Leadership Institute

The AAAAI Leadership Institute supports the growth, development and success of AAAAI members and offers opportunities to advance their leadership skills by participating in courses and mentored activities through the AAAAI.

The Leadership Institute encompasses two programs (see below):
•   The Leadership Course
•   The Mentorship Program

Sujani Kakumanu, MD, FAAAAI
Chair, Leadership Institute

Kalman
Denise A. DiPrimio-Kalman, DO, FAAAAI
Vice Chair, Leadership Institute

Leadership Course

The Leadership Institute Course incorporates instruction in key leadership skills such as negotiation, conflict resolution and goal setting within a one-day course offered each year at the AAAAI Annual Meeting and supplemented by faculty-led online webinars throughout the year. AAAAI members who have completed postdoctoral and fellowship trainings are encouraged to apply.

Click here to register for the 2023 Leadership Institute Course. The course will be held Friday, February 24 from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm at the 2023 AAAAI Annual Meeting in San Antonio, TX.

Leadership Institute Webinars
•   August 25, 2022 - Pathways to Leadership in the AAAAI and Beyond - Mary Beth Fasano, MD, MSPH, FAAAAI
•   September 27, 2022 - Adapting Leadership Styles to Foster Inclusion and Diversity - Bryan Martin, DO, FAAAAI & Princess Ogbogu, MD, FAAAAI

Past Leadership Course Agendas
2021 Course Agenda
2022 Course Agenda

Nanda
Anil Nanda, MD, FAAAAI
Co-Course Director

Bridgette Jones, MD, MS, FAAAAI
Co-Course Director

Resources
The Feedback Fallacy by Marcus Buckingham and Ashley Goodall (American Association for Physician Leadership)

Mentorship Program

The Mentorship Program recruits a cohort of past Leadership Course participants and pairs the mentee with an AAAAI faculty mentor to develop and complete a project aligned with the strategic initiative of the AAAAI. (AAAAI Strategic Plan) Mentees are often connected with an existing AAAAI committee to complete their project. Existing committees and interest sections information can be found here.

The 2023 Mentorship Program application portal will be open from August 17 to September 14. Eligible applicants who have completed the Leadership Course are encouraged to apply.

Mentorship Program projects have included workgroup reports, development of educational curriculum, online resources, podcasts, website updates, and outreach programs to improve physician wellness and diversity within the field of allergy / immunology.

Past Projects
•   Update the oral immunotherapy (OIT) AAAAI CME course: This project reviewed, revised, and updated the AAAAI’s CME offering on oral immunotherapy with a focus on peanut oral immunotherapy.
•   Oral Food Challenge E-learning Video: This project was the creation of a virtual educational module with practical instruction for performing oral food challenges
•   Development of a work group report for screening and management of secondary hypogammaglobulinemia: The project was to develop a work group report that would provide guidance for screening and management of secondary hypogammaglobulinemia.
•   How to Use the Gadgets and Gizmos Prescribed in the Field of Asthma, Allergy and Immunology: The goal was to create a resource for providers when they prescribe inhalers, auto-injectable epinephrine, and intranasal sprays to ensure that they are using the correct technique when educating patients.
•   A streamlined approach to iodinated contrast allergy labels for use in interventional pain procedures: This project developed and validated an algorithm for skin-test-based management of interventional pain patients with a history of immediate reactions to iodinated contrast media to optimize the use of iodinated contrast for those patients.
•   The Use of Simulation for Anaphylaxis Education: The project was to create both a live session and an online module using simulation to provide anaphylaxis education
•   Interactive facilitation and passive dissemination of communication skills through various formats: The goal was to start a longitudinal curriculum in multiple formats to disseminate effective communication skills to give physicians, NP’s, PAs and allied health members tools to help them become more effective and efficient in their clinics. This included a webinar on communication skills focused on the beginning of a medical encounter and how to quickly form a therapeutic relationship with a patient.
•   AAAAI Podcast CME Episodes: The goal of this project was to increase the production and distribution of CME episodes for the AAAAI podcast series, “Conversations From the World of Allergy”.
•   Create an improved access to search capability of the information in Ask the Expert (ATE): The project reviewed the then current status of search capability of the AAAAI Ask the Expert website and explored ways to make it more accessible.
•   Restart a statewide Allergy and Immunology society: The goal of this project was to restart a state Allergy and Immunology society that included a yearly educational conference.


Rebecca Scherzer, MD, FAAAAI
Mentorship Program Director

Bandi
Sindhura Bandi, MD, FAAAAI
Mentorship Program Workgroup Leader

Khoury
Paneez Khoury, MD, MHSc, FAAAAI
Mentorship Program Workgroup Leader

Ramsey
Allison Ramsey, MD, FAAAAI
Mentorship Program Workgroup Leader