practitioner provided 38 lectures to community physicians and nurses on topics ranging from asthma to AIDS. Ronald M. Ferdman, M.D. is working with the Pasadena Community Asthma Project to provide asthma education for school physicians and nurses.

Institutional Collaborations

Joseph A. Church, M.D.

• Pediatric AIDS Clinical Trials Group – National Consortium for Clinical Trials in Pediatric HIV/AIDS; University of California Los Angeles School of Medicine – with Dr. Paul Krogstad – investigating Thymus function in adolescents infected with HIV at varying times; Harbor/UCLA – description of exceptional ophthalmologic complications of pediatric HIV.

Ronald M. Ferdman, M.D.

• USC Division of Occupational and Environmental Health – Home Allergy Evaluations.